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 expansion of the wings is about 7/8 inch. _All the wings are pale
ochreous, with numerous obscure reddish transverse lines._ On the
fore-wings there are four transverse series of black dots; the first near
the base, the second a little before the middle, the third a little
beyond the middle, and the fourth on the termen; between the second and
third series of dots there is very frequently _an elongate blackish
patch, especially towards the dorsum_. The hind-wings have three series
of black dots; the first near the base, the second near the middle, and
the third on the termen. The termen of both fore- and hind-wings slightly
projects near the middle.
This species varies considerably in the extent of the blackish marking near
the middle of the fore-wings, as well as in the colour and intensity of the
reddish transverse lines.
The larva is thus described by Mr. Fereday:[29] "The caterpillar has ten
legs, is cylindrical, rather stout, with the segmental divisions incised;
its colour is pale dull green, sometimes suffused with pink, brown,
purple, or dark green; the dorsal line is purplish-brown, suffused, the
central line whitish; the spiracular line is whitish, broadly margined
with purplish-brown; the segmental divisions are pale yellowish-brown."
The food is _Haloragis alata_, a common herbaceous plant growing in swampy
situations. The pupa is enclosed in a slight earth-covered cocoon.
{52}The perfect insect appears from September till March, and is sometimes
common. It is generally found in wooded districts, but prefers rather open
situations in the vicinity of streams, where its food-plant may often be
seen. According to Mr. Meyrick,[30] this insect is common in New South
Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, and the Australian and New Zealand specimens
are similar in appearance.
Genus 8.--ASTHENA.
"Face smooth, flat. Antennæ in [M] shortly ciliated. Palpi short,
slender, loosely scaled. Fore-wings with areole double. Hind-wings with
vein 8 anastomosing with cell to beyond middle.
(Plate II., figs. 30 and 31.)
"A genus of a few widely scattered species most numerous in the Australian
Region."--(Meyrick.)
We have two species.
ASTHENA PULCHRARIA, Dbld.
(_Acidalia pulchraria_, Dbld., Dieff. N. Z. ii. 286. _Chlorochroma
plurilineata_, Walk. 563, 676. _Asthena ondinata_, Gn. ix. 438, pl. xix.
4; Butl., Cat. pl. iii. 20. _Cidaria ondinata_, Feld. cxxviii. 17.
_Asthena pulchraria_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 69.)
(Plate VI., fig. 37 [M], 38 [F].)
This beautiful little insect has occurred at many localities throughout
both the North and South Islands. It is probably a common species in most
wooded districts.
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