Sub-family 1.--HYPENIDES 1. HYPENODES.
{2. PLUSIA.
Sub-family 2.--PLUSIADES {3. DASYPODIA.
{4. RHAPSA.
{34}Sub-family 1.--_HYPENIDES_.
Vein 5 of hind-wings parallel to 4.
Genus 1.--HYPENODES, Gn.
Head loosely scaled, with small frontal tuft. Antennæ in [M] ciliated.
Palpi very long, porrected, second joint thickened with rough projecting
scales, terminal rather short, cylindrical. Thorax with appressed scales.
Abdomen with small crest near base. Tibiæ smooth-scaled. Fore-wings with
vein 7 separate, 9 and 10 out of 8. Hind-wings with vein 5 parallel to 4.
"Although consisting of very few species, this genus is almost universally
distributed. Imago with fore-wings unusually elongate. Larva without
prolegs on segments 7 and 8."--(Meyrick.)
We have one species in New Zealand.
HYPENODES EXSULARIS, Meyr.
(_Hypenodes exsularis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 46.)
"_Male._--16 mm. (about ¾ inch). Head, antennæ, thorax, and abdomen
whitish-ochreous, brownish-tinged; abdominal crest black. Palpi dark
fuscous. Legs dark fuscous, posterior pair whitish-ochreous. Fore-wings
elongate, posteriorly gradually dilated, costa slightly arched, termen
obliquely rounded; ochreous-brown, closely irrorated with rather dark
fuscous; a black mark beneath costa at base; a cloudy blackish
longitudinal mark in disc beyond middle; second line obscurely indicated,
paler, anteriorly partly blackish-edged, from posterior extremity of
discal mark to dorsum beyond middle; an oblique wedge-shaped white spot
from apex, touching second line; a sub-terminal series of white dots; a
terminal row of black dots; cilia fuscous, with a basal series of
whitish-ochreous dots. Hind-wings pale whitish-grey; a grey transverse
discal spot; a dark grey interrupted terminal line; cilia grey-whitish.
"Taranaki, in March; one specimen.
"In the British Museum is an unnamed specimen from China, which appears to
be certainly the same species; it, therefore, probably ranges through many
of the South Pacific islands. From its small size and inconspicuous
appearance it is doubtless often overlooked."--(Meyrick.)
Sub-family 2.--_PLUSIADES_.
Vein 5 of hind-wings more or less approximated to 4.
Genus 2.--PLUSIA, Ochs.
"Head rough-scaled. Antennæ in [M] very shortly ciliated. Palpi rather
long, curved, ascending, second joint rough-scaled, terminal moderately
long or short, more or less rough-scaled in front, somewhat pointed.
Thorax with large central or posterior crest. Abdomen with one or more
crests. Tibiæ rough-scaled. Hind-wings with vein 5 more or less
approximated to 4." (Plate II., figs. 14 and 15.)
"A considerable genus, occurring throughout the world. Most of the imagos
are handsome insects, often with metallic markings; some of them fly
actively in bright sunshine. Larva usually without prolegs on segments 7
and 8, segment 12 more or less prominent above. Pupa in a rather open
cocoon."--(Meyrick.)
This genus is represented in New Zealand by a single and very widely
distributed species.
{35}PLUSIA CHALCITES, Esp.
(_Plusia criosoma_, Dbld., Dieff. N. Z. 285; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. x. 1,
2. _P. argentifera_, Gn., Noct. vi. 352. _P. eriosoma_, Meyr., Trans. N.
Z. Inst. xix. 36.)
(Plate VI., fig. 3 [M].)
This insect is probably generally distributed in the North Island, and in
the northern portions of the South Island. It has occurred very commonly at
Taranaki, Napier, and Nelson, but in Wellington it is rather a scarce
species.
The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dark
grey with bronzy reflections; there is a pale band on the termen, and
several of the transverse lines are indicated by paler colouring, the two
basal ones being often silvery; _the orbicular is partly outlined with
golden-white, and the claviform is wholly filled in with the same
colour_. The hind-wings are yellowish-grey, darker towards the termen.
Mr. Meyrick mentions a variety in which the characteristic golden-white
discal spots on the fore-wings are absent. I have not yet had the good
fortune to see this form, and think it must be a rare one.
The larva has twelve legs; it is much attenuated towards the head; its
colour is pale green, darker on the back; there is a number of wavy white
lines and dots on the larva, as well as a few isolated black dots and
hairs. It feeds on geraniums, mint, bean, Scotch thistle, and many other
garden plants and weeds. Its original food appears to have been the "potato
plant" (_Solarium aviculare_); but now it only occurs on this shrub in
uncultivated localities, where there is no European vegetation.
The pupa is enclosed in a cocoon of white silk, generally situated between
two dead leaves on or near the ground.
The moth first appears about September, and continues abundant until the
end of summer. In Nelson I have seen it in great profusion, hovering over
various flowers in the evening, at which time it also occasionally
endeavours to gain access to beehives. In the same locality I have met with
the young larvæ in the middle of winter, so that there is probably a
continuous succession of broods all the year through in favourable
situations.
This insect is found in Australia, Pacific Islands, Africa, South Asia,
South Europe, and occasionally in the South of England.[22]
Genus 3.--DASYPODIA, Gn.
"Eyes naked. Palpi with terminal joint very slender. Antennæ in male
filiform, hardly pubescent. Thorax and abdomen not crested. Tarsi in male
very much thickened, with dense scales (_teste Guenée_)."--(Meyrick.)
We have one species.
DASYPODIA SELENOPHORA, Gn.
(_Dasypodia selenophora_, Gn., Noct. vii. 175; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst.
xix. 38.)
(Plate VI., fig. 4.)
This large and very handsome insect has occurred at Auckland, Napier, and
Wellington in the North Island, and at Nelson, Richmond, and Christchurch,
in the South Island.
The expansion of the wings is about 3 inches. _The fore-wings are very
rich deep brown_; there are two faint jagged transverse lines near the
base, a straight shaded line at about one-third; _the reniform is very
large, crescentic, steely blue, finely margined first with black, then
with orange, and {36}then again with black; the centre of the crescent is
filled in with black; beyond this spot there are three fine black wavy
transverse lines emitting three very sharp teeth between the reniform and
the dorsum_; there is a faint shaded line near the termen. The hind-wings
are rich brown, slightly paler than the fore-wings; there are three
shaded, wavy, transverse lines. The termen of both wings is slightly
scalloped with a minute bluish-white dot at each indentation; the cilia
are dark brown.