Art. X.—Supplement to a Monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 17, 1884, Page 62

Art. X.—Supplement to a Monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina. By E. Meyrick, B.A. [Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 7th August, 1884.] Since the preparation of my paper on this group, published in the Transactions for 1883, I have revisited England, and been enabled to examine all the types of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera existing in the British Museum. The results of this examination with reference to the Bombycina and Noctuina I hope to embody in future papers; meanwhile I give here the corrections and additions to my list of Geometrina which I find to be necessary. It will be remembered that I anticipated the necessity of this revision. I have also been enabled to obtain Lederer's paper on the classification of the group, forming the basis of the system now adopted in Europe; by its aid I have been able to rectify my use of some generic names. I may mention, however, that whilst fully concurring in his general views on classification, I dissent from many of his results, and especially from his limitation of the genus Cidaria, which requires subdivision; I am still of

opinion that the genera allied to this, but distinguished by me, will be found to be natural and tenable. Also, I do not agree that the group is incapable of division into families, though, as previously mentioned, I may very probably see cause hereafter to modify the limits of my families, when I have concluded the investigation of the Australian species. Two or three corrections on other points are also included. The five family names employed I desire to stand as follows:—(1) Acidaliadæ, (2) Larentiadæ, (3) Boletobiadæ, (4) Lyrceidæ, (5) Boarmiadæ. The alterations in form, which I have here made, I believe to be correct orthographically, and have adopted them as alone justifiable; I need not here enter into the technical question. The fifth name is altered on the ground of priority, the alteration being also convenient and just. I proceed to go through the species in the order given; where no mention is made of a species, it will be understood that the synonymy and nomenclature has been verified as correct. 2. Acidalia rubraria, Dbld Additional synonyms of this species are Acidalia repletaria, Walk., 778; and Acidalia attributa, Walk., 779. 4. Hippolyte rubropunctaria, Dbld This species is Acidalia pulchraria, Walk., 780, as well as of Butler, both authors having mistaken it for Asthena pulchraria, Dbld., of which the description is notwithstanding quite clear. 9. Eurydice rufescens, Butl (Larentia (?) rufescens. Butl., Cist. Ent., ii., 502; Eurydice cymosema, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 63.) Should stand corrected as above, according to type. 10. Harpalyce megaspilata, Walk The reference to Larentia rufescens, Butl., as a synonym, should be struck out. 11. Harpalyce parora, n. sp (Harpalyce humeraria, Meyr. (nec. Walk.), Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 64.) As I had apprehended, none of Walker's names quoted for this species are really applicable, all being referable to No. 85. I also agree with Mr. A. Purdie (N.Z. Journ. Sc., ii., 88), that Itama cinerascens, Feld., is not this species, but No. 86. The present insect is therefore left without a name; I name it as above. 12. Stratonice euclidiata, Gn (Coremia euclidiata, Gn., x., 420; Coremia glyphicata, ib., 420; Fidonia catapyrrha, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 392, pl. xliii., 2; Stratonice catapyrrha, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 64.) I recently discovered that this was identical with the Australian species described twice as above by Guenée, having obtained Australian specimens

for comparison. The species occurs in Victoria; I think that, as in the case of all other Geometrina common to both regions, Australia is its original home. 14. Pasiphila bilineolata, Walk The following are all additional synonyms of this species: Coremia inductata, Walk., 1322; Scotosia denotata, ib. 1361; Scotosia subitata, ib., 1362; Scotosia humerata, ib., 1362; Phibalapteryx eupitheciata, ib., 1720; Phibalapteryx parvulata, ib., 1721; Coremia cristata, ib., Suppl., 1683. I find that this species also occurs in Australia, being common in Victoria and New South Wales. 16. Tatosoma agrionata, Walk (Cidaria agrionata, Walk., 1417; Cidaria tipulata, ib., 1417; Cidaria inclinataria, ib., 1418; Cidaria transitaria, ib., 1419; Cidaria collectaria, ib., 1419; Sauris mistata, Feld., cxxxi., 12.) All these synonyms refer to this species, and not to the following, as supposed. 17. Tatosoma timora, n. sp (Tatosoma agrionata, Meyr. (nec. Walk.), Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 68.) It becomes necessary now to rename this species, as above. 26. Arsinoe subochraria, Dbld Aspilates euboliaria, Walk., 1684, is an additional synonym of this. 33. Cidaria arida, Butl (Melanthia arida, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii., 505; Cidaria chaotica, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 76.) Identified as above; Butler's type is a very poor specimen, which may partially account for the incomprehensibility of his description. 42. Larentia lucidata, Walk (Larentia lucidata, Walk., 1200; Coremia plurimata, ib. 1321; Panagra venipunctata, ib., 1666; Larentia psamathodes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 81.) The synonymy will stand as above. 47. Larentia subobscurata, Walk (Scotosia subobscurata, Walk., 1358; Larentia petropola, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 82.) Type rather worn, but clearly identifiable. 48. Larentia cinerearia, Dbld An additional synonym is Larentia diffusaria, Walk., 1201. In the synonymy of this species similisata, Walk., is wrongly printed as semilisata. 62. Pasithea brephos, Walk The reference to Fidonia enysii, Butl., as a synonym, should be struck out; vid. infr.

64. Statira enysii, Butl (Fidonia enysii, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 391, pl. xlii., 9; Statira homomorpha, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 91.) Butler's type is certainly this species; but I should add that neither the description nor figure are strictly recognizable, and my identification of the name with Pasithea brephos was founded on an undoubted specimen of that species received by Mr. Enys from Mr. Butler himself as his enysii. Genus 25. Samana, Walk Having investigated many of the Australian species of Panagra, Gn., I find it necessary to separate the present genus from it on the ground of the ciliated antennæ; these in Panagra are unipectinated. It will, therefore, be desirable to retain for this genus Walker's name. 71. Lyrcea alectoraria, Walk An additional synonym of this species is Ennomos ustaria, Walk., 1519. On the other hand, I could not find the types of Aspilates primata, Walk., and Endropia mixtaria, Walk., and am of opinion that Walker's descriptions do not apply to this species, whilst the localities are not given at all; I therefore think these names should be left out of the synonymy, and rejected altogether for the present. 76. Pseudocoremia melinata, Feld An additional synonym is Pseudocoremia confusa, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii., 496 (I am not sure whether this reference to text is correct). Genus 31. Gelonia, n. g On comparing Lederer's definitions of the genera Boarmia and Gnophos, it appears that the present genus differs from them notably in neuration, as well as in other points; I have therefore renamed it as above. Genus 82. Boarmia, Tr This genus agrees well with Lederer's definition of Boarmia, which, however, he makes rather more comprehensive than I do, as I limit the genus to his subdivision A, to which our species belongs. The name Barsine must therefore be abandoned. To the generic characters given should be added: male with a bare indented spot near base of forewings beneath submedian vein. 81. Declana floccosa, Walk The reference to Chlenias verrucosa, Feld., should be struck out; vid. infr. 82. Declana junctilinea, Walk Politeia junctilinea, Walk. Suppl., 643; Chlenias verrucosa, Feld., cxxxi., 22; Declana crassitibia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 103, male.) I believe that the insects described by me as sexes of Crassitibia, Feld., are really specifically distinct, as I have seen now several specimens of the form described as the female with what I believe to be the male belonging

to it, having simple antennæ, and therefore generically separable from Declana. The present species is that described as the male, for which I have found a name in Walker, and to which I also now refer verrucosa, Feld., instead of to the preceding species. The other species described as the female will stand as follows:— Ipana leptomera, Walk. Noct., 1662 (Ipana leptomera, Walk.,; Amphitape crassitibia, Feld., cix., 10; Declana crassitibia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 103, female.) The simple antennæ distinguish this genus from Declana and Detunda, and the separate origin of veins 10 and 11 of the forewings remove it from Atossa. Further investigation of this peculiar group, in which I think some specific variation in neuration may occur, is desirable; the genera may eventually require to be remodelled. 85. Amastris humeraria, Walk (Macaria humeraria, Walk., 940; Lozogramma obtusaria, ib., 985; Cidaria flexata, ib., 1421; Cidaria obtruncata, ib., 1421; Sestra fusiplagiata, ib., 1751; Amastris encausta, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 105.) I rather anticipated this identification, but was afraid to make it until had seen the types. 87. Chalastra pelurgata, Walk (Chalastra pelurgata, Walk., 1430; Itama cinerascens, Feld., cxxxi., 1; Stratocleis streptophora, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1883, 106.) I was not acquainted with the male when publishing my description; it has bipectinated antennæ, and the species therefore cannot remain in Stratocleis; I have retained for it accordingly Walker's generic name. Excepting the pectination of the antennæ, the characters of Chalastra are those of Stratocleis. The specific name is misprinted pellurgata; but I think there can be no doubt that Walker meant to write pelurgata, deriving it from the generic name Pelurga, Hb., which is itself correctly formed from the Greek. Appendix 91. Identified with 71. 92. No type found; description not recognizable; may be dropped. 94. Single specimens of these Australian species are labelled from New Zealand; I have no doubt this is an error; they may be omitted until recaptured. 95. Identified with 42. 96. Identified with 26. 97. Larentia subductata, Walk., 1198. I think this may be a distinct species from any described, but cannot speak positively until specimens are obtained for examination; it is probably a Laurentia, and rather resembles large forms of L. cinerearia, Dbld., but is distinctly tinged with yellow-greenish. 98. Wholly unidentifiable; may be dropped.

99. Identified with 42. 100. Larentia quadristrigata, Walk., 1200; Larentia interclusa, ib., 1202. Distinct from any species described; recalls Microdes in appearance; rather small, oblong-winged; white, with irregular curved dentate fuscous-grey lines; three forming a stronger curved band at 1/3, and three others a straight band at 2/3, first preceded and second followed by a dark shade. I should like to obtain specimens of this for investigation; I think it may be a Microdes, and identical with an Australian species. 101. Unidentifiable, but possibly a synonym of 42. 102. Identified with 42. 103. Identified with 14. 104. A common Australian species, doubtless recorded from New Zealand in error. 105. Phibalapteryx suppressaria, Walk., 1721. Distinct from any species described; perhaps a Larentia; moderate; costa sinuate; fuscous-grey, with oblique, dentate, slightly curved darker lines, a narrow central band obscurely whitish, margins darker. Said to be from Auckland. 106. Identified with 14. 107. Identified with 47. 108. Identified with 14. 109. Unidentifiable, but possibly a worn specimen of 75. 110. Identified with 87. 115. Larentia falcata, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii., 501. Apparently a distinct species; recalls Eurydice rufescens, Butl., but greyer and darker; cf. descr. 117. Identified with 33. 118. This is a tolerably common Australian species, also described more than once by Walker; it is doubtless recorded from New Zealand in error, and may be dropped. The following is an additional species which was overlooked previously. Samana acutata, Butl. (Samana acutata, Butl., P.Z.S.L., 1877, 401.) I have not been able to critically examine this, of which I saw the type; I noted that it was very like S. falcatella, Walk” but with first dark line running from inner margin near base to below costa before middle, lower extremity of second connected with anal angle by an oblique streak. I also made the following notes on exotic species, which struck me as nearly approaching New Zealand species, and as throwing light on questions of geographical distribution. Fidonia edmondsii, Butl., from Chili, is very closely allied to Cephalissa siria, Meyr., and is doubtless also a Cephalissa (Geometrina, with orange hindwings, are usually classed by Mr. Butler under Fidonia, irrespective of structure).

Epimecis dibapha, Feld., also from Chili, is doubtless also closely allied to the last species of Pasithea. Harpyia albicans, Walk., from South Africa, approaches nearly the group of Declana. If the species referred to above as probably new are really so, the number of the New Zealand Geometrina at present known will be 95.