Family 3.—MONOCTENIADÆ.
"Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, parallel to 4, rising from about or below middle of transverse vein, 8 free or anastomosing shortly near base or seldom from near base to beyond middle (then without areole of fore-wings), approximated to upper margin of cell to middle or beyond." (See Plate [II]., figs. 44 and 45.)
"Ovum subcylindrical, smooth. Larva more or less elongate, usually with few hairs, prolegs on segments 7, 8, and sometimes 9 rudimentary or absent. Pupa subterranean or in bark."—(Meyrick.)
According to Mr. Meyrick this is to be regarded as a decaying family. In Australia it is still prominent, being represented there by nearly 100 known species.
We have two genera represented in this country—
1. [Dichromodes]. 2. [Theoxena].
Genus 1.—DICHROMODES, Gn.
"Face smooth. Palpi long, straight, porrected, roughly scaled above and beneath. Antennæ in male pectinated on inner side only. Fore-wings with vein 6 from a point with 9, 7 from angle of areole, 10 anastomosing moderately with 9, 11 separate, approximated to 10 in middle, 12 free. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 separate, 8 free, closely approximated to 7 from base to near transverse vein."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate [II]., figs. 44 and 45, neuration of D. petrina.)
There are three species belonging to this genus known in New Zealand.
DICHROMODES NIGRA, Butl.