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
(_Hermione xanthaspis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 61. _Aulopola
xanthaspis_, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)
(Plate VI., fig. 32 [M].)
This handsome insect has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur and
at Lake Guyon.
The expansion of the wings is a little over 1 inch. _The fore-wings are
bright yellow; there is a broad pale reddish-brown band on the costa; a
conspicuous oval dark brown spot above the middle_, often touching the
costal band; a double series of minute brown dots near the termen. The
hind-wings are pale yellow, with a double series of minute brown dots
parallel to the termen.
The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. It is
apparently a rare species. Mr. Fereday has six specimens taken at Lake
Guyon, and I have two specimens captured on the Tableland of Mount Arthur,
at an elevation of about 3,500 feet. These comprise, I believe, all the
specimens at present taken.
VENUSIA UNDOSATA, Feld.
(_Cidaria undosata_, Feld. cxxviii. 2. _Epiphryne undosata_, Meyr., Trans.
N. Z. Inst. xvi. 60.)
(Plate VI., fig. 33 [M], 34 [F].)
This neatly marked little insect has occurred at Napier and Palmerston in
the North Island; and at Nelson, Mount Hutt, Christchurch, Dunedin, and
Lake Wakatipu in the South Island.
The expansion of the wings is hardly an inch. _All the wings are pale
yellow with a variable number of fine jagged reddish-brown transverse
lines, which are usually most distinct towards the termen._ The
fore-wings have a broad band of reddish-brown along the costal edge; a
blackish dot above the middle just touching the costal band, and a small
brown mark near the apex. The hind-wings have a minute black dot a little
above the middle.
This species is rather variable: in some specimens the transverse lines are
much broader, forming bands of reddish-brown; in others the whole of the
wings are dull reddish-brown, except a small yellow area near the base;
whilst others are _entirely dull greyish-brown with the transverse lines
very faint_, intermediate varieties between all these forms also occurring.
The larva, according to Mr. Purdie,[31] is about ½ inch long, feeding on
the Ribbonwood (_Plagianthus betulinus_). The ground colour is green, with
the dorsal and lateral stripes white. The dorsal stripe is interlined with
short black dashes, and there is a dark blotch about the ninth segment. The
dorsal and lateral stripes may be margined with purplish-red. The under
side is green. The larvæ were found in April.
The perfect insect appears from November till February, and frequents
forest. According to my experience it is rather a local species, although
plentiful where found. Mr. Meyrick states that it is "very common in bush,
from August to February, and in May."[32]
Genus 10.--ASAPHODES, Meyr.
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