New Species of New Zealand Lepidoptera.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 67, 1938, Page 426

New Species of New Zealand Lepidoptera. By Edward Meyrick, B.A., F.R.S. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, September 22, 1937; received by the Editor, September 27, 1937; issued separately, March, 1938.] Hydriomenidae. Eucymatoge dryocyma n. sp. ♀. 31 mm. Head, thorax whitish irrorated pale brownish, a brown transverse bar in middle of thorax. Forewings triangular, costa moderately arched posteriorly, termen waved, hardly rounded, oblique; very similar to arenosa Howes, but larger, costa more rounded posteriorly, termen straighter, markings more varied alternately with brown and dark fuscous, and distinguished by posterior margin of median band (fourth fascia) markedly prominent in middle and marked dark fuscous; anguligera has this margin similarly marked, but in that species the termen of forewings and hindwings is much more rounded and irregular; subterminal line of both wings more distinctly whitish than in arenosa. Mount Hutt, April; 1 ex. (White Coll., in Canterbury Museum). Pyraustidae. Glaucocharis n. g. Head shortly rough-scaled; tongue developed. Antennae ¾. Labial palpi moderate, porrect, expanded triangularly with rough scales, terminal joint concealed. Maxillary palpi moderate, porrect, roughly expanded towards apex. Forewings 2 remote, 3–5 approxi-mated, 8 and 9 stalked, 10 separate, 11 from middle, curved and closely approximated for a short distance to 12. Hindwings 1, without cubital pecten; 4 and 5 connate, 7 out of 6 near origin, anastomosing with 8 to ⅓. Differs from Scoparia by structure of vein 11, a character probably reminiscent of Crambidae, to early forms of which (as Diptychophora) there is some approximation in form of wing. G. stella n. sp. ♀.13 mm. Head grey. Palpi dark grey, whitish at base beneath. Antennae minutely pubescent. Thorax slate-grey. Fore-wings subtriangular, costa slightly arched, apex rounded, termen faintly bisinuate, somewhat oblique; bluish-slate-grey; extreme costal edge touched whitish from about ¼ to ⅘; lines blackish, subbasal marked on costal half, first rather thick on costal half, from costa

beyond ⅓ outwards-oblique to middle, acutely angled inwards and again on fold right-angled to dorsum beyond middle, mixed ochreous scales except near costa, second fine, waved, from costa beyond ⅔ outwards-oblique, strongly excurved on median third and sinuate to dorsum at ⅔, thus nearly approximated to first on dorsum, slightly mixed ochreous scales towards dorsum; discal spot oblique-oval, edged blackish and filled ochreous, lying within curve of second line, a small spot of blackish suffusion on costa obliquely before this; an obscure triangular apical patch of blackish-grey subterminal suffusion; an uneven black terminal line; cilia grey, a subbasal shade hardly darker, tips slightly mixed whitish. Hindwings grey; a moderate terminal fascia of dark grey suffusion; cilia grey, a darker subbasal shade, some slight whitish mixture beyond this. Wellington (Orongorongo, E. side of harbour), October 26, 1936 (Stella Gibbs); 1 ex. This species, of which the larva is probably a moss-feeder, would be very difficult to see on a tree-trunk in deep shade. It is shorter-winged than any Scoparia, the entire absence of white scales and the dark blue-grey colouring gives it a peculiar appearance, whilst the first and second lines are more contorted, and more closely approximated on dorsum than in any species of Scoparia; altogether it is a curious form of much phylogenetic interest. Tortricidae. Eurythecta phaeoxyla n. sp. ♂ ♀. 15 mm. Head, palpi, thorax ochreous, partly infuscated or mixed whitish. Forewings suboblong, hardly dilated, costa moderately arched towards base, then straight, termen almost straight, little oblique; ochreous-grey or grey; markings dark ochreous-brown, or dark fuscous marginally suffused ochreous; basal patch obscure, indicated mainly by a spot on costa at ⅕ and one in disc beyond it; central fascia moderate, oblique, straight-edged; some slight obscure mottling posteriorly; cilia light ochreous or greyish-ochreous. Hind-wings dark grey; cilia light greyish-ochreous, a grey subbasal line. Common in a restricted spot of swampy ground below shingle fan, Mount Torlesse, 4000 feet, February (S. Lindsay); 5 ex. (type Canterbury Museum). Cosmopterygidae. Thectophila plagiaula n. sp. ♂. 12–15 mm. Head white, a grey median stripe. Palpi white. Thorax grey, a white stripe on each side of back. Forewings narrow-lanceolate; grey; costal area variably tinged or suffused white; a white subdorsal streak from base to tornus, leaving a narrow grey dorsal streak; cilia white, towards tornal area tinged grey. Hind-wings grey; cilia whitish-grey.

Freehold Range, Lake Ohau, amongst snow-grass at dusk, 4000 feet, December (S. Lindsay); 2 ex. (type Canterbury Museum). I think this may quite possibly be the other sex of acmotypa Meyr., described from a single female, but as it differs so much in markings, and comes from a separate (but similar) locality, I consider it should bear a special name until the sexes are taken together. Oecophoridae. Taoscelis n. g. Head smooth; ocelli posterior; tongue developed. Antennae ⅚, ♂ shortly and evenly ciliated, scape elongate, rather swollen apically, without pecten. Labial palpi rather long, recurved, second joint not reaching base of antennae, smooth-scaled, terminal joint shorter than second, slender, acute. Maxillary palpi rudimentary. Thorax smooth. Hind tibiae with appressed scales. Forewings with discal scale tufts; 2 from angle, 7 and 8 stalked, 7 to apex, 11 from middle. Hindwings 1, ovate, cilia ½; 3 and 4 connate from angle, 5–7 nearly parallel. An interesting and distinct form, allied to Corocosma, to which it may be regarded as ancestral, showing similarly remarkable features of concealed metallic colouring. T. crocostoma n. sp. ♂.12 mm. Head glossy dark fuscous. Palpi light yellowish, terminal joint dark fuscous. Thorax subiridescent dark fuscous, under surface and femora beneath bright metallic greenish-bronze. Forewings elongate, slightly dilated, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen rounded, rather oblique; very dark fuscous, bases of scales bronzy-purplish, partly mixed iridescent metallic-green; some irregular darker markings hardly definable; a transverse series of whitish hair scales about ⅓; an ochreous-silvery-whitish spot on costa at ⅗; greenish-brassy-metallic scales apparently forming two tufts in disc at ⅔: cilia rather dark fuscous. Hindwings dark fuscous; undefined longitudinal patches of paler slightly greenish-tinged suffusion in disc (median and submedian) from near base to near middle; cilia fuscous, a darker basal shade. Freehold Range, Lake Ohau, 4000 feet, amongst beech, December 31, 1936 (S. Lindsay); 1 ex. (Canterbury Museum). Carposinidae. Glaphyrarcha n. g. Head smooth; ocelli posterior; tongue well-developed. Antennae ⅔, filiform, scape without pecten. Labial palpi very long, porrect, second joint somewhat oblique, much thickened with dense scales expanded roughly to apex, terminal joint as long as second, equally expanded with dense rough scales throughout, obtuse. Maxillary

palpi absent. Legs rather long, fore tibiae short, half tarsi, hind tibiae rough-scaled above. Ovipositor short, slender, exposed. Fore-wings surface without scale tufts, 2 from angle, 2 and 3 nearly approximated towards base, 7 to apex, 11 from middle. Hindwings 1 ¼, ovate, cilia ¼; cubital pecten strongly developed; 2 from middle, 3 and 4 connate from angle, 5 and 6 absent, 7 from angle to apex, 8 very closely approximated to margin of cell to about ¾. Differs from Carposina by absence of scale tufts, thickened palpi, and relatively gigantic size. G. euthrepta n. sp. ♀. 43 mm. Head, palpi, thorax ochreous-brown, face pale ochreous. Forewings very elongate-triangular, costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen rather obliquely rounded; brownish-ochreous, some scattered extremely minute fuscous specks; a short fuscous darker-irrorated streak along base of costa; a small dark fuscous dot in disc at ⅓; a fuscous dot at end of cell; two or three indistinct dots of dark fuscous irroration towards termen in middle; a terminal series of indistinct dark fuscous dots or marks; cilia light greyish-ochreous. Hindwings and cilia grey-whitish. Arthur's Pass, at light, November 6, 1926 (Scott); 1 ex. (Canter-bury Museum).