The following variety, taken on Mount Arthur, is thus described by Mr. Meyrick:—
"Var. A. Thorax and fore-wings without ochreous tinge, with numerous white scales tending to form suffused spots and margins to lines; cilia distinctly barred with darker; hind-wings grey, with dark grey, irregular terminal band."[[10]]
The perfect insect appears from November till March, and is said to be very common in certain localities. It has been taken at considerable elevations in the Nelson province (4,700 feet above the sea-level on Mount Arthur, by Mr. Meyrick and myself). In Wellington it is certainly a scarce species.
LEUCANIA MODERATA, Walk.
(Agrotis moderata, Walk., Suppl. 705. Eumichtis sistens, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 39. Mamestra sistens, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 19. Leucania moderata, ib. xx. 45.)
This species has occurred at Rakaia in the South Island. It very closely resembles the preceding species, from which it is said to be distinguished by the cilia of the hind-wings, which are "partially grey in Leucania moderata, wholly white in L. griseipennis."—(Meyrick.)
The perfect insect appears in February. I am unacquainted with this species.
LEUCANIA TEMPERATA, Walk.
(Bryophila temperata, Walk., 1648 (nec Meyrick). Xylina inceptura, ib. 1736. X. deceptura, ib. 1737. Leucania temperata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 45.)
"Terminal joint of palpi moderate; form of wing as in Leucania griseipennis, first and second lines whitish, inconspicuous, margined with black dots, second line evenly curved, subterminal perceptible; cilia grey, indistinctly barred with white. Hind-wings grey."—(Meyrick.)