A VIUI.THE 
PORINA JOCOSA. 
(Porina jocosa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliv., 124.) 
(Plate Xi leone ies ee D).) 
This bright-looking distinetly-marked species was dis- 
eovered by Mr. Philpott at West Plains near Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is about 1% inches, 
of the female sometimes almost 2 inches. The fore-wings of the 
male are bright ochreous-brown,; there are several indistinct 
blackish-edged white spots irregularly placed near the base; two 
clear white discal spots at about + and before middle; several 
minute spots above and below these; an irregular whitish trans- 
verse shading from the costa before the apex to the dorsum near 
the middle containing several small blackish-edged white spots; 
a subterminal series of pale centred dusky spots and a terminal 
series of brown dots. The hind-wings are dull ochreous-brown. 
The cilia of all the wings are pale ochreous very strongly barred 
with dark brown. In the female the fore-wings are dull blackish- 
brown or blackish-grey very thinly scaled; there are two variable 
cream-coloured discal spots at about 4 and 4; @ very wide irre- 
gular, cloudy, transverse white band from the costa just before 
the apex to the middle of the dorsum; a subterminal series of 
dusky marks on the veins, often absent and a terminal series 
of whitish-edged dusky spots between the veins. The hind-wings 
are grey and semi-transparent. 
Both sexes vary considerably in the extent of the 
cloudy white transverse shading and in the number and 
extent of the dusky spots, but the markings are always 
clearer and more numerous than in most of the allied 
species. 
The perfect sect appears in October and November, 
and frequents forest country. It is attracted by light. 
PORINA COPULARIS. 
(Porina copularis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliv., 123.) 
(Blate Xi ie sas) Io.) , 
This very faintly-marked species was discovered by 
Mr. Philpott at West Plains, near Invereargill. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is about 18 inches, 
of the female from 1 to 1g inches. The fore-wings of the male 
are rather narrow with the apex slightly produced and the ter- 
men obliquely rounded; pale dull reddish-ochreous more or less 
tinged with grey between the veins; the blackish-edged white 
discal spots, which are variable, consist of a very minute mark 
near the base, two small spots near the middle, the first oval, 
the second wedge-shaped; a minute dot just beyond this and 
another minute dot in the dise at about 3; there is usually a 
very indistinct, oblique transverse pale shading. The hind-wings 
are paler than the fore-wings and without markings. The cilia 
of all the wings are ochreous, indistinctly barred with. reddish- 
ochreous, 
The female has the wings much narrower; strongly clouded 
with grey except ion the costa; there is a cloudy dark grey dis- 
cal streak containing one very narrow elongate white spot almost 
in the centre of the wing. Except on the costa the hind-wings 
are clouded with grey. The cilia of all the wings are barred 
with greyish-ochreous., In both sexes the wings are sparsely 
covered with scales. 
Appears to vary somewhat in size and in the depth 
and extent of the cloudy grey colouring. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and is found in forest districts. It is attracted by light. 

HEPIALIDAL. 363 
PORINA UMBRACULATA., 
(Pielus umbraculatus, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 1. Porina umobra- 
culata, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii, 209.) 
(Plate XLI., figs. 1, 8 @ varieties; 2 9; Plate III., fig. 26 
larva.) 
This species is common and generally distributed 
throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is nearly 2 inches; 
of the female about 24+ inches. All the wings of the male are 
pale brownish-ochreous, rarely greyish-brown, intermediate forms 
being often met with; in the centre there is a broad longitudinal 
blackish streak containing a conspicuous straight white stripe, 
occasionally broken into two or three very elongate spots; there 
are often several black dots along the termen and several black- 
ish subterminal dots. The hind-wings are less densely scaled 
than the fore-wings and, in living specimens, usually tinged with 
pink. In the female all the wings are pale ochreous-brown and 
the central streak of the fore-wings is narrower and less dis- 
tinct than in the male. , 
There is, as already indicated, considerable variation 
in the depth of the ground colour and in the number of 
the black dots. A broad cloudy subterminal band is often 
present on the fore-wings, in both sexes. 
The larva, which feeds on the roots of grasses, is sub- 
terranean in habit, living throughout the autumn and win- 
ter in burrows at a depth of from three to five inches below 
the surface of the ground. 
Its length when full-grown is about 24 inches. It is of 
almost uniform ‘thickness and somewhat flattened. The head is 
large, very hard and horny, slightly flattened, dark brownish- 
black and highly polished; the second segment is small, dark 
reddish-brown and horny throughout; the third segment has two 
large horny plates, the fourth much smaller plates; the rest of 
the body is greyish-black much paler on the sides and ventral 
surface, but somewhat variable in this respect; the segmental 
divisions are much furrowed; there is a yellowish white lateral 
ridge and the last segment is brownish-ochreous; there are two 
rather large warts on segments 5 to 12 inclusive and numerous 
warts on segment 13; the whole larva is clothed with rather 
short black bristles. 
The perfect insect appears from October till January, 
and is generally captured at light. 
PORINA SIGNATA. 
(Elhamma signata, Walk., Bomb. 1568. Porina novae-zealandide, 
ib. 1573. Porina signata, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii., 210.) 
(Plate XLIII., figs. 2, 3 4 vars.; 4 @. Plate III., fig. 28 larva.) 
Apparently abundant in the North Island where it has 
been taken plentifully at Thames, Ohakune, Napier, Palm- 
erston North and Wellington, but has not yet been recorded 
from the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is from 2 to 24 
inches; of the female sometimes as much as 34 inches, The 
fore-wings of the male are brownish-ochreous, usually consider- 
ably darker towards the base and costa and paler below the 
dise and on the termen; there is a shaded central streak con- 
taining several elongate, white spots which form an irregular 
broken stripe in the middle of the wing; there are also many 
irregular markings with dull white centres, chiefly situated near 
the veins and often arranged in two or three rows parallel to 
the termen. The hind-wings are ochreous, very strongly tinged 

