








































ss = 


[Sn a 
344 

7 
of 4, 6 to costa, 7 and 8 stalked, 9 closely approximated, 10 
nearly from angle, 11 from %; dark purplish fuscous; a rather 
irregular-edged whitish-ochreous, dorsal streak from base to tor- 
nus; discal impression hardly marked, not hyaline; costa ob- 
scurely freckled whitish-ochreous on posterior half; cilia dark 
fuscous, base obscurely freckled whitish-ochreous, on tornus 
whitish-ochreous. Hind-wings pale grey, with whitish-ochreous 
reflection; cilia ochreous-whitish.”’ (Meyrick). 
Regarding this insect Mr. Meyrick adds, that ‘‘ al- 
though at first sight similar to M. ethelella, it is really a 
very distinct species, by the absence of the hyaline impres- 
sion (almost always well-marked in the genus), and the 
quite different neuration (which in this genus tends to be 
more or less peculiar in nearly every species). Monopis is 
a cosmopolitan genus; the members of it are usually semi- 
domesticated or parasitic on human settlements, and their 
specific development can hardly antedate these, but may 
be considered a sort of index to them; I think it is quite 
likely that IW. typhlopa may be strictly confined to the 
Chatham Islands, in which ease it affords important evi- 
dence of the early visitors who introduced it.’’ 
Genus 10—RHATHAMICTIS, Meyr. 
Head loosely rough-haired; ocelli posterior; tongue absent. 
Antennae 4, in male moderately ciliated, basal joint short, with 
slight pecten. Labial palpi moderate, porrected, second joint 
rough-scaled beneath, terminal joint short, loosely scaled, obtuse. 
Maxillary palpi short, slender, 3-jointed, folded laterally. Pos- 
terior tibiae rough-scaled above. Fore-wings vein 2 from five 
sixths, 3 from angle, 7 to termen, 8-10 approximated, 11 from 
before middle. Hind-wings 1, elongate-ovate, cilia 3; 2-7 toler- 
ably parallel. 
An interesting form, probably aculeate and allied to 
Lamprona., 
Represented by a_ single species discovered quite 
recently. 
RHATHAMICTIS PERSPERSA. 
(Rhathanictis perspersa, Meyry., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lv., 662.) 
CPlaten x Ly, en LO era) 
This species has occurred in Wilton’s Bush near Well- 
ington. 
The expansion of the wings is about 4 inch. The fore- 
wings are oblong with 'the apex and tornus much rounded, dark 
brownish-biack with dull ochreous-white markings; there is a 
series iof small ochreous-white spots along costa and a few spots 
irregularly dispersed on the terminal, subterminal and dorsal 
areas. The hind-wings are dark grey with purple refiections. 
All the cilia are blackish-brown interspersed with a few ochre- 
ous-white scales. ; 
The perfect insect appears in March and is found in 
forest. 
Genus 11—TINEOLA, Herr.-Schaff. 
Head rough. Labial palpi moderate, porrected. Maxillary 
palpi short, simple, porrected. Fore-wings with all veins pres- 
ent. Hind-wings elongate-ovate. ° 
Principally developed in Africa. The single New 
Zealand species has been artificially introduced. 
AXVIU.—THE 

TINEIDAE. 
TINEOLA BISELLIELLA. 
(Tinea diselliella, Hiim., Ess. Ent. iii., 13; Tineola biselliella, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 101.) 
(Plate XLVI, fig, 9" 4.) 
This destructive household pest has occurred at Well- 
ington, Christchurch and Lake Wakatipu. It is probably 
generally distributed in many houses throughout New 
Zealand. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 4 inch. The 
fore-wings are glossy pale ochreous with no markings. The hind- 
wings are whitish with pale ochreous cilia, 
The whitish larva feeds in the lining of chairs and 
sofas, and will also bore holes through any clothing, which 
may be folded up and put away in places where the insect 
has established itself. When a colony of these larvae has 
once effected a settlement they go on breeding, year after 
year, in the interior of the chair, sofa, or mattress, till 
after the lapse of a few years the contents may be entirely 
destroyed, without our attention having been called to the 
mischief; they are also very destructive to carpets. This 
larva does not construct a portable case but forms silken 
galleries in the substanee on which ‘it is feeding.* 
The perfect insect may be found in houses and out- 
houses throughout the year, but is commonest during the 
summer months. It has been widely spread over the world 
by eivilization 
Genus 12.—TINEA, Linn. 
Head rough. Labial palpi moderate, porrected. Maxillary 
palpi long, folded. Fore-wings with all veins present. Hind- 
wings elongate-ovate. ; 
A large and cosmopolitan genus, of which we have 
fourteen species in New Zealand; four confined to the 
North Island; four to the South Island, and six common 
to both islands. 
TINEA MARGARITIS. 
(Tinea margaritis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlvi., 116.) 
(Plate XXXVIL., fig. 26 9.) 
This very interesting little insect, which appears to be 
a mimic of Glyphipteryx leptosema, has occurred at Well- 
ington and at Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 2 inch. The fore-wings 
are elongate with the apex rounded and the termen oblique; 
black with strong bronzy and purplish reflections; there are six 
rather slender cream-coloured bars on the costa, the two nearest 
the apex being broader and crescentic;. a large cream-coloured 
patch is situated on the dorsum near the middle and a smaller 
patch before the tornus; there are also several minute spots 
near the base and in the disc. JT'wo conspicuous tufts of cream- 
coloured scales in the cilia below the apex give that portion of 
the wing the same general appearance as in Glyph. leptosemda 
though the real outline is altogether different. The hind-wings 
are greyish-ochreous. 
There appears to be slight variation in size. In specei- 
mens which have been long on the wing the ground colour 
of the fore-wings fades into a pale purplish-grey. 

*Stainton: British Butterflies and Moths, 266. 


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