AZELINA GALLARIA, Walk.
(_Selenia gallaria_, Walk. 185, Butl., Cat., pl. iii. 6, 7. _Euchlaena_
(?) _palthidata_, Feld. cxxxii. 21, 22. _Stratocleis gallaria_, Meyr.,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 105; _Azelina gallaria_, xx. 62.)
(Plate X., figs. 13 to 20 [M] varieties, 21 to 23 [F] ditto.)
This species is very common in the neighbourhood of Wellington. It has also
occurred at Palmerston North, Makotuku, Christchurch, Dunedin and Stewart
Island.
The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. The fore-wings of the male vary
from pale yellowish-brown to bright orange-brown, or reddish-brown; there
is a wavy transverse line near the base, often obsolete except on the
costa; another wavy transverse line beyond the middle, also frequently
obsolete except on the costa; _followed by a very conspicuous straight
line, often double, running obliquely from a little before the apex to
the dorsum_; outside this line, near the tornus, there are, in most
specimens, two black spots or one large rust-red spot; the termen has two
projections near the apex, inside which there is usually a darker blotch.
The hind-wings are as variable in colour as the fore-wings; there is one
wavy line near the base, _followed by an almost straight line_, which is
a continuation of the straight line of the fore-wing; beyond this line
the ground colour is generally much darker; the termen itself has no
projections. The female has broader wings and a shorter body than the
male; the ground colour and markings are similar to those of the male,
but are usually more sombre, and the termen of both fore- and hind-wings
is furnished with a number of prominent projections. The under side of
the wings in both sexes is beautifully marbled with yellow and
reddish-brown, and several of the markings of the upper surface are
faintly indicated.
This species, as will be seen from the foregoing, is so extremely variable
that a more detailed description would be useless, especially as the
straight, oblique, transverse lines of both fore- and hind-wings will at
once distinguish it from the two other members of the genus.
{93}The perfect insect appears from November till March. It frequents dense
forest, and is most abundant at the flowers of the white rata in the
evening. Earlier in the year, before the rata blooms, it may sometimes be
taken at sugar.
AZELINA OPHIOPA, Meyr.
(_Gonophylla ophiopa_, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1897, 387.)
(Plate X., fig. 26 [M], 27 [M] variety, 28 [F].)
This species has occurred occasionally in the neighbourhood of Wellington,
but has not yet been recorded from any other locality.
The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings of the male are
pale orange-brown; there is a doubly toothed shaded transverse line near
the base, the teeth being marked with two black spots; _a conspicuous
wavy transverse line runs from the apex to the dorsum_, and is also
marked with several black dots; the space between the two transverse
lines is paler than the rest of the wing; there is a row of small black
dots on the termen, and the termen itself has two small projections. The
hind-wings are yellowish at the base, becoming orange beyond the middle;
there is a faint brownish transverse line near the base, and a
conspicuous wavy transverse line at the middle, marked by a series of
black dots; this central transverse line divides the yellowish ground
colour of the basal area, from the orange ground colour of the rest of
the wing. The female is larger and duller than the male; the fore-wings
are yellowish drab, with the outer transverse line dull red; there is a
series of minute black dots on the termen; the hind-wings are dull
yellow, with a wavy central transverse line.
The only variety of this species which has come under my observation is a
male. In this specimen all the wings are pale yellowish-brown, with very
broad black transverse lines. (See Plate X., fig. 27.)
This insect is evidently closely allied to _Azelina fortinata_. It may,
however, be distinguished from that species by the smaller projections on
the termen of the fore- and hind-wings, and the dotted transverse lines of
the male.
The perfect insect appears from January till April. It is met with much
later in the season than either of the two other species of _Azelina_. It
frequents forest, and may be found on the blossoms of the white rata, but
is, I think, the rarest of the genus.
AZELINA FORTINATA, Gn.
(_Polygonia fortinata_, Gn., E. M. M. v. 41. _Caustoloma_ (?) _ziczac_,
Feld. cxxxii. 4. _Azelina fortinata_, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 106.)
(Plate X., fig. 24 [M], 25 [F].)
This beautiful insect occurs occasionally in forests in both the North and
the South Islands. It has been taken at Wellington, Nelson, Castle Hill,
Akaroa, Mount Hutt, West Plains and Otara.
The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. The fore-wings of the male are
pale orange-brown, with _a doubly toothed black transverse line near the
base, and a less acutely toothed line beyond the middle_; between these
there is a black mark on the costa; the termen has two large projections,
and several smaller ones; between the outer transverse line and the
termen there are several small black markings. The hind-wings are
yellowish, clouded with orange-brown towards the termen, which also has
several projections; there is a faint blackish line near the base, and a
much stronger black line near the middle, starting from the dorsum and
reaching about half-way across the wing. The female has the fore-wings
dark brown, with the central area between the two transverse lines paler;
the hind-wings are also considerably darker than those in the male.
This species varies a little in the depth of the ground colour, but not
otherwise.
The perfect insect appears in December, January and February. It frequents
dense forest, and is generally disturbed from amongst ferns and
undergrowth.
{94}Genus 8.--IPANA, Walk.
"Face roughly haired. Antennæ in male simple, shortly ciliated. Palpi as
in _Declana_. Thorax densely hairy above and beneath, with slight median
crest. Abdomen in male elongate. Femora densely hairy; posterior tibiæ in
male short and much swollen, furnished on inner side with very large
dense tuft of hairs. Fore-wings in male without fovea; veins 10 and 11
separate."--(Meyrick).
We have one species in New Zealand.
IPANA LEPTOMERA, Walk.
(_Ipana leptomera_, Walk., Noct. 1662.)
(Plate X., figs. 29, 31, and 31A [M] varieties, 30 [F].)
This species is common in the neighbourhood of Wellington, and I expect
generally distributed throughout New Zealand; but as there appears to have
been some confusion in Mr. Meyrick's papers between it and the female of
_Declana junctilinea_, I am unable to assign the localities there mentioned
to either of the species.
The expansion of the wings of the male is 1½ inches, of the female 1-3/8
inches. The fore-wings of the male are uniform pale brownish-ochreous,
generally with two transverse series of minute darker brown dots parallel
to the termen, and two or three similar dots near the middle of the wing.
There is a series of very small parallel brown lines on the costa. The
hind-wings are greyish-brown with two very deep indentations in the
termen. The female has the fore-wings pale grey, and the hind-wings
darker grey; the markings and outline resemble the male.
In a few male specimens I have observed four large black spots on the
fore-wings, two near the base, and two near the termen. All these spots are
sometimes joined together by a very broad black band, which extends along
the whole of the central portion of the fore-wings. I have also a male
specimen in which the fore-wings are entirely marbled with dark grey. In
the female two or three moderately large spots are occasionally present on
the fore-wings, near the termen. All these varieties appear to be much
scarcer than the typical form.
The larva, which feeds on manuka (_Leptospermum_), has ten legs. It is
rather slender, dark brown, mottled with grey and dull red. There are two
large tubercles on the sides of the seventh and eighth segments. It is a
sluggish caterpillar and is generally seen in a motionless condition,
clasping the stem of its food-plant with its prolegs, and holding the rest
of its body in a perfectly rigid position like a small branch. The pupa is
enclosed in a cocoon of silk and refuse on the surface of the ground.
The perfect insect appears in January, February and March. It is a
forest-dwelling species, and may often be captured in some numbers, at
dusk, on the flowers of the white rata (_M. scandens_). It is very sluggish
and nearly always drops to the ground when disturbed and feigns death.
Genus 9.--DECLANA, Walk.
"Face roughly haired. Antennæ in male bi-pectinated to apex or simple.
Palpi with second joint ascending, rough-haired, terminal joint rather
long, slender, clavate, porrected. Thorax densely hairy above and
beneath, with more or less developed median crest. Femora densely hairy.
Fore-wings in male without fovea; vein 6 sometimes out of 9, 10 sometimes
out of 9, connected or anastomosing with 9, 11 sometimes out of 10,
sometimes connected or anastomosing with 10."--(Meyrick.) (Plate II.,
figs. 56 and 57, neuration of _Declana floccosa_, 58 head of ditto.)
We have seven species.
{95}DECLANA ATRONIVEA, Walk.
(_Detunda atronivea_, Walk., Suppl. ii. 619. _Chlenias_ (?) _manxifera_,
Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xii. (1879), 268, pl. ix. 1. _Detunda
atronivea_, Meyr., ib. xvi. 101.)
(Plate X., fig. 33 [M], 34 [F]; Plate III., fig. 18, larva.)
This very handsome and conspicuous insect appears to be restricted to the
North Island, where it is rather rare. It has occurred at Wellington,
Otaki, and Napier.
The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-5/8 inches, of the female
nearly 2 inches. The fore-wings are _brilliant shining white, with
numerous black markings_; these consist chiefly of three irregular
branching transverse bands, and a series of wedge-shaped spots on the
termen; the larger markings are brownish in the centre. The hind-wings
are dark grey, becoming almost black on the termen, with a fine wavy
transverse black line.
This species varies considerably in the size and shape of the black
markings on the fore-wings, which are often slightly different on the
opposite sides, in the same specimen.
The eggs of this moth are oval in shape, slightly roughened on the surface
and light blue in colour. They are deposited towards the end of October.
The young larva escapes by gnawing a hole out of the side.
When first hatched it is dull brownish-black, with creamy-white lateral
lines and prolegs; the head is reddish. It feeds on _Panax arborea_.
After the first moult the lateral lines become much wider, especially
towards the head. After the second moult the two dorsal tubercles are
fully developed, the thoracic segments much swollen and flattened above,
the latter bearing traces of the black markings of the full-grown larva.
After the third moult the larva becomes a dark brownish colour inclining
to chocolate on the dorsal surface. The characteristic markings on the
penultimate and anal segments of the adult larva now appear, and the
dorsal tubercles are yellowish in colour; the extra prolegs are very
small, and are visible as wart-like appendages on the lower surface of
the tenth segment.
The full-grown caterpillar is a remarkable-looking animal. The head is
very small; the first three segments of the body are enormously swollen
and flattened above, the flattened portions being white, with several
small black ring-shaped markings; there is a pair of large yellowish
tubercles on the dorsal surface of the seventh segment, and two smaller
ones on the tenth and eleventh segments; the larva is much stouter
towards the posterior extremity, especially behind the ninth segment; the
penultimate segment is furnished with a large creamy-white ridge,
starting on the back and proceeding downwards and forwards; the extra
pair of prolegs is small and only occasionally used in walking. The
general colour of the larva is brownish- or blackish-green; the tenth and
eleventh segments are generally darker, and there are many fine parallel
lines of darker colouring on the central portions of the larva; the whole
insect is also speckled with black; the spiracles are red. The larva
varies a good deal in colour, but its peculiar structure will at once
distinguish it from any other.
These larvæ often coil themselves up when at rest, clinging firmly with
their large prolegs to their food-plant. Whilst thus engaged they have a
very remarkable appearance. I have not yet ascertained the precise object
of the peculiar shape and coloration of this caterpillar. It appears to
resemble very closely a lichen-covered twig, but I suspect in this case
there is something more special aimed at.
In connection with this subject, it is noteworthy that the flattened
extremities of the elytra of the beetle, _Ectopsis ferrugalis_, closely
resemble in both shape and colour the remarkable anterior segments of the
larva of _D. atronivea_. As both insects feed on the same plant, and thus
exist under very similar conditions, it is highly probable that the
peculiarities have been independently acquired in each species for similar
purposes.
The pupa is enclosed in a light cocoon amongst dead leaves, &c, on the
surface of the ground.
{96}The perfect insect appears in February and March, and may sometimes be
taken at blossoms in the evening. It is also attracted by light, and has
been found occasionally, in the daytime, resting on tree-trunks. It
hibernates during the winter, coming abroad again the following spring to
lay its eggs. I have observed that a good many pupæ from the autumnal brood
do not emerge until September or October, so that the insect evidently
spends the winter both as a pupa and as an imago.
DECLANA EGREGIA, Feld.
(_Chlenias egregia_, Feld. cxxxi. 24; Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xii. 268,
pl. ix. 2. _Detunda egregia_, Meyr., ib. xvi. 101.)
(Plate X., fig. 35.)
This very handsome insect has occurred in the South Island at Nelson,
Christchurch, Akaroa and the Otira Gorge.
The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings are
creamy-white; there is a small dark brown mark at the base, a broad
transverse wavy brown band before the middle, a very large four-cornered
irregular brown mark beyond the middle, one of its corners touching the
apex and the other the tornus_; the termen is shaded with pale grey, and
there is a series of faint brown marks on the costa and dorsum. The
hind-wings are dull white, darker towards the termen; there are two very
faint transverse lines.
The perfect insect appears from November till February. It is a very rare
species.
Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.
DECLANA FLOCCOSA, Walk.
(_Declana floccosa_, Walk. xv. 1649. _Argua scabra_, Walk, xxviii. 448.
_Declana feredayi_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, 398, pl. xliii.
5. _Declana nigrosparsa_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 500. _Declana floccosa_,
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 102.)
(Plate X., figs. 39 to 43 [M] varieties, 44 to 47 [F] ditto.)
This species has occurred very commonly at Wellington, Christchurch and
Dunedin. It is probably generally distributed throughout the country.
The expansion of the wings is about 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are pale
greyish-white with numerous small brownish-black streaks, exhibiting a
slight concentration near the apex. The hind-wings are dull white,
clouded with greyish towards the termen.
This insect is so extremely variable that I have given descriptions of a
few of the principal varieties below; all these forms may, however, be
connected by specimens exhibiting every intermediate gradation both in
colour and in markings.