New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)Hudson, G. V. (George Vernon)
Science
New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)
Hudson, G. V. (George Vernon)
Lepidoptera -- New Zealand
The pupa is rather robust, with a sharp spine at its extremity. Its colour
is pale olive-brown, with the wing-cases and sides of the abdomen pinkish.
It is not enclosed in any cocoon, but is merely concealed amongst the dead
leaves and rubbish around the stem of the veronica. The insect remains in
this state for less than a month, so that the protection of a cocoon would
appear to be unnecessary.
The moth appears in December and January. It usually frequents gardens and
other cultivated places, probably on account of the number of veronicas
that are often growing in such situations. It is also attracted by blossoms
and by light, but is not a common species. The colouring and wing-outline
of this moth cause it to very closely resemble a dead leaf, especially when
resting amongst foliage or on the ground. This insect may be occasionally
noticed abroad on mild evenings in the middle of winter; the females
probably hibernate and deposit their eggs early in the spring.
Family 5.--SELIDOSEMIDÆ.
"Hind-wings with vein 5 imperfect (not tubular) or obsolete, 6 and 7
usually separate, 8 usually obsoletely connected with upper margin of
cell near base, approximated to near middle." (See Plate II., figs. 51 to
64.)
"A very large family, equally common throughout all regions. It varies
considerably in superficial appearance, and is also remarkable for the
variability of structure of veins 10 and 11 of the fore-wings in many (not
all) species. Imago with body slender to rather stout; fore-wings broad to
rather elongate, triangular; posterior tibiæ of male often enlarged and
enclosing an expansible tuft of hairs. The structure termed the fovea is a
circular impression on the lower surface of the fore-wings above the dorsum
near the base, usually placed about the origin of the basal fork of 1_b_;
it is generally confined to the male, and is often sub-hyaline, sometimes
surmounted by a small thickened gland; it may possibly be a scent-producing
organ. It is strictly confined to that branch of which _Selidosema_ is the
type, but is not invariably present there.
"Ovum subcylindrical or elongate-ovate, more or less reticulated,
sometimes ribbed. Larva elongate, more or less slender, with few hairs,
without developed prolegs on segments 7, 8, and usually 9; often
remarkably like a twig of its food-plant. Pupa subterranean, or in a
slight cocoon above ground."--(Meyrick.)
{82}Of this extensive family we have nine genera represented in New
Zealand:
1. SELIDOSEMA.
2. HYBERNIA.
3. CHALASTRA.
4. SESTRA.
5. GONOPHYLLA.
6. DREPANODES.
7. AZELINA.
8. IPANA.
9. DECLANA.
Genus 1.--SELIDOSEMA, Hb.
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