"Anterior legs in both sexes much reduced, useless for walking; posterior tibiæ without middle spurs. Fore-wings with veins 8 and 9 out of 7. Hind-wings with præcostal spur." (Plate [I]., figs. 7 and 8.)
"An extremely large family, mainly tropical. The species are of large or moderate size, usually dark-coloured, with light or bright bands or rows of spots.
"Ovum cylindrical or sub-conical, ribbed and often reticulated. Larva with pairs of tentacles or more usually series of bristly spines. Pupa exposed, suspended by the tail, often angular or with metallic spots."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate [III]., figs. 1, 2, and 3 larvæ, 27, 31 and 32 pupæ.)
We have three genera represented in New Zealand:—
1. [Anosia]. 2. [Vanessa]. 3. [Junonia].
Genus 1.—ANOSIA.
"Eyes glabrous. Club of antennæ elongate, gradual. Fore-wings with vein 10 separate. Hind-wings with transverse vein present." (Plate [I]., figs. 7 and 8, neuration of A. erippus.)
"A genus of moderate extent, generally distributed within the tropics, with two or three species ranging beyond them. Imago with termen of fore-wings sub-concave. Larva with pairs of long tentacles. Both larva and imago are protected by a strong nauseous scent, or taste, and are uneatable to birds."—(Meyrick.)
We have two species in New Zealand.
ANOSIA ERIPPUS, Cr.