There are three families of the Caradrinina represented in New Zealand, viz.:—
1. [Arctiadæ]. 2. [Caradrinidæ]. 3. [Plusiadæ].
Family 1.—ARCTIADÆ.
The Arctiadæ may be characterised as follows:—
"Eyes smooth. Tongue developed. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 connate or stalked (rarely approximated or coincident), 8 anastomosing with cell nearly or quite from base to middle or beyond."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate [II]., figs. 1, 2, and 4, 5.)
This interesting family, although generally distributed throughout the world, is very poorly represented in New Zealand. Unlike most of the Caradrinina, many of the included species are day fliers and gaily coloured. One of these, Nyctemera annulata, is probably one of the most familiar of New Zealand insects, whilst the four remaining representatives of the family are but seldom seen. To British entomologists the name of "tiger moths" will probably at once recall several conspicuous and beautiful members of this family.
Three genera of the Arctiadæ are represented in New Zealand, viz.:—
1. [Nyctemera]. 2. [Utetheisa]. 3. [Metacrias].
Genus 1.—NYCTEMERA, Hb.
"Tongue well developed. Antennæ in ♂ bipectinated throughout. Palpi moderately long, porrected or rather ascending, with appressed scales; terminal joint moderate, cylindrical. Forewings with vein 6 out of 9 or separate, 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9 by a bar. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 stalked or separate, 8 anastomosing shortly with margin of cell near base." (Plate [II]., fig. 3 head, 4 neuration of fore-wing, 5 ditto of hind-wing.)