~ 
XIX .—THH 
MNESARCHAEA FUSCA. 
(Mnesarchaea fusca, Philp., N.Z. Journal of Science and 
Technology v., 82, 1922). 
(Platewir  lehizee.) 
This species has oceurred at Wilton’s Bush near Well- 
ington, and on Gouland Downs near Nelson. 
The expansion of the wings is almost ? inch. All the 
wings are lanceolate. The fore-wings are dull purplish-brown 
thickly strewn with darker brown scales; the basal area is more 
or less densely speckled with golden-ochreous scales especially 
below the fold; there is a rather large patch of goldén-ochreous 
on the costa before the apex and another much smaller patch 
close to the apex; the cilia are dark purplish-brown; there is 
broad golden-ochreous bar near the middle of the termen and 
on the dorsum. The hind-wings are deep brownish-purple with 
blackish-brown cilia. 
The perfect insect appears in February and March. 
I have taken it, quite plentifully, by sweeping ferns in 
damp places in Wilton’s Bush. 
MNESARCHABA FALLAX. 
(Mnesarchaea fallax, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvii., 709.) 
This extremely obscure form was found by Mr. Phil- 
pott on the Tableland of Mount Arthur at an elevation of 
4,500 feet above the sea-level. 
Like M. fusca but apparently slightly larger and narrower- 
winged than that species. 
The perfect insect appears early in December. 
Deseribed from Mr. Philpott’s specimen. 
MNESARCHABA HAMADELPHA. 
(Mnesarchaea hamadelpha, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. 
Mnesarchaea similis, Philp., ib., lv., 
(Plate XXXIX., fig. 24 @.) 
IbNS ep ees Hus 
667.) 
This very handsome species has occurred abundantly 
at Ohakune, Mount Egmont, Tararua Range, Wellington, 
‘Nelson and the Buller and Otira Rivers. It is probably 
common and generally distributed in most wooded districts 
in the North Island and northern portions of the South 
Tsland. 
The expansion of the wings is considerably under 34 inch. 
The fore-wings are cream-coloured clouded with pale golden- 
brown towards the apex, termen and dorsum; there is a broad, 
curved, chocolate-brown band from the costa at the base to the 
dise near the tornus; a small curved brown mark on the dorsum 
near the base; two white discal dots beyond the middle; awhite 
costal spot before the apex; a series of terminal white spots and 
seattered brown scales and a black spot at the apex. The hind- 
wings are brownish-grey with strong purple reflections and a 
small blackish apical spot. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
usually frequenting forests. It delights to fly in damp 
sunny openings, but may be found in densely shaded spots 
as well. On Tabletop, Tararua Range, it is plentiful 
amongst the tussock grass, at the upper edge of the forest, 
about 4,000 feet above the sea-level. 
MNESARCHAEA LOXOSCIA. 
(Mnesarchaea loxoscia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 90.) 
(Plate XXXIX., fig. 23 @.) 
Another fine species occurring at Auckland, Raurimu, 
Ohakune, Kaitoke and Wellington, where it is common in 
MICROPTERYGIDAE. 
367 
certain restricted localities. It has also occurred in the 
Buller Valley and on Mount Arthur in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly 4 inch. The fore- 
wings are cream-coloured clouded with deep bronzy-brown on 
the apex and termen; there is a very broad triangular patch of 
deep blackish-brown on the costa extending from the base to be- 
yond the middle; a small triangular brown mark on the dor- 
sum beyond the middle, sometimes touching the costal patch; a 
series of scattered white scales on the termen. The hind-wings 
are deep purplish-grey with scattered golden scales on the costa 
and termen. 
Superficially this species somewhat resembles M. hama- 
delpha, but is a much darker-looking insect; the brown 
markings are also much broader than in that species. 
The perfect insect appears from the end of October 
until the end of December, and frequents damp places in 
forests. It is, however, fond of flying in sunny openings 
and when on the wing is very hard to see. It rests stand- 
ing on all its legs, with the wings closed vertically, form- 
ing a very steep roof, and the antennae held erect and 
divergent. 
Genus 2.—MICROPARDALIS, Meyr. 
Mandibles developed. No tongue. 
tary. Maxillary palpi long, folded. Middle tibiae with 
apical bristles, without spurs. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 
separate. 
An endemic genus containing two species. 
Labial palpi rudimen- 
MICROPARDALIS DOROZENA. 
(Palaeomicra dorozena, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 92; Micro- 
pardalis dorogend, ib. xliv., 124; Gen. Ins. exxxii., f.2.) 
(Plate XXXIX., fig. 27 9.) 
This very beautiful and interesting has 
occurred on the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland, at Gis- 
borne, Tarawera, Waimarino, Silverstream, Gollan’s Val- 
ley and Wainuiomata near Wellington. It is not, however, 
by any means a common insect. 
The expansion of the wings is five-sixteenths of an inch. 
The fore-wings, which have the costa abruptly bent at the base, 
are golden ochreous; there are three pinkish-golden darker-edged 
transverse bands on the basal area, the first very obliquely 
placed, its dorsal extremity meeting the second; a fourth very 
short band is situated on the costa beyond the middle; two 
black blotches near the apex, one containing a single pale purple 
spot, the other two spots, and a very large elongate black blotch 
near the termen containing three purple spots. The hind-wings 
are dark purplish-grey. 
The perfect insect appears from the middle of October 
until January, and is found in damp sunny places on the 
edges of forest. This species is very interesting from the 
strong tendeney of the markings to approach those of 
Glyphipteryzx. 
species 
MICROPARDALIS AURELLA. 
(Sabatinca aurella, Huds., Ent. Mo. Mag., liv., 62.) 
(Plate XLVI., fig. 20 @.) 
This extremely handsome species was discovered by 
Mr. R. M. Sunley near the mountain house, Mount Holds- 
worth, Tararua Range, at an elevation of about 2,500 feet 



