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
In connection with this subject, it is noteworthy that the flattened
extremities of the elytra of the beetle, _Ectopsis ferrugalis_, closely
resemble in both shape and colour the remarkable anterior segments of the
larva of _D. atronivea_. As both insects feed on the same plant, and thus
exist under very similar conditions, it is highly probable that the
peculiarities have been independently acquired in each species for similar
purposes.
The pupa is enclosed in a light cocoon amongst dead leaves, &c, on the
surface of the ground.
{96}The perfect insect appears in February and March, and may sometimes be
taken at blossoms in the evening. It is also attracted by light, and has
been found occasionally, in the daytime, resting on tree-trunks. It
hibernates during the winter, coming abroad again the following spring to
lay its eggs. I have observed that a good many pupæ from the autumnal brood
do not emerge until September or October, so that the insect evidently
spends the winter both as a pupa and as an imago.
DECLANA EGREGIA, Feld.
(_Chlenias egregia_, Feld. cxxxi. 24; Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xii. 268,
pl. ix. 2. _Detunda egregia_, Meyr., ib. xvi. 101.)
(Plate X., fig. 35.)
This very handsome insect has occurred in the South Island at Nelson,
Christchurch, Akaroa and the Otira Gorge.
The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings are
creamy-white; there is a small dark brown mark at the base, a broad
transverse wavy brown band before the middle, a very large four-cornered
irregular brown mark beyond the middle, one of its corners touching the
apex and the other the tornus_; the termen is shaded with pale grey, and
there is a series of faint brown marks on the costa and dorsum. The
hind-wings are dull white, darker towards the termen; there are two very
faint transverse lines.
The perfect insect appears from November till February. It is a very rare
species.
Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.
DECLANA FLOCCOSA, Walk.
(_Declana floccosa_, Walk. xv. 1649. _Argua scabra_, Walk, xxviii. 448.
_Declana feredayi_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, 398, pl. xliii.
5. _Declana nigrosparsa_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 500. _Declana floccosa_,
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 102.)
(Plate X., figs. 39 to 43 [M] varieties, 44 to 47 [F] ditto.)
This species has occurred very commonly at Wellington, Christchurch and
Dunedin. It is probably generally distributed throughout the country.
The expansion of the wings is about 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are pale
greyish-white with numerous small brownish-black streaks, exhibiting a
slight concentration near the apex. The hind-wings are dull white,
clouded with greyish towards the termen.
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