(Plate [VI]., fig. 1.)
This species has occurred at Rakaia.
The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are bluish-grey, dotted and streaked with darker grey; there are no distinct markings, except an obscure transverse shading near the termen, and a series of dull terminal spots; the costa is slightly concave. The hind-wings are grey, paler towards the base, with a dark line on the termen; the cilia of all the wings are grey.
The perfect insect appears in July, August and September.
Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.
Genus 11.—HELIOTHIS, Ochs.
"Head rough-scaled; eyes naked. Antennæ in ♂ ciliated. Thorax without crest. Abdomen not crested. Tibiæ spinose, anterior tibiæ with horny apical hook.
"A rather small genus, but very generally distributed, though commoner in subtropical regions; it is a development of Caradrina; some of the species have a very wide natural range. The larvæ feed especially on the blossoms of their food-plants."—(Meyrick.)
This genus is represented in New Zealand by the world-wide Heliothis armigera.
HELIOTHIS ARMIGERA, Hb.