The perfect insect appears from September till April. It is usually taken at sugar or light, but is not a very common species.
Sub-family 2.—MELANCHRIDES.
Eyes hairy.
Genus 4.—PHYSETICA, Meyr.
"Palpi with terminal joint in male greatly swollen, as broad as second, rather short, rounded, with an orifice in outer side, in female normal. Antennæ in male filiform, simple. Thorax and abdomen smooth."—(Meyrick.) (Plate [II]., fig. 8.)
PHYSETICA CÆRULEA, Gn.
(Agrotis cærulea, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 38. Physetica cærulea, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 5.)
(Plate [IV]., fig. 7.)
This fine species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Blenheim and Rakaia in the South Island.
The expansion of the wings is 1⅝ inches. The fore-wings are slaty-blue; there is an obscure, wavy, whitish transverse line near the base, two very wavy blackish lines at about one-third, a dark transverse shaded line across the middle, containing the orbicular spot, then a very wavy line followed by a darker space and a wavy, dull, whitish terminal line. Hind-wings dark grey, paler near the base, cilia shining white.