THE NEW ZEALAND MAGPIE MOTH. NYCTEMERA ANNULATA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 109, 11 May 1896, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND MAGPIE MOTH. NYCTEMERA ANNULATA.

(From " New Zealand Farmer.")

AN impression seems to gain ground that' this moth ia injurious to grass and orchard vegetation. I do nob think, however, ib can be considered an insect peat in these respects. Its usual food in the larval state consists of groundsel, both native and introduced, ie., Senecio bellidiodes and S. vulgaris, as well a3 other allied plants of the ragwort germs. For several seasons I have watched Annulala, and do nob remember seeing ib feeding on grass, frnib trees, or bushes, bub have seen ib on young Mahoe (Melecytus ramiflorus) ab tbe outskirts of the bush, on a species of ground ivy and other low-lying plants. I have also nobiced ib on many orchard plants, bhough nob actually feeding on bhem, its presence in bhese situations being, no doubb, dne to the hoe or cultivabor roobing np its food plants.

With regard to its alleged gramnivorons propensities I do sob consider that it is at all likely to do much harm, if any, to the agriculturist, or ever to vie with snch insects as Mamestra composita, Leueania unipuncta, or other known destroyer, of grass crops* The magpie moth ia one of the very few dinrnal Macrolepidoptera met with in New Zealand. It is at least doublebrood, d, exceedingly common, and widely distributed, the second or midsummer brood being the more numerous, and continuing on the wing nnbil late in the autumn. The caterpillar ia essentially a feeder on small herbage, and from its structure, and habits, common to most of the Bombycidce, it is not probable that it would ever become a tree-feeder. Orchardists may therefore congratulate themselves that so abnndanb a moth cannot reasonably be considered an injurious insect to them, feeding as it does on noxious weeds and plants. Nevertheless, I remember on one occasion finding a few ova on a plum leaf, but failed to Tear them on that food, from which I infer they were accidentally deposited there. The old country magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata (fillers from annulata in being a decided pest in orchards and gardens among gooseberry and currant* bushes, and is sometimes found feeding on plum, bnb more frequently on sloe (Prunus spinosa) in hedge rows and elsewhere. Though aptly named magpie moths on account of their fancied resemblance in colour to birds of that name, there is little entomological relationship between them. The New Zealand type beloDgs to the Bombyces, and the Old Country moth to the Qeoinetrm, both distinct groups of Heterooera. The larva of the former ia an inch in length, black and hairy, with orange red dorsal and spiracnlar lines, and that of the latter, a looper, about the same length, white and naked, dotted with black, etc. Another difference.consists in grossnlariata being a very variable moth, whether naturally or artificially bred. Instances of complete melanism with ib are known to have occurred, whereas though I have observed myriads of Annulata, I have never seen or heard of a single instance of variation worthy of notice. A perfectly black specimen would nob only be a great rarity, but a prize worth possessing. The New Zealand Magpie moth is on the wing ' from dewy morn till dewy eve,' and may be easily identified by the following general characteristics: Fore wings black with transverse, central irregular, white banded markings ; hind wings black with a white circular spot, not central; on each wing, head, thorax and abdomen black with yellow annulated bands, etc.

Geo. J. Gkapes, Caerbroc, Paraparaonu, February I7tb, 1896.