The eggs are oval, pale yellow, changing first to orange, and then to dull grey before hatching. The young larva, when first emerged, is pale greyish-brown and very slender. Later on the caterpillar becomes dull olive-green speckled with black; there are two paler stripes just below the middle of the back, then a fine black line, followed by a very fine white one, then a broad pink stripe on the side; below this is a broad black line followed by a white line and two fine black ones. The larva is moderately stout, and the two prolegs are very close together. The larva, when full-grown, measures about ¾ inch in length. The general colour is dull reddish-brown, often greenish-tinged. The back and sides are marked with numerous slightly waved fine black lines; there is a double series of black dots down the back, a broad black lateral line, followed by a fine white line. The under side of the larva is pinkish-brown; the head greenish-brown speckled with black. The caterpillar is obscurely marked, and very variable. It is often clouded with greenish colouring. The food-plant is watercress. The pupa, which is enclosed in a slight cocoon constructed of earth and silk, is found on the surface of the ground. The perfect insect is most abundant in December, and is attracted by light. It seems to be about during the entire year, as Mr. Meyrick states that he has taken numerous specimens from May till September, and hence concludes that it is essentially a winter species.[34] I can to some extent confirm this observation, as I have also found the insect during the winter, although not commonly. It is probable that there are several broods in the course of a year, and that the species hibernates as an imago. Regarding the synonymy of this species Mr. Meyrick remarks that "_C. ardularia_, Gn., is the male and _C. inamænaria_, Gn., the female of this species. _C. subidaria_, Gn., quoted by Butler as a synonym, is an Australian species, and not identical."[35] XANTHORHOE OROPHYLA, Meyr. (_Epyaxa orophyla_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 71.) (Plate VII., fig. 24 [M], 25 [F].) This fine species has occurred in the South Island at Nelson, Castle Hill, Mount Hutt, Dunedin and Lake Wakatipu. The expansion of the wings of the male is 1¼ inches, of the female 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings of the male are pale brownish-grey_; there is an obscure bent blackish line near the base, _a moderately broad central band bounded by two very distinct shaded blackish lines, the basal one of which is not curved_; the termen is shaded with darker grey, and there is an oblique pale mark near the apex. The hind-wings are pale grey tinged with ochreous. The female is slightly darker than the male; and there are numerous wavy pale and dark grey lines filling up the entire wing on each side of the central band.