XVIE—THE 
very broadly clouded with shining golden brown towards the 
termen; the transverse vein is absent. 
The larva feeds under the bark of dead karaka trees 
(Corynocarpus laevigata) and in habits and general ap- 
pearance closely resembles the larva of L. epixyla. 
The perfect insect appears in December, January and 
February, frequenting dense forests, where it is hard to 
see and rarely met with. When resting on tree trunks it 
stands on the fore- and intermediate legs, the wings form- 
ing a steep but narrow roof; the antennae are held back- 
wards extending along the middle of each wing; both of 
the large tufts of raised seales on the dorsum of the fore- 
wings are in contact, forming together two large lappets 
on the mid-back, and constituting a most distinctive char- 
acter in the resting insect; the apex of the closed wings 
comes to a sharp point, the head end being broad and 
blunt. The entire insect, of course, closely resembles a 
small moss- or lichen-covered twig, but possibly something 
more special is aimed at as its general appearance in re- 
pose is very remarkable. 
LYSIPHRAGMA EPIXYLA. 
(Lysiphragma epixyla, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 105.) 
(Plate XXXIX., fig. 10 @; Plate III., fig. 30 larva.) 
This very interesting species has occurred at Waima- 
rino, Ohakune, Wellington, Greymouth, Christchurch, Lake 
Wakatipu and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings varies from slightly over #4 
inch to 14 inches. The fore-wings, which are rather elongate 
with the costa strongly arched and the dorsum concave near the 
tornus, are pale brownish-ochreous densely spotted with dark 
brown with a few scattered blackish streaks; there are very ob- 
scure brown patches near the middle and before the apex and, 
in the male, a large irregular pale ochreous patch almost touch- 
ing the apex; a large tuft of raised scales is situated near the 
base, a small one near the dorsum at 4, a third on the fold 
near the middle and a fourth above the tornus; the cilia are 
brown, obscurely barred with pale ochreous-brown. The hind- 
wings are pale brownish-ochreous, slightly clouded with darker 
brown towards the apex and termen; the transverse vein is 
present. ‘ 
Considerable variation exists in the depth and extent 
of the light and dark markings, but the species may al- 
ways be easily recognised. 
The larva feeds under the bark of dead pukatea trees 
(Laurelia novae-zelandiae) and also in dead fuchsia trees 
(Fuchsia excorticata). Its length when full-grown is about 
linch. The head is bright reddish-brown; the second seg- 
ment horny polished yellowish-brown; segments 3 and 4 
are greyish-ochreous with a single row of minute warts and 
long bristles; the rest of the body is dull whitish-ochreous ; 
each segment, except the last, having two elongate dorsal 
plates and five minute greyish lateral plates; the dorsal 
plates each have two warts and the lateral plates one wart, 
every wart emitting a long bristle; the terminal segment is 
dull brown with many bristles. 
The pupa is enclosed in a loose cocoon of silk and 
frass amongst the decayed wood. 
TINEIDAE. 349 
Mr. Philpott states that, in the Invereargill district, 
this larva feeds under the bark of dead broad-leaf trees 
(Griselinia littoralis) and the cocoons of the pupa may be 
found in similar situations.* 
The perfect insect appears from the beginning of No- 
vember until the middle of January, and frequents dense 
forests, but is not often met with. When found, it is 
usually observed resting on tree trunks, where its general 
colouring, combined with the raised scales on the fore- 
wings, makes it extremely’ inconspicuous. The resemblance 
to an exerescence on the bark is very close and hence the 
moth is, no doubt, often overlooked. 
LYSIPHRAGMA HOWHBSII. 
(Lysiphragma howesii, Quail; Trans, N.Z. Inst., xxxiii., 154; 
Plate VIII.) 
(Plate XXXIX., fig. 8 @.) 
This very obscurely-marked species, which was discov- 
ered by Mr. George Howes, appears to be confined to the 
South Island. It has occurred at Christchurch, Glenorchy 
and Paradise near Lake Wakatipu, and at Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about { inch. The fore- 
wings, which have the costa slightly arched, are very pale grey- 
ish-green thickly speckled with blackish-grey spots which are 
faintest near the middle of the wing; there are dense clusters of 
such markings on the dorsum at about 4 and #, and a conspicu- 
ous crescentic mark near the apex enclosing a cream-coloured 
patch; a series of blackish marks is situated on the costa. The 
hind-wings are pale grey, darker towards the termen; the trans- 
verse vein is present. 
The larva, which feeds in decayed ribbon wood (Gaya 
Lyallii), has the ‘‘head broad, smaller than the prothorax, 
sloping from base to front which is produced and, viewed 
laterally, snout-like. The thoracic segments are larger 
than the abdominal, which latter taper gradually to the 
anus. The head is dark brown; the thoracic dorsal plates 
brown, that of the prothorax paler on the anterior edge. 
The other segments are oily white with brown tubercles. 
The legs are pale brown and semi-transparent. (Quail.) + 
The pupa is enclosed in a rather tough cocoon amongst 
the decayed wood. 
The perfect insect appears in November and Decem- 
ber, and frequents forests. 
FYenus 18—LINDERA, Blanch. 
Head with dense appressed scales; tongue obsolete, An- 
tennae nearly 1, in @ simple. Labial palpi moderately long, 
curved, ascending, second joint thickened with dense scales, ter- 
minal joint as long as second, stout, tolerably pointed. Maxil- 
lary palpi obsolete. Fore-wings with 1b furcate, 2 from angle, 
7 and 8 stalked, 7 to costa, 11 from before middle. Hind-wings 
1, elongate-ovate, cilia #; 2-4 parallel, 5 and 6 stalked, 7 separate. 
5S) 
Represented in New Zealand by one species, probably 
of South American origin. 

*Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxiii., 183. 
+Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxiii., 154-158 where detailed micro- 
scopical descriptions of the insect are given in the larva, pupa 
and imago condition, 

