MELANCHRA OCTANS, n. sp.
(Plate [V]., fig. 1.)
This distinctly marked little species was discovered by Mr. Philpott, at Mount Linton, near Invercargill.
The expansion of the wings is 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are pale ochreous-brown; there are several wavy brown transverse lines near the base, two lines at about one-third, then a large V-shaped white mark extending almost from the costa and touching the dorsum; the orbicular and reniform spots are situated in the middle of this mark, the orbicular is very finely outlined in brown, and contains a black dot towards the base of the wing; the reniform is large, dark brown, surrounded by a large triangular dark brown shading; there is an obscure subterminal line; the termen is slightly indented. The hind-wings are dark brown, paler towards the termen.
This species may be immediately recognised by the large, white, V-shaped markings on the fore-wings.
The perfect insect appears in March.
MELANCHRA RUBESCENS, Butl.
(Xylophasia rubescens, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 489. Mamestra rubescens, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 25.)
(Plate [V]., fig. 18 ♂.)
This insect is apparently a mountain species. It has been taken at Mount Arthur, Castle Hill, and Lake Wakatipu.