This very pretty species is common, and generally distributed throughout the country.
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings are dark grey; there is a wavy black line near the base, two similar lines enclosing a very broad central area, with a black dot a little above the middle; beyond this there is a more or less distinct wavy band of pale grey or brown; there are several obscure wavy blackish lines near the termen. The hind-wings are bright orange, dotted with grey near the base and dorsum, with from two to four more or less distinct wavy black transverse lines, generally rather narrow; the termen is moderately broadly bordered with black.
This insect is extremely variable, and, so far as I can judge from an extensive series, several of the varieties appear to indicate that both Notoreas zopyra and N. vulcanica may ultimately have to be ranked as varieties of N. brephos, but the evidence on this point is not yet conclusive enough to render such a course at present desirable.
The perfect insect appears from December to March. It is very active, and is extremely fond of settling on roads or bare ground in the hot sunshine, instantly darting away on the approach of an enemy. It is also common on the mountains, and is often found at elevations of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea-level.
NOTOREAS OMICHLIAS, Meyr.
(Pasithea omichlias, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 90. Notoreas omichlias, ib. xviii. 184.)
(Plate [VIII]., fig. 25.)
Two specimens of this dull-looking little species were captured at Castle Hill, by Mr. J. D. Enys.
The expansion of the wings is ⅞ inch. All the wings are dark grey; the fore-wings have several obscure blackish marks near the base, a dull black spot on the costa at about one-third with a yellowish centre; beyond this there are four similar spots forming a transverse band, and several more or less conspicuous wavy blackish lines near the termen. The hind-wings have several obscure wavy blackish transverse lines near the base and dorsum; the cilia are pale grey, obscurely barred with darker grey.
The perfect insect was taken "high up" on the mountains, probably at an elevation of about 5,000 feet.