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 perfect insect appears in October, November, and December. At present I
am only aware of four specimens in collections, viz., two in the British
Museum, taken at Auckland; one in Mr. Meyrick's collection, taken by Mr. H.
B. Kirk on the Rimutaka Ranges, at an elevation of about 1,500 feet; and
one kindly given to me by Mr. W. R. Morris, who took it at Wadestown, near
Wellington.[69] It is evidently a scarce species, but may be looked for in
the forest districts of the North Island.
PORINA CERVINATA, Walk.
(_Elhamma cervinata_, Walk., Suppl. 595. _Porina vexata_, ib. 597.
_Pielus variolaris_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 1. _Porina fuliginea_, Butl.,
Cist. Ent. ii. 488. _Porina cervinata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii.
208.)
(Plate XIII., fig. 12 [M], fig. 18 variety of [F].)
This insect is fairly common, and generally distributed throughout the
country. It is very abundant in the Manawatu district.
The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings vary from
brownish-black to dull yellow; there are several small white spots near
the base margined with black, and an obscure cloudy central streak,
sometimes containing one or two minute irregular white marks; near the
termen a broad, pale, wavy line runs from the costa to the dorsum, and
contains several elongate dull white spots, margined with black; another
series of smaller spots is often situated between this line and the
termen; there is a terminal row of small black spots. The {134}hind-wings
vary from pale greyish-brown to dull yellow. The cilia of all the wings
are barred with dark brown.
This species is extremely variable. In many cases a large number of the
spots is wanting. Mr. Meyrick states that the northern specimens are more
yellow-ochreous, and more distinctly spotted than the southern ones. He
adds that "the ochreous forms are easily distinguished from other species
by the numerous spots and the absence of a continuous pale discal streak;
the fuscous forms are sometimes very similar in colouring to _P. despecta_,
but they are distinctly shorter-winged, and the compound discal spots
appear to be a good character."
I have taken several specimens of what appears to be a variety of this
species on the Tableland of Mount Arthur. It is much paler than the typical
form, the markings much less distinct, and the central portions of the
fore-wings very pale yellow (see fig. 18).
The moth appears in October. It is very much attracted by light.
PORINA DESPECTA, Walk.
(_Hepialus despectus_, Walk., Suppl. 594. _Porina despecta_, Meyr., Trans.
N. Z. Inst. xxii. 209.)
(Plate XIII., fig. 13 [F].)
This species has occurred in the South Island, at Christchurch, the Otira
River and Lake Wakatipu.
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