It is a sluggish caterpillar, and feeds on low plants (Plantago, &c.) during the whole of the spring and summer. It often frequents the luxuriant growth surrounding logs and stones which have long been left undisturbed.
The pupa state is spent in the earth or amongst moss on fallen trees. When this stage occurs in the summer it is of short duration, but in the case of larvæ becoming full grown in the autumn, the regular emergence does not take place until the following spring.
The moth may be observed on mild evenings nearly all the year round, but is commoner during the summer. It is an extremely abundant species, and is very often seen resting on tree trunks during the daytime, in which position the colouring of both sexes will be seen to be very protective.
MELANCHRA AGORASTIS, Meyr.
(Mamestra agorastis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 18.)
(Plate [V]., fig. 30 ♀.)
This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Akaroa and Lake Guyon in the South Island.
The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are rich reddish-brown, with dull yellowish-white markings; the claviform is small, grey, margined with dark reddish-brown; the orbicular is also rather small, grey, margined with dull white; the reniform is rather large, oblong, dark grey, margined rather broadly with yellowish-white. The hind-wings are dark brown. The antennæ of the male are shortly pectinated.
This species very closely resembles a dark specimen of Melanchra pelistis so far as the female is concerned, which is the only sex I have had an opportunity of examining.
The perfect insect appears in February and March. It is a scarce species.