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NARYCIA PETRODOXA. 
(Narycia petrodoxa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., liv., 169.) 
(Plate XLIX., fig. 26 9.) 
This large and conspicuous species has occurred in 
the upper part of the Otira Gorge, about 2,500 feet above 
the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over # inch. The 
fore-wings, which have the apex and tornus rather rounded, are 
pale yellow with purplish-black markings; there are three bars 
on the costa near the base and a number of small slender marks 
on the basal area; a large rectangular spot in the middle of the 
dorsum; a large bifurcate blotch in the middle of the costa; 
an irregular mark on the tornus and an oblong blotch on the 
subterminal area; between these spots and along the costa there 
are several fine broken wavy lines; the cilia are blackish with 
purple refiections. The hind-wings are brownish-grey with 
purple reflections. 
The perfect insect appears in December, and may be 
looked for in sunny glades amongst sub-alpine serub. 
Genus 23.—SCORIODYTA, Meyr. 
Head loosely haired. Labial palpi moderate, porrected. 
Maxillary palpi obsolete. Fore-wings with vein 7 to costa. Hind- 
wings elongate-ovate, 2-7 separate. Female apterous. (Plate K., 
figs. 28, 29, 30 neuration and head of Scoriodyta conisalia.) 
An endemic genus containing one species. 
SCORIODYTA CONISALIA. 
(Scoriodyta conisalia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 102.) 
(Plate XXXVII., fig. 11 @; fig. 12 @ resting on larval case; 
Piate III, fig. 33 larva in case; fig. 34 ditto withdrawn 
from case.) 
Although the remarkable spindle-shaped little cases, 
constructed by the larva of this species, are often very 
abundant on fences and tree-trunks in Wellington and the 
surrounding country, the perfect insect is very seldom ob- 
served. Cases have, however, also been detected at Kaeo 
in the extreme north, and it is therefore probable that the 
insect is generally distributed throughout the North 
Island. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is 2 inch. The 
_ fore-wings have the apex obtuse and the termen obliquely- 
rounded; grey, irregularly mottled dnd speckled with darker 
grey; there are usually two indistinct paler spots on the dorsum 
near the middle; one near the tornus and a series of faint, 
whitish terminal dots; two cloudy bands are situated on the 
costa beyond the middle. The hind-wings are grey. 
The female is completely apterous; pale ochreous with 
the dorsal and ventral segmental plates dark brown and 
horny and a row of fine bristles along the edge of each 
segmental division, the terminal portion of the abdomen 
being alone clothed with scales, which are probably used 
to cover the eges when laid, the same as in Mallobathra. 
After emergence the female stands quite motionless on the 
old larval ease, often for some days, evidently awaiting the 
arrival of the winged male. 
The larva constructs a portable sub-cylindrical ease in 
which it lives during most of the year, becoming full-grown 
towards the end of the winter. This case is oval, tapering 
at each end; it is formed of tough, silk and covered on the 
outside with minute stones, dust, or vegetable refuse but 
TINEIDAE. 

very smooth inside. The anterior aperture consists of a 
loose silken tube which can be closed by the larva from 
within. During pupation the ease is firmly attached to a 
vertical object, both ends being closed up. The leneth of 
the contained larva is about + inch; the head is black and 
shining with a few bristles; the second and third segments, 
black chitinous and highly polished, with whitish anterior 
margins; the rest of the body is dull ochreous, or greenish- 
white, with the central portions darker; the thoracic legs 
are strong and well developed; the abdominal prolegs rudi- 
mentary, but the anal prolegs are very large and used by 
the larva to retain its hold on the case. 
In dry weather these latvae secrete themselves and 
their cases in crevices, those living on fences often hiding 
themselves between the boards. In damp weather, how- 
ever, these little cases may be seen spread over the fence 
in all directions, the larvae dragging them out of their hid- 
ing places in order to feed on the minute green algae 
(Pleurococcus vulgaris) which grow on the fencing boards, 
or tree-trunks, almost immediately after rain. This larva 
feeds throughout the winter, the wet weather then prevail- 
ing evidently favouring the growth of its food-plant. The 
pupa state is assumed about September. 
The perfect insect appears in October and November. 
Sub-family 16—NEpPTICULIDES. 
Head roughly tufted. Basal joint of antennae forming an 
eyecap. Labial palpi short, drooping. Maxillary palpi long, 
folded. Fore-wings with cell open, veins 3-5 absent, 9 absent. 
Hind-wings lanceolate, cell open, 3-5 absent; frenulum multiple 
in both sexes. 
These minute insects are so generally overlooked that 
their distribution is little known, but they occur in all 
regions. 
Genus 1—NEPTICULA, Heyd. 
This genus comprises the smallest known species of 
Lepidoptera; the perfect insects are immediately recog- 
nised by the rough head and face, and folded palpi. The 
shortness of the antennae is also an important feature, they 
rarely exceed half the length of the anterior wings; the 
anterior wings are short and comparatively broad and 
clothed with scales of extraordinary size, considering the 
smallness of the insect. The larvae are especially distin- 
ecuished by the absence of true horny legs and the un- 
developed condition of the membranous legs which here 
serve alike for legs and prolegs. The pupa has the parts 
of the future insect far more conspicuously displayed than 
is usual in the pupae of Lepidoptera; it is always con- 
tained in a cocoon. 
The larvae of the European species, which have been 
well studied, mine leaves eating out a long tortuous track 
between, the layers of the leaf which is clearly visible from 
without. Such mined leaves may be collected and the 
moths reared in captivity. The perfect insects are very 
seldom observed, although a few stray specimens have been 
taken by sweeping foliage. Eleven species are known in 
