Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/83

Mr. R. W. Fereday formerly took this species in abundance amongst grass near Christchurch, whence it seems now to have disappeared, probably owing to the extermination of native by English grasses.

Thorax smooth. Antennæ in male biciliated with fascicles of long fine ciliations. Palpi moderate, porrected, second joint roughly scaled above and beneath. Forewings with costa simple in male. Hindwings as broad as forewings. Forewings with 12 veins, 7 and 8 separate, 7 to hindmargin. Hindwings with 8 veins, 3 and 4 widely remote at origin, nearly parallel, 5 slightly approximated to 4 at base, 6 and 7 long-stalked, transverse vein very oblique.

Differs from Proselena especially by the peculiar ciliations of the antennæ. An interesting genus, approaching more nearly to the common ancestral type of the Tortricina, than any other native to New Zealand. It has considerable affinity both with Proselena and Dipterina, the very oblique transverse vein of the hindwings being found in some species of both those genera (as Pros. annosana and Dipt. imbriferana).

Minor, alis ant. dilute griseo-ochreis, fusco-nebulosis, area basali fasciaque media subobliqua obsoletis vix saturatioribus; post. dilute griseis.

Male.—18 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax brownish-ochreous sprinkled with dark fuscous. Antennæ grey. Abdomen whitish-grey-ochreous. Legs whitish, anterior and middle pair suffused with dark fuscous except at apex of joints. Forewings moderate, costa moderately and evenly arched, hindmargin obliquely rounded; pale greyish-ochreous, mixed with fuscous, and strigulated with dark fuscous; basal patch and central fascia fuscous, more ochreous towards disc, very ill-defined; outer edge of basal patch nearly straight, rather oblique; inner edge of central fascia running from before middle of costa to middle of inner margin, rather irregular, outer edge wholly suffused and obsolete; a longitudinal slender blackish line in central fascia below middle, above which is an ochreous patch; faint traces of a cloudy fuscous costal spot about ¾: cilia ochreous-whitish, with an indistinct grey line near base. Hindwings rather light grey, apex darker; cilia whitish, with traces of two grey lines.

A very obscurely marked insect, yet very different in appearance from any other.

One fine specimen taken amongst bush near Christchurch in March.

Lower median vein of hindwings pectinated with hairs towards base; vein 2 of forewings rising before posterior third of lower margin of cell.