Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/87

Larva rather stout, cylindrical, attenuated at both ends; rather light dull green, bluish-tinged towards back, yellowish-tinged on sides and on segmental divisions; spots hardly lighter; head (when full-grown) pale dull ochreous, spotted with brownish-ochreous on crown. When younger (until last moult), head small, black, deeply incised behind, second segment greenish-whitish, transparent, hindmargin and posterior angles suffused with blackish. Feeds amongst spun-together shoots and leaves of Veronica, Lonicera, Rumex, etc.; probably very polyphagous. Pupa in same position, without cocoon. Larvæ were found plentifully in February and March, from which moths emerged in April, but probably they are feeding during most of the year. The species is very liable to the attacks of a large solitary dipterous parasite, which destroys nine-tenths of the larvæ.

Very common, and probably universally distributed, occurring at Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, from November to April, and occasionally in June and July.

Thorax smooth. Antennæ in male simple. Palpi moderate, ascending, appressed to face, second joint shortly rough-scaled beneath. Forewings with costa simple in male. Hindwings broader than forewings, in male with a short membranous ridge on lower median near base, and a grooved channel below it. Forewings with 12 veins, 7 and 8 separate, 7 to hindmargin. Hindwings with 8 veins, 3 and 4 stalked, 5 nearly parallel to 4, 6 and 7 separate,

Very distinct from any indigenous genus; represented only by one species, imported from Europe with the apple tree, on the fruit of which the larva feeds.

Minor, alis ant. griseis, strigulis transversis saturatioribus, macula magna postica fusco-cuprea, metallico-cincta, antice nigro-marginata; post. fuscis.

Male, female.—16–18 mm. Head and thorax dark fuscous-grey, sprinkled with whitish. Forewings moderate, posteriorly dilated, costa hardly arched, hindmargin oblique, sinuate; ashy-grey (scales dark grey with white tips), with numerous irregular transverse greyish-fuscous lines, coalescing to form a rather narrow transverse band at ⅓ from base; a moderately broad elongate-ovate coppery-fuscous patch on anal angle, extending along hindmargin nearly to apex, preceded and followed by a metallic line, and containing two small metallic spots on anal angle; the anterior metallic line is preceded by a blackish streak, extending from inner margin half across wing: cilia grey, rather metallic, paler towards