The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri Lakes Districts.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 63, 1934, Page 112

The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri Lakes Districts. By Charles E. Clarke, F.E.S. [Read before the Auckland Institute, 16th December, 1931; received by the Editor, 4th February, 1932; issued separately, 28th February, 1933.] The large expanse of mountainous and densely-wooded country which almost encircles Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau is best reached by overland travellers from both Dunedin and Invercargill by taking a road that branches to the west at the base of the Takitimo Mountains. This road crosses the Mararoa River at “The Key of the Lakes,” and proceeds through the “Wilderness” to diverge again after a mile or two, a branch from the Te Anau trail striking north at the Whitestone River to meet the valley of the Eglinton. The many series of precipitous crags and ranges converging on the lakes are mostly accessible by climbing the wooded spurs that lead to the subalpine, but the difficulties of transit from one alpine meadow to another render it necessary usually to descend to the lake level before making another ascent, this being the method I have pursued almost invariably, with four to six-day excursions to the heights. The tracks to Milford and Doubtful Sounds are the most frequented localities of these mountains, and seldom do tourists venture to other parts, although the scenic attractions are of great beauty and exhibit a diversity of interests. In such a wide field, containing so many unnamed and almost untrodden peaks, it is certain that many new species remain to be discovered, my own experience being that every locality visited has added a quota of new material. My collecting in these sanctuaries has usually included the traversing of the Milford Track from Glade House to the Sound, which I have done on four occasions, with an excursion or two each time to other places on the way. These visits have been always in December and January, excepting one in October to the Takitimos, and one to the Eglinton River and then the McKinnon Pass in February. It is more than 20 years since my first visit to the Milford Track, since when the following expeditions to various parts elsewhere in this region have been made: In 1923, with Mr Stuart Lindsay, a camp was made in the Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri, and on two occasions we climbed the Hunter Mountains. In 1925, to the Waiau River from Tuatapere, and then to the Takitimo Mountains. In 1926, with Mr R. Milnes, across the Milford Track to the Sound and to the subalpine of Mount Skelmorlie, also to the Takitimos.

In 1927, to the valley of the Eglinton River, and then to the end of the South Arm, Lake Te Anau, from whence I climbed an unnamed mountain of the Kepler Mountains. In 1928 I returned to Hope Arm, climbing Flat Top Mountain to its summit at about 5000 feet. This was a particularly productive expedition. In 1929, with Mr Arthur Richardson, I camped at the Worsley Stream and climbed Mount Kemp to the subalpine, after which we went to the Milford Track, collecting again on the Clinton and Arthur Rivers, and on McKinnon Pass. I have at various times visited the Oreti, Mararoa, Whitestone, and Spey Rivers, as well as the “Five Lake” swamps near Manapouri. The favourite collecting field, however, was the McKinnon Pass, and the ease with which it may be reached made it a welcome rendezvous always. The prevailing beech (Nothofagus) forest extends up the slopes to an altitude of a little over 3500 feet, mixed bush being found generally on the outskirts and along rivers, the nature of the vegetation abruptly changing again above the bush line, above which the most interesting collecting is obtained. The subalpine meadows are of great beauty with their flowers and colour generally, and sometimes extend for miles among the ridges, but are usually broken by the presence of screes and arětes and precipitous pinnacles, so that upland investigation presents many difficulties to the travelling entomologist. I found it best to establish base camps and only climb with bivouac tent and light equipment, usually to make four-day raids on the heights. A dry shelter under a giant boulder can be found without difficulty, and the presaged certainty of discovering new and interesting specimens is at the same time enhanced by the pleasure of dwelling temporarily in a rock-garden of rare beauty, conspicuous among the species of flowering plants being Celmisias, Ranunculus, Gaultherias, Senecios, Olearias, and other handsome plants, as well as the particular friends of the entomologist, the Veronicas and Dracophyllums, whose blossoms are so attractive to insects. At from 3000 to 4000 feet elevations, in sheltered positions above the forests, local tracts of peculiar plant associations nurture the most desiderata, and there is a tendency for otherwise uncommon species to be favoured and form colonies, distinct types of local species occasionally being apparently confined to one particular locality. In more or less isolated upland “overhanging valleys” semi-apterous tendencies are prevalent, and in two such places I visited—on Flat Top Mountain, Hunter Mountains, Lake Manapouri, and Kepler Mountains, Lake Te Anau—I was interested to find a remarkable number of moths with wings shortened, at least, or semi-apterous females.

The following there found were of this nature:— Ichneutica ceraunias Feld. Venusia undosata Feld. Xanthorhoe occulta Philp. X. helias Meyr. Notoreas villosa Philp. Proteodes clarkei Philp. Scoparia clavata Philp. Gymnobathra coarctatella Walk. Some of the new or little known species that occurred plentifully at times, locally, but have not been found previously numerous were the following:— Ichneutica lindsayi Philp. Porina ascendens Huds. P. oreas Huds. Hypenodes costistrigalis Steph. Melanchra chryserethra Hamps. M. asterope Huds. M. lithias Meyr. Selidosema terrena Philp. Orthoclydon chlorias Meyr. Hydriomena praerupta Philp. Tatosoma apicipallida Prout. Plutella megalynta Meyr. P. psammochroa Meyr. Proteodes clarkei Philp. Astrogenes insignita Philp. Glyphipteryx scintilla Clarke. Scoparia asaleuta Meyr. S. subita Philp. S. fumata Philp. S. panopla Meyr. S. legnota Meyr. S. illota Philp. S. clavata Philp. Harmologa sanguinea Philp. Borkhausenia vestita Philp. B. honorata Philp. B. laudata Philp. B. compsogramma Meyr. B. robiginosa Philp. Aletia empyrea Huds. Chloroclystis malachita Meyr. C. punicea Philp. C. melochlora Meyr. Metacrias erichrysa Huds. Dasyuris octans Huds. D. leucobathra Meyr. D. hectori Butl. D. austrina Philp. Notoreas incompta Philp. N. villosa Philp. N. omichlias Meyr. Xanthorhoe umbrosa Philp. X. dissimilis Philp. X. chionogramma Meyr. X. obarata Feld. Gelaphaula vana Philp. Tauroscopa trapezitis Meyr. Orthenches vinitincta Philp. Nepticula lucida Philp. Tinca dicharacta Meyr. Sabatinca calliarcha Meyr. S. chrysarcha Meyr. Mnesarchaea acuta Philp. Mallobathra illustris Philp. M. perisseuta Meyr. Taleporia aphrosticha Meyr. T. microphanes Meyr. T. triangularis Philp. An interesting and beautiful scene observed by the light of the petrol lamp one night was a flight of Tatosomas, many hundreds strong, hovering about the blossoms of an expanse of Dracophyllums, their extraordinarily elongated and sinuous bodies and greenish-shaded wings giving them a most charming and dainty appearance as they rose and fell in the air, gracefully alighting at times on the flowers with vibrant wings, and again, with aerial evolutions appearing to resemble “falling leaves,” their undulations exhibiting a most decorative and unusual effect. This was in February, on the Kepler Mountain, at about 3000 feet. Three species were abundant:—T. lestevata Walk., timora Meyr., and tipulata Walk. A few T. apicipallida Prout and one of T. alta Philp. were taken at the same time. Another occurrence, of a different kind, was the rather surprising appearance of moths belonging to the Genus Mallobathra and its allies in the following circumstances. One morning, shortly after daybreak, at 4000 feet, at my camp on the slopes of Mount Hart, I was glancing through the doorway at the fine mist that was falling when I observed a specimen of the hitherto rarely seen moth, M. illustris Philp., on the wing. I expected it to be a stray specimen,

but on observation I also saw one of Taleporia aphrosticha Meyr. flying. I captured them both, and then went out and found that several others were there, and I subsequently took good series of both these species and of others, all flying in the heavy dew of early morning. Apparently the extreme fragility of their structure has necessitated this adaptation to environment. I have taken M. perisseuta Meyr., T. microphanes Meyr., and Scoriodyta conisalia Meyr., and also the type specimens of T. triangularis Philp. at other places since then, also in the damp mists before sunrise, when other insects are usually quiescent. Some of these are common in their habitats, but on the mountains I have never seen any specimens of T. aphrosticha, T. triangularis, or M. illustris during the day time, and the others are not so plentiful at any time as in moist places at daybreak. They may, however, be taken sparingly at any time of day in the forests. These species are mostly regarded as very rare, but they are probably not often observed, although plentiful. I have lately taken specimens of Mallobathra nocturna Clarke at Auckland during early mornings when the air was densely laden with moisture. The type, however, was beaten out of brushwood at Kauri Gully in the day time. M. araneosa Meyr. I have only captured in early mornings at Dunedin* Pre-sunrise-flying species of Mallobathra discovered since the above was written are my M. cataclysma Clarke, from upper Routeburn River, and M. memotuina Clarke, from Anderson's Bay, Dunedin.. Rhopalocera. Argyrophenga antipodum Dbld. Plentiful on the Oreti and Mararoa Rivers and the slopes of the Takitimos. Erebia merula Hew. Skelmorlie: Kepler Mountains. The mountain butterflies did not seem to be as plentiful in the Manapouri-Te Anau districts as they are at Wakatipu and to the north. Vanessa gonerilla Fabr. Common on the eastern hills of the Lake Country. Chrysophanus salustius Fabr. Hope Arm, Manapouri; Eglinton Valley and elsewhere. A plentiful species. C. boldenarum White. Very plentiful on all the rivers and shingle beaches. Lycaena oxleyi Feld. Not very plentiful. I am not sure whether this is the same species as the much larger Australian insect, L. labradus Godt, that has established itself in the north. Mararoa River, “The Wilderness,” to Lake Te Anau. Arctiadae. Metacrias huttoni Butl. Common on the slopes of the Takitimo Mountains and near the Mararoa River in February. M. strategica Huds. Oreti River, in October; a few specimens.

M. erichrysa Meyr. This beautiful moth was most abundant on the McKinnon Pass, Milford Track, at 3000 to 4000 feet, in December and January. We also took it on Mount Kemp, above the Worsley Stream, and on the Kepler Range at the west of South Arm, Lake Te Anau, and it is probably on most of the mountains of the Lake Districts. Celama parvitis Howes. A specimen of this apparently rare moth taken among Leptospermum, S.E. of Te Anau, in December. Since my discovery of the type on the slopes of Harbour Cone, Otago Harbour, in 1915, this capture in 1928 was the first time I had again met with it. Nyctemera annulata Boisd. Extremely common in October at the south of Te Anau, where hundreds were on the wing shortly after daybreak. The empty pupal cases were found in the greatest profusion under stones. Noctuidae. Heliothis armigera Hubn. Common on the Takitimo Mountains and at Te Anau. Euxoa radians Guen. A specimen netted at Lake Manapouri. " admirationis Guen. Very common in the Lake Country. Agrotis ypsilon Rott. Also very common. " spina Gn. Closely allied to the preceding, and common. " innominata Huds. At light, Milford Sound Hotel. Common. Graphiphora compta Walk. A few at Te Anau. Austramathes purpurea Butl. This beautiful chocolate-brown moth was by no means rare in October on the Takitimo Mountains, and is probably found in most Lake Districts. Andesia pessota Meyr. One netted on the lower slopes of Takitimo Mountains, in October. Homohadena fortis Butl. McKinnon Pass. Several specimens in January. Ichneutica ceraunias Meyr. This handsome moth was common on the McKinnon Pass, and other mountains of Te Anau, also on the Hunter Mountains, above Lake Manapouri. I. lindsayi Philp. Captured by Mr S. Lindsay and myself in 1923 at an altitude of about 4000 feet on Flat Top Mountain, Lake Manapouri. I subsequently took a good series in 1928 at the same locality. Apparently a local species. I. dione Huds. Hunter Mountains, Manapouri, and Kepler Mountains, Te Anau. Rare. I. nervosa Huds. One on the Arthur River, Milford Track. A rare species also. Leucania alopa Meyr. Fairly common. L. purdii Fer. A beautiful moth, common on the Milford Track and elsewhere. L. unica Walk. Common at Te Anau. L. acontistis Meyr. A few at Te Anau. L. sulcana Fer. Common, especially at Te Anau. L. toroneura Meyr. Te Anau. Not common. L. blenheimensis Fer. One on the McKinnon Pass.

L. semivittata Walk. Common at Te Anau and Manapouri. L. phaula Meyr. Common at Te Anau. Physetica caerulia Gn. A fine moth; its varieties range from steely-blue to yellow. It is a common mountain moth, and comes to “sugar” freely. Aletia nullifera Walk. Common on many mountains. A. unipuncta Haw. Fairly common. A. griseipennis Feld. A handsome moth; very common. A. cuneata Philp. One only, on Mount Kemp. A. moderata Walk. Common. A. empyrea Huds. Since my capture of the types in 1915, the ♂ at the Routeburn River and the ♀ on Ben Lomond, above Queens-town, this fine insect has seldom been captured. I took a specimen on the Minaret Peaks, Lake Wanaka, in 1925, and two fine specimens and many worn ones on Flat Top Mountain, Hunter Mountains, Lake Manapouri, in January, 1928, all at about elevations of from 3000 to 4000 feet. A. obsecrata Meyr. A specimen on the McKinnon Pass. A. longstaffi Howes. A short series. Takitimo Mountains, October. Dipaustica epiastra Meyr. Two on McKinnon Pass. Persectania steropastis Meyr. Only two seen of this common moth, but its food plant, Phormium tenax, showed evidences of the destructive ravages of the larva. P. composita Guen. Very common. P. disjungens Walk. A fairly common species at Lake Manapouri, on the McKinnon Pass, and on the Takitimo Mountains. P. atristriga Walk. Common. P. arotis Meyr. Several at “sugar” at Te Anau, and Takitimo Mountains. P. propria Walk. Superficially close to P. atristriga: this moth was not common, but a few examples were taken at Te Anau, at “sugar.” Erana graminosa Walk. Te Anau. Occurred fairly commonly. A fine moth. Melanchra plena Walk. A fairly common moth. M. maya Huds. Another handsome moth; fairly common. M. octans Huds. Takitimo Mountains, October. Uncommon. Attached to Sophora tetraptera. M. meyricci Hamps. Skelmorlie Peak, Te Anau, several, and one on the McKinnon Pass. M. levis Philp. Not common. At “sugar,” Te Anau. M. phricias Meyr. Fairly common. M. asterope Huds. Rare; McKinnon Pass and Skelmorlie. Two examples in good condition. Several worn ones also. M. chryserethra Hamps. Rather a rare moth usually; a fair series on Skelmorlie Peak. M. praesignis Howes. One on Flat Top Mountain, Lake Manapouri. M. lithias Meyr. A fine series of this handsome and usually rare moth was secured at light on Flat Top Mountain by Mr S. Lindsay and myself. M. sequens Howes. One only. Te Anau.

M. tartarea Butl. Takitimo Mountains. Rare, in March. M. coeleno Huds. Several at Te Anau. Melanchra species, mostly uncommon, that occurred in October on the Takitimo Mountains are as follows:—Diatmeta Huds., alcyone Huds., vitiosa Butl., decorata Philp. The following were commonly taken at various localities:—Homoscia Meyr., lignana Walk., ustistriga Walk., infensa Walk., stipata Walk., agorastis Meyr., ochthistis Meyr., paracausta Meyr., mutans Walk., furtiva Philp., dotata Walk., omoplaca Meyr., rubescens Butl., prionistis Meyr., morosa Butl., insignis Walk., beata Howes. Bityla defigurata Walk. Common. Ariathisa comma Walk. Common. Hypenodes costistrigalis Steph. With Mr S. Lindsay I took a good series of this species at a tarn, Hope Arm, Manapouri. I also found it common in the swampy country near “The Monument.” Rhapsa scotoscialis Walk. Common in most localities. Geometridae. Tatosoma tipulata Walk. Fairly common; Clinton River and distributed. T. timora Meyr. Not uncommon. T. topia Philp. One only, at Hope Arm, Manapouri. T. lestevata Walk. A beautiful species; fairly common. T. agrionata Walk. The commonest species at Te Anau. T. apicipallida Prout. Kepler Mountains, Glade House, Clinton River; a few. T. alta Philp. McKinnon Pass; Mount Kemp, Kepler Mountains; rather scarce. T. fasciata Philp. Rare on Flat Top Mountain, Lake Manapouri. Elvia glaucata Walk. A beautiful moth; very common. Microdes epicryptis Meyr. A few at Hope Arm and Clinton River. M. quadristrigata Walk. Common in various parts of the Lake Country. Phrissogonus laticostatus Walk. Clinton River; a few. P. testulatus Guen. Various localities. Chloroclystis semialbata Walk. Common. C. rivalis Philp. McKinnon Pass. Fairly common. C. sandycias Meyr. Common, especially on the Takitimo Mountains, in October. C. melochlora Meyr. A fine series of this beautiful moth was netted on the McKinnon Pass. C. lichenodes Purd. This interesting moth was common in various localities. C. muscosata Walk. Very common. C. punicea Philp. Mount Kemp, Skelmorlie, and McKinnon Pass. Not very common. C. lacustris Meyr. Clinton River. Not common. C. bilineolata Walk. Common on the Milford Track, especially at Pompolona. C. furva Philp. Flat Top Mountain, Lake Manapouri; a few.

C. rubella Philp. Common on Flat Top Mountain, and on the Kepler Mountains, South Arm of Te Anau. C. halianthes Meyr. Not common; two on Skelmorlie. C. malachita Meyr. Occurs sparingly. I took several at the Quinton Huts. C. magnimaculata Philp. Common Flat Top Mountain, Kepler Mountains, and Milford Track. The mountain form is larger and lighter in colour than Dunedin specimens. C. fumipalpata Feld. A few on McKinnon Pass. C. nereis Meyr. The commonest Chloroclystis on these mountains. Eucymatoge gobiata Feld. Very common. E. anguligera Butl. Common. Hydriomena purpurifera Fer. A beautiful species; common usually. H. arida Butl. Taken sparingly on the Takitimos and at the Lakes. H. siria Meyr. A few in October on the slopes of the Takitimos. H. deltoidata Walk. Common. H. callichlora Butl. Fairly common, especially in October. H. praerupta Philp. Several on the Clinton River and at the Quinton Huts. H. hemizona Meyr. On the Kepler Mountains this moth was most plentiful. H. subrectaria Guen. One only. Takitimo Mountains. H. subochraria Dbld. Common at several parts. Poecilasthena pulchraria Dbld. Common in most localities. P. subpurpureata Walk. The commonest of the genus at the Takitimos. P. schistaria Walk. Also common. Euchoeca rubropunctaria Dbld. An occasional specimen was seen. Paradetis porphyrias Meyr. Sometimes seen in numbers among ferns at sunny spots. Taken in various localities. Venusia verriculata Feld. Usually common, but only seen in the Eglinton Valley. Probably in most other Lakes Districts. V. undosata Feld. A rather large pale form; was most plentiful along the Clinton River, near the Quinton Huts, and along the track to the Sutherland Falls, attached to Gaya lyalli. V. charidema Meyr. An occasional specimen taken among Dracophyllum. V. xanthaspis Meyr. Arthur River. Not very plentiful. Orthoclydon pseudostinaria Huds. Two at the Upper Clinton River. O. praefectata Walk. Very common at a locality near Lake Manapouri. O. chlorias Meyr. In February this beautiful moth is by no means rare on the Milford Track. Asaphodes rufescens Butl. Very common on the outskirts of the bush. A. megaspilata Walk. Occasionally seen. A. parora Meyr. Rather uncommon. One at Glade House and one at the Pompolona Huts. A. abrogata Walk. Common at the Takitimo Mountains in February.

Notoreas insignis Butl. Common in February at about 2000 feet; Takitimos. N. villosa Philp. Kepler Mountains. Abundant at 5000 feet in late December. We did not see it on other mountains, but probably it would appear a week or two later. N. orphnaea Meyr. Very common on Flat Top Mountain, Kepler Mountains, and the McKinnon Pass. N. mechanitis Meyr. Common on various mountains. N. incompta Philp. Less plentiful than N. orphnaea at the same localities. N. anthracias Meyr. Common. N. omichlias Meyr. Several on Flat Top Mountain and on the Kepler Mountains. N. brephos Walk. This species and var. zopyra Meyr. were plentiful. N. hexaleuca Meyr. Rather uncommon. Skelmorlie. N. paradelpha Meyr. Plentiful. Dasyuris hectori Butl. McKinnon Pass, Kepler Mountains, and Flat Top Mountains. D. partheniata Guen. Common. D. anceps Butl. Commonest on the Kepler Mountains. D. octans Huds. Plentiful on Flat Top Mountain. Discovered by Mr S. Lindsay and myself in 1923. D. leucobathra Meyr. Rather rare. Flat Top Mountain. D. austrina Philp. Kepler Mountains, Flat Top Mountain. This is the small form of D. hectori. Dasysternica callicrena Meyr. Flat Top Mountain. Common. Lythria catapyrrha Butl. Plentiful along the Whitestone River and on the Takitimos. L. regilla Philp. Flat Top Mountain. A rather uncommon species. L. perornata Walk. Fairly common. Leptomeris rubraria Dbld. Common along the Mararoa River and near the Lakes. Adeixis griseata Huds. Very common near “The Monument” among the tarns and swampy country. Dichromodes nigra Butl. Skelmorlie; several specimens. D. gypsotis Meyr. A specimen taken on the Takitimos in October. Epirranthis alectoraria Walk. Plentiful. E. hemipteraria Guen. Very plentiful. E. ustaria Walk. Plentiful. Xanthorhoe occulta Philp. Very common on all the Lake mountains visited by me. X. stinaria Gn. Clinton River, Pompolona, and the slopes of the McKinnon Pass. X. bulbulata Guen. Common, in October, Oreti River and Takitimo Mountains. X. chionogramma Meyr. A good series taken. Clinton River and slopes of McKinnon Pass. X. cedrinodes Meyr. Not common. Takitimos, in October. South Arm, Te Anau. X. subobscurata Walk. A few only. Skelmorlie.

X. umbrosa Philp. Particularly plentiful on Flat Top Mountain, Hunter Mountains. X. rosearia Dbld. Common. X. chlamydota Meyr. Clinton River; several. X. clarata Walk. Common. X. declarata Prout. Glade House, Clinton River. Not common. X. cataphracta Meyr. Flat Top Mountain; common; Pompolona; a few. X. oraria Philp. Eglinton Valley. Rather scarce. X. aegrota Butl. Common at Te Anau. X. helias Meyr. Common in February, Te Anau. X. obarata Feld. Arthur River. Several taken at Quinton and near the Sutherland Falls, also at Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri, and Kepler Mountains. X. cymozeucta Meyr. Several at Glade House, and fairly common at Hope Arm. X. camelias Meyr. Eglinton Valley. Two specimens. X. orophyla Meyr. Takitimo Mountains, Te Anau. Common. X. semifissata Walk. Common in most forests. X. stricta Philp. Not common. Taken on Flat Top Mountain, Manapouri. X. venipunctata Walk. Common at Takitimo Mountains in March. X. philpotti Prout. Common. X. beata Butl. Common usually. X. adonis Huds. Often taken on the Clinton and Arthur Rivers, and elsewhere. X. prasinias Meyr. Common in October, Takitimos. Common on the Milford Track. X. exoriens Prout. Common on the Takitimos in March. X. dissimilis Philp. Netted sparingly on Flat Top Mountain. X. limonodes Meyr. Not common. Lake Te Anau. X. semisignata Walk. Common. X. cinerearia Dbld. Common. X. eupitheciaria Guen. I took this species only at S.W. Arm, Te Anau, but it is sure to be widely distributed. X. plumbea Philp. Common. Apparently a variety of cinerearia Dbld. Selidosema terrena Philp. Very plentiful on Flat Top Mountain, although not usually so anywhere else in my experience. S. suavis Butl. Fairly plentiful. S. pelurgata Walk. Extremely plentiful in several localities. S. rudiata Walk. Common in October at the Takitimos. S. indistincta Butl. This was formerly known as melinata Feld. A common species. S. lupinata Feld. Te Anau. Common in March. S. monacha Huds. Several on the Kepler Mountains and Skelmorlie. S. leucelaea Meyr. Common at Te Anau. S. productata Walk. Common. S. panagrata Walk. Common. S. dejectaria Walk. Common.

Sestra flexata Walk. Fairly common. S. humeraria Walk. Common. Gargaphia muriferata Walk. Good varieties of this interesting species were secured at various parts. Azelina fortinata Guen. Very common. A. gallaria Walk. A few at Hope Arm, Manapouri, and several at Te Anau. A. nelsonaria Feld. In South Arm, Te Anau, I took this species sparingly, and at Hope Arm, but it is sure to be found at other localities. Declana leptomera Walk. Takitimos and Lake; very plentiful. D. feredayi Butl. An occasional one taken. D. egregia Feld. A beautiful moth taken occasionally at Te Anau. D. griseata Huds. Takitimos. Not common, but is probably more so in the early spring. D. hermione Huds. One only; South Arm. D. niveata Butl. Fairly common. D. floccosa Walk. Common. D. junctilinea Walk. An occasional specimen taken. D. glacialis Huds. A few on the Kepler Mountains. Psychidae. Oeceticus omnivorus Fer. Common, but only evidenced by its cocoons. I have often bred the moth from the pupal stage at Dunedin in October; have never netted it. Orophora unicolor Butl. Only cocoons seen occasionally. I have an imago reared from an Otago pupa in September. Tortricidae. Carposina thalamota Meyr. A specimen taken on Flat Top Mountain. C. adreptella Walk. Common. C. cryodana Meyr. Takitimos and Lake; common. C. gonosemana Meyr. Very common. C. exochana Meyr. Common. C. contactella Walk. Common. Proselena niphostrota Meyr. An occasional one taken. Pyrgotis consentiens Philp. Occurred in numbers on Flat Top Mountain. P. pyramidias Meyr. Kepler Mountains, Flat Top Mountain, and elsewhere. Catamacta gavisana Walk. Very common. C. lotinana Meyr. One at Lumsden. Capua cyclobathra Meyr. An occasional specimen. C. plinthoglypta Meyr. One taken on the Arthur River. C. semiferana Walk. Very common. Some forms were close to C. intractana Walk., an Australian species, introduced. C. plagiatana Walk. A common species of which many varieties were taken. Eurythecta curva Philp. One on Flat Top Mountain. E. eremana.—Takitimos and Te Anau; common.

Epichorista emphanes Meyr. Kepler Mountains, Clinton River. common in many places. E. persecta Meyr. Takitimos; common. E. hemionana Meyr. Common. E. crypsidora Meyr. Several at West Lake, Manapouri; probably common. E. candida Clarke. I have only seen the type, which I took at Hope Arm in 1923. Harmologa amplexana Z. Common at Te Anau. H. scoliastis Meyr. Fairly common. Te Anau and Takitimos. H. oblongana Walk. Takitimos; a few. H. sanguinea Philp. Flat Top Mountain. Fairly common. H. festiva Philp. Flat Top Mountain. A good series of this bright species. Tortrix charactana Meyr. Common in forest. T. melanosperma Meyr. Lake Te Anau. Fairly common. T. tigris Philp. One only of this species at Te Anau. T. leucaniana Walk. Common at Te Anau. T. indomita Philp. Glade House. Not common. T. molybditis Meyr. Common. T. cuneata Clarke. Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri; one specimen. T. conditana Walk. Several taken. T. pictoriana Feld. A plentiful insect in February. T. flavescens Butl. Common. T. sphenias Meyr. Kepler Mountains, Arthur River. Not uncommon. T. inusitata Philp. One at Glade House. I discovered the type at Waitati, near Dunedin, since when it has sparingly been taken in Fiordland. T. excessana Walk. Common. Ctenopseustis obliquana Walk. Common. Ascerodes prochlora Meyr. Fairly plentiful; Flat Top Mountain and Kepler Mountains. Gelophaula vana Philp. Flat Top Mountain; several. G. trisulca Meyr. A few on the McKinnon Pass. G. aridella Clarke. Two taken on Flat Top Mountain. Cnephasia petrias Meyr. A very common species; Takitimos. C. jactatana Walk. A common species. C. sphenias Meyr. Kepler Mountains, Arthur River. Not uncommon. C. imbriferana Meyr. Common at the Takitimos. C. microbathra Meyr. Common among ferns. Hendecasticha aethaliana Meyr. Uncommon; Takitimos. Spilonota parthenia Meyr. Eglinton Valley. Locally fairly common. S. ejectana Walk. Fairly common. S. zopherana Meyr. Very common at Lake Te Anau among Leptospermum. S. emplasta Meyr. A specimen of this species taken, but may be a variety of the preceding.

Crocidosema plebeiana Zell. Lake Te Anau. Bactra noteraula Wis. Common. Laspeyresia pomonella Linn. Lumsden. One on a shop window. Pyralidae. Sporophyla oenospora Meyr. Common; Oreti River and Takitimos. Delogenes limodoxa Meyr. Common in February; Takitimos. Ephestia kuehniella Zell. Several at a cottage window; Te Anau. Diptychophora species as follows were taken at Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau:—D. auriscriptella Walk., microdora Meyr., helioctypa Meyr., lepidella Walk., selenaea Meyr., epiphaea Meyr., interrupta Walk., leucoxantha Meyr., persophanes Meyr., chrysochyta Meyr., harmonica Meyr., planetopa Meyr. Gadira acerella Walk. Occasionally taken. Argyria pentadactyla Zell. Fairly common on the Takitimos in February. Tawhitia glaucophanes Meyr. Skelmorlie; a few. T. leonina Philp. Takitimos; common. Taurascopa trapezitis Meyr. A fine series of varieties was secured on Flat Top Mountain. Orocrambus catacaustus Meyr. Kepler Mountains; common. O. melampretrus Meyr. Skelmorlie, McKinnon Pass; common. O. machaeristes Meyr. Skelmorlie; fairly common. O. pervius Meyr. Flat Top Mountain; a few. Crambus corruptus Butl. Oreti River, Takitimos; common. C. heliotes Meyr. Very common near “The Monument” Rock and in swampy places. C. saristes Meyr. Mararoa River, Te Anau; common. C. simplex Butl. Takitimos. Te Anau; common. C. apselias Meyr. Two taken at Hope Arm, Te Anau. C. ramosellus Dbld. Takitimos. Mararoa River; common. C. angustipennis Zell. Oreti River. Two only. C. oppositus Philp. Very plentiful on Flat Top Mountain, its most northerly habitat known. C. siriellus Meyr. Hope Arm. Common various localities. C. apicellus Z. Hope Arm, Worsley Stream, Clinton River; common. C. obstructus Meyr. Oreti River, Mararoa River; common. C. vittellus Dbld. Takitimos; common. C. flexuosellus Dbld. Hope Arm, Milford Track; common. C. vulgaris Butl. Common. C. zanthogrammus Meyr. Worsley Stream, Hope Arm. On most river flats and sandy places. Some beautiful varieties were secured. Nymphula nitens Butl. Usually sparingly distributed, this species was found in the greatest profusion around a lagoon at Te Anau. Good varieties taken. Musotima nitidalis Walk. Clinton River and other localities; common. M. aduncalis Feld. Hope Arm. Not very common. Diasemia grammalis Dbld. Takitimos. A few.

Nesarcha hybrealis Walk. Found commonly. Mecyna maorialis Feld. Hope Arm, Clinton River; common. M. marmarina Meyr. Hope Arm and elsewhere; common. M. notata Butl. Hope Arm, Te Anau. Fairly plentiful. M. flavidalis Dbld. Common among shrubs and in open places. Proteroeca comastis Meyr. Mararoa River. Not common. Heliothela erebopis Butl. Pompolona and McKinnon Pass; plentiful. Diplopseustis perieralis Walk. Very common. Scoparia illota Philp. This species, which I discovered at the Wairauahiri River, Southland, in 1917, I captured again in the South Arm, Te Anau. S. asaleuta Meyr. A plentiful species at Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri. Usually rare. S. clavata Philp. Very plentiful on Flat Top Mountain. Usually rare. S. famularis Philp. The type of this distinctly marked species was taken by myself at the head of South Arm, on the Kepler Mountains. Unique at present. S. legnota Meyr. This moth I had rarely seen until I found it plentiful on the Milford Track at Pompolona and Quinton. S. subita Philp. Very plentiful on Flat Top Mountain. Not usually common. S. axena Meyr. Two on Flat Top Mountain. A rare moth, apparently. S. panopla Meyr. Sparingly taken on the Kepler Mountains. S. trapezophora Meyr. Two on Skelmorlie. S. paltomacha Meyr., niphospora Meyr., petrina Meyr., nomeutis Meyr., trivirgata Feld., and psammitis Meyr. were all taken plentifully on Flat Top Mountain, the Kepler Mountains, and McKinnon Pass, on the subalpine. S. ergatis Meyr., encapna Meyr., hemicycla Meyr., organaea Meyr., steropaea Meyr., philerga Meyr., dinodes Meyr., galactalis Huds., critica Meyr., colpota Meyr., minualis Walk., chlamydota Meyr., periphanes Meyr., triscelis Meyr., ustimacula Feld., characta Meyr., chimeria Meyr., thyridias Meyr., feredayi Knaggs, and minusculalis Walk. were taken on the Milford Track. S. epicomia Meyr., acharis Meyr., parmifera Meyr., acompa Meyr., animosa Meyr., exilis Knaggs, elaphra Meyr., autochroa Meyr., rotuella Feld., melanaegis Meyr., cataxesta Meyr., leucogramma Meyr., asterisca Meyr., cymatias Meyr., sabulosella Walk., octophora Meyr., fumata Philp., chalara Meyr., cyptastis Meyr., diptheralis Walk., cyameuta Meyr., luminatrix Meyr., indistinctalis Walk., leptalea Meyr., and submarginalis Walk, were all taken in various localities, and were common. Platyptilia falcatalis Walk. Common. P. heliastis Meyr. Flat Top Mountain, McKinnon Pass. Not uncommon. P. aeolodes Meyr. Common. P. campsiptera Meyr. McKinnon Pass; rare. Alucita monospilalis Walk. This beautiful moth was extremely abundant. A. furcatalis Walk. Common.

A. lycosema Meyr. Common. Close to furcatalis Walk. I have varieties that seem to link the two species. A. innotalis Walk. Takitimos. Not common. Stenoptilia vigens Feld. McKinnon Pass; rare. S. zophodactyla Dup. One at Hope Arm. S. orites Meyr. Rather rare, on McKinnon Pass; also on the Takitimos. S. charadrias Meyr. Skelmorlie. Not common. Thyrididae. Morova subfasciata Walk. Common on the outskirts of mixed bush-lands. Its larva was evidently common, as evidenced by the swellings caused by them in the stems of Parsonsia. Aegeriadae. Trochilium tipuliforme Cler. Lumsden. A specimen. Tineidae. Apatetris melanombra Meyr. Eglinton Valley, Te Anau; rare. Megacraspedus calamogona Meyr. Common in October. Oreti River and Takitimos. Aristotelia paradesma Meyr. One near the Takitimos. Thiotricha tetraphala Meyr. One at the Accommodation House at Lake Manapouri. T. thorybodes Meyr. Takitimos in October; rare. One at the Spey River, Manapouri. Phthorimaea operculella Zell. Two at Lumsden. P. cheradias Meyr. Eglinton Valley. Fairly common. P. thyraula Meyr. One only at Hope Arm, Manapouri. Gelechia monophragma Meyr. Very plentiful in October; Lower Takitimos, Hope Arm, Milford Track. G. parvula Philp. Several at Hope Arm. G. lithodes Meyr. A good series on the shingle at Hope Arm, also at the Worsley Stream and on the Milford Track, and at Milford Sound. G. schematica Meyr. Several on the Oreti River. G. colastadesma Clarke. Flat Top Mountain, 4000 feet, in January, 1928. Anisoplaca achyrota Meyr. Eglinton Valley. Not uncommon. A. acrodactyla Meyr. Hope Arm, Milford Track. Common occasionally. Donacostola notabilis Philp. I took one of this most interesting species on Flat Top Mountain at 4000 feet in 1923 and another in 1928. Batrachedra psithyra Meyr. Very common near a small stream in mixed bush, Hope Arm. B. eucola Meyr. Apparently uncommon. One only, Hope Arm. B. agaura Meyr. Common. Eglinton Valley, Hope Arm.

Borkhausenia levicula Philp. Two only, at 4000 feet, Flat Top Mountain. B. zanthomicta Meyr. Hope Arm; common. B. honorata Philp. Hope Arm. Not common. B. vestita Philp. Several taken by Mr S. Lindsay and myself on Flat Top Mountain. B. robiginosa Philp. Common on the slopes of McKinnon Pass. B. compsogramma Meyr. Milford Track. B. apertella Walk., oxyina Meyr., innotella Walk., nycteris Meyr., scholaea Meyr., crotala Meyr., pseudospretella Staint., basella Walk., perichlora Meyr., siderodeta Meyr., xanthodesma Philp., hoplodesma Meyr., armigerella Walk., maranta Meyr., melanamma Meyr., phegophylla Meyr., politis Meyr., pronephela Meyr. were taken at various localities. Leptocroca scholaea Meyr. Common in beech forests. Schiffermuelleria orthophanes Meyr. Occurred at various localities. Gymnobathra coarctatella Walk. Common. G. calliploca Meyr. Particularly common in October; seen in most localities. G. parca Butl. Fairly common. G. philadelpha Meyr. Appears to be rare. One only, at the Worsley Stream. G. tholodella Meyr. Exceedingly common. G. squamea Philp. A few only on the Kepler Mountains at 4000 feet. G. omphalota Meyr. Very common among shrubs at the edge of the bush. Parocystola acroxantha Meyr. Oreti River. Common in October. Izatha pereonella Walk. A beautiful insect; fairly plentiful in the forests. I. acmonias Philp. Quinton Huts and Arthur River. Not common. I. picarella Walk. Takitimos and Whitestone River. Occurred sparingly. I. balanophora Meyr. Takitimos. One taken. I. amorbas Meyr. Several taken at Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri. I. convulsella Walk. Common among Leptospermum at Te Anau and Manapouri. Trachypepla lichenodes Meyr. Occurred sparingly at Hope Arm and elsewhere. T. leucoplanetis Meyr. Rather rarely taken on the Milford Track, also at Manapouri. T. galaxias Meyr. A few at Te Anau. T. ingenua Meyr. Common at Pompolona and on the Clinton River. T. euryleucota Meyr. Sparingly taken at Lake Manapouri among Leptospermum. T. metalifera Philp. Eglinton Valley and Milford Track. Not common. T. protochlora Meyr., anastrella Meyr., contritella Walk., aspidephora Meyr. were all taken commonly.

Euthictis chloratma Meyr. Hope Arm; Milford Track. Atomotricha sordida Butl. Kepler Mountains. One only. Probably common in the spring. A. prospiciens Meyr. Milford Track and Eglinton Valley. A few. Barea confusella Walk. Lake Te Anau. Not uncommon. B. exarcha Meyr. An odd specimen taken at Lumsden. Locheutis vagata Meyr. Milford Track. Not plentiful. Proteodes carnifex Butl. Plentiful in February; all beech forests. P. profunda Meyr. Not particularly plentiful, but taken in various Lake regions. P. clarkei Philp. I discovered this beautiful moth in January, 1923, when on a collecting trip with Mr S. Lindsay. It is apparently local at 4000 feet on Flat Top Mountain, among native grasses. On a subsequent visit in 1929 I took it plentifully, all specimens being caught at the same place. Only one ♀ was taken, and is semi-apterous. Oxythecta austrina Meyr. Flat Top Mountain; Kepler Mountains. Not often taken. Nymphostola galactina Feld. Hope Arm. Not uncommon. Lathicrossa leucocentra Meyr. Hope Arm, Clinton and Arthur Rivers. Cryptolechia compsotypa Meyr. An odd specimen at Hope Arm. C. liochroa Meyr. Not uncommon. Milford Track. C. apocrypta Meyr. Very common. Eutorna symmorpha Meyr. A number were taken on a stream at Hope Arm. E. caryochroa Meyr. Not uncommon. Agriophara coricopa Meyr. Milford Track. Not very common. Phycomorpha metachrysa Meyr. One at Lake Manapouri, also several at Eglinton River. Thylacosceles acridomima Meyr. Very common. Stathmopoda skelloni Butl. Very common. S. campylocha Meyr. Not common. Two on the Arthur River. S. phlegyra Meyr. Hope Arm. A few. S. mysteriastis Meyr. Several on the Milford Track. S. aposema Meyr. Common in October, Takitimo Mountains. Zapyrastra calliphana Meyr. Common at outskirts of forests. Batrachedra psathyra Meyr. A few taken at Hope Arm and on the Milford Track. B. agaura Meyr. Common Hope Arm. B. eucola Meyr. One only was taken by myself at Hope Arm. Heliostibes insignis Philp. An interesting new species discovered by myself at 4000 feet on Flat Top Mountain, Manapouri. One specimen only. H. electrica Meyr. Hope Arm. Not uncommon. H. callispora Meyr. One at the Takitimo Mountains. H. illita Feld. Very common at Hope Arm and on the Milford Track. H atychioides Butl. Very common among Leptospermum in various places.

Charixena iridoxa Meyr. A most beautiful insect. Milford Track, MeKinnon Pass, Kepler Mountains, and at Lake Manapouri. No moths were taken, the distinctive ravages of the larva on the Astelia leaves being the only trace of it apparent. I reared the larva and bred several examples in the following August, 1930, its early emergence explaining its apparent rarity. Simaethis inspoliata Philp. The only specimen known at present was taken by myself on Flat Top Mountain at 4000 feet on December 27, 1928. S. exocha Meyr. Rather uncommon on the McKinnon Pass. S. combinatana Walk. Fairly common in October, Takitimo Mountains. Also taken at Te Anau. S. microlitha Meyr. Common, especially in October, on the Takitimos. S. colpota Meyr. Two at Hope Arm. S. barbigera Meyr. Fairly common at Hope Arm, Flat Top Mountain, and the slopes of McKinnon Pass. S. antigrapha Meyr. Milford Track. A few. S. albifasciata Philp. One at Flat Top Mountain. Choreutis bjerkandrella Thunb. Takitimo Mountains; common. Glyphipteryx achlyoessa Meyr. Very common. G. aenea Philp. Two taken on Flat Top Mountain. G. transversella Walk. Common at Hope Arm and on the Milford Track. G. zelota Meyr. Common on the McKinnon Pass. G. cionophora Meyr. Common on the Takitimos and along the Oreti River in October. G. rugata Meyr. Common at Lumsden in February. G. bactrias Meyr. Common in October at the Takitimos. G. scintilla Clarke. Flat Top Mountain in January. I discovered this prettily marked species at 4000 feet, its only known locality; common. G. aulogramma Meyr. A few near the Mararoa River. G. oxymachaera Meyr. Very common in the Lake country. G. iocheaera Meyr. Very common also. G. leptosema Meyr. A few taken on the Milford Track and elsewhere. G. dichorda Meyr. Plentiful at Hope Arm, Manapouri. G. acronoma Meyr. Mararoa River and Lake districts. G. triselena Meyr. Fairly plentiful in several places. Elachista ombrodoca Meyr. Very common. E. archaeonoma Meyr. Also common. E. gerasmia Meyr. A few on the Takitimos. Scythris epistrota Meyr. Not uncommon on the Takitimos. Zelleria copidota Meyr. A few in several places. Acrocercops zorionella Huds. A specimen taken on the Clinton River.

Parectopa aellomacha Meyr. Hope Arm, South Arm, and Milford Track. Not rare. P. panacivagans Watt. Milford Track. Attached to Pseudopanax foliage. P. aethalota Meyr. Clinton River. Only one taken. Gracilaria linearis Butl. Very plentiful. G. selenitis Meyr. Sometimes occurring in the greatest profusion at about 3500 feet on the mountain beech, Nothofagus. G. elaeas Meyr. Not uncommon. Dolichernis chloroleuca Meyr. Occasionally taken on the Milford Track. Protosynaema steropucha Meyr. Commonest in October at the Takitimos. Phylacodes cauta Meyr. Not usually common. Occurred near the Oreti River. Bedellia psamminella Meyr. Common, on Convolvulus, Hope Arm. Orthenches drosochalca Meyr. A pretty species, fairly common, at Lake level. O. porphyritis Meyr. Very common in most localities among mixed bush. O. vinitincta Philp. Not uncommon, Clinton River. Plutella megalynta Meyr. A good series of this mountain insect was secured on the McKinnon Pass at 3500 feet. It was commonly found in the early morning floating on the water of the tarns. P. maculipennis Curt. Several seen at Lumsden only. Circoxena ditrocha Meyr. One only in the S.W. Arm, Te Anau. This was a surprise, as I had previously taken it only at Auckland. Erechthias acrodina Meyr. Not uncommon, Takitimos and Lakes. E. charadrota Meyr. Also plentiful. E. fulguritella Walk. Several taken at various places. A plentiful species. Dryadaula myrrhina Meyr. Not common; Takitimos, in October. D. castanea Philp. One of this apparently rare species taken at Hope Arm. Eschatotypa melichrysa Meyr. Very common on the outskirts of the bush. E. derogatella Walk. Usually occurs with the former species; common. Nepticula lucida Philp. Since I discovered this species in 1916 I have found it plentiful in beech forest, especially at about 3000 feet. All Lake districts. N. oriastra Meyr. Not uncommon, but rarely taken, as it has to be searched for close to the ground among daisies and grasses. N. erichtitus Watt. One at the Takitimos. N. tricentra Meyr. Common among mixed bush; Takitimos and Eglinton Valley. N. cypracma Meyr. One specimen of what seems to be this species at Hope Arm.

Endophthora omogramma Meyr. Clinton River and South Arm. Not uncommon. Crypsitricha pharotoma Meyr. Two only, at Hope Arm. C. stereota Meyr. Common in various localities. C. roseata Meyr. Rare; Clinton River. C. generosa Philp. The only one known. The type was taken by Mr S. Lindsay when we were collecting at Hope Arm in 1923. C. mesotypa Meyr. The commonest species of the genus at the Lakes. Archyala terranea Butl. Very common at the Takitimos, and seen at Te Anau. A. pentazyga Meyr. One only at the Eglinton River. Sagephora jocularis Philp. One at Hope Arm. S. phortegella Meyr. Very common in mixed bush. S. exsangius Philp. Hope Arm. Not very common. Monopis ethelella Newm. Very common. M. ornithias Meyr. Commonest in October; Takitimos. Tineola biselliella Hum. Only seen at Lumsden. Tinea argodelta Meyr. One at Hope Arm. T. cymodoce Meyr. Clinton River; uncommon. T. mysticopa Meyr. Common. T. mochlota Meyr. Occasionally taken. It was not uncommon at the Takitimos. T. astraea Meyr. One only at Hope Arm. T. dicharacta Meyr. Common at the Waiau River. T. fuscipunctella Haw. Taken at Manapouri on a window. Trichophaga tapetiella Linn. Lumsden; two specimens. Proterodesma mysticopa Meyr. Common. Astrogenes insignita Philp. A few in the Eglinton Valley, and one at Clinton River. Lysiphragma epixyla Meyr. Common in mixed bush. L. howesii Quail. Clinton River. One only. Taleporia microphanes Meyr. Flat Top Mountain, Hunter Mountains, Kepler Mountains, and McKinnon Pass. T. triangularis Philp. Not common. Taken with the preceding species. T. aphrosticha Meyr. This interesting and delicate moth was not uncommon on the Kepler Mountains and on Flat Top Mountain. Mallobathra araneosa Meyr. One on Flat Top Mountain. M. illustris Philp. Flat Top Mountain, McKinnon Pass, and Skelmorlie. Not very plentiful. M. homalopa Meyr. Common at Hope Arm and on the Milford Track. M. perisseuta Meyr. A few at the Takitimos in October. Others seen at Hope Arm. Scoriodyta conisalia Meyr. Lumsden and Mararoa River in October; common.

Micropterygidae. Mnesarchaea paracosma Meyr. Very common; Takitimos and Lake; October. M. acuta Philp. A series taken on the McKinnon Pass, Upper Arthur River. Sabatinca quadrijuga Meyr. Common in October; Takitimos and Oreti River. S. calliarcha Meyr. Not uncommon; S. W. Arm, Milford Track, and elsewhere. S. chrysargyra Meyr. McKinnon Pass and Milford Track; in December. S. caustica Meyr. Takitimos, in October. A few. Hepialidae. Porina dinodes Meyr. Common in February; Lake Te Anau. P. jocosa Meyr. One on McKinnon Pass in February. P. cervinata Walk. Common. P. oreas Huds. I took several of this moth on Flat Top Mountain in January. P. fusca Philp. A few on McKinnon Pass and Kepler Mountains. P. ascendens Huds. This species was abundant on Flat Top Mountain. It was only known previously from Mount Arthur, Nelson. P. despecta Walk. Very common.