An extremely abundant insect, occurring in swarms over meadows during the summer, where it may be captured in the daytime or taken by hundreds at the attracting lamp in the evening. Its larva is at present unknown, but probably feeds on the roots of grasses. Closely allied is _Crambus tahulalis_, found in similar situations, but appearing rather later in the season, the earliest specimens being met with about January, while _C. flexuosellus_ is on the wing throughout the summer. {94}Family PYRALIDÆ. _Siculodes subfasciata_ (Plate XII., fig. 3, 3a larva, 3b pupa). This curious insect may be occasionally taken flying round patches of _Muhlenbeckia adpressa_, which grows freely amongst brushwood in many parts of the country. Its larva (Fig. 3a), is very stout and sluggish, resembling the caterpillar of an ordinary Pyrale in general appearance. It feeds in the stems of the creeper, causing large swellings therein, which readily betray its presence, and should therefore be cut off and kept until the moth emerges, as specimens obtained in this way are far superior to any captured in the open. The pupa is dark brown, and shining; it lies in the centre of one of the swellings, the larva having previously prepared a safe outlet for the moth in the form of a small burrow leading to the air, its extreme end remaining closed by a thin pellicle of the original bark, which effectually prevents the inmate's resting-place being discovered from the exterior (see Fig. 3b, the small circle marked * represents the outlet). The perfect insect appears about December, flying rapidly in the hottest sunshine. It varies greatly, both in size and colour, some of the small males being very much suffused with dark brown, while the females usually resemble the figure (3), and are often more than twice the size of their mates. This insect is generally placed in a family called the _Siculidæ_, but I think without sufficient reason, and have therefore located it among the Pyralidæ, with which it has unquestionably a great affinity. Family TORTRICIDÆ. _Isonomeutis amauropa_ (Plate XIII., fig. 2, 2a larva). This odd little moth may be occasionally seen basking in openings in the forest, and usually flies away {95}with lightning speed when an attempt is made to capture it. The larva lives under the scaly bark of the matai-tree, feeding on the soft, juicy inner bark and sap. In colour it is light yellowish white, darker on the back, some specimens becoming quite pink on the dorsal surface. When full-grown it encloses itself in a tough silken cocoon, covered on the outside with fragments of wood, from which the moth emerges in about a fortnight's time. The sexes differ considerably in appearance, the male having much broader wings, and darker in colour than those in the female from which the illustration (Fig. 2) is taken. This insect is probably single-brooded, as the larva may be found feeding in the trees during the whole of the winter. Family TORTRICIDÆ.