Mr. Meyrick states that it occurs commonly in Eastern Australia.[[21]]
Family 3.—PLUSIADÆ.
The Plusiadæ are characterized as follows:—
"Ocelli usually distinct. Tongue well developed. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 usually out of 9, 10 usually connected with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 connate or short-stalked, 5 well developed, 6 and 7 connate or short-stalked or seldom closely approximated only, 8 shortly anastomosing with cell near base, thence evenly diverging." (See Plate [II]., figs. 14 to 18.)
"This family is by no means very prominent in temperate regions, but within the tropics it assumes immense proportions, and is there, probably, the most abundant family of the Lepidoptera. There is much greater diversity of size, colour, and form than in the Caradrinidæ, and also more variation in structure, though this remains more uniform than usual. Imago with fore-wings usually relatively broader and less elongate than in the Caradrinidæ, body often more slender.
"Ovum spherical, more or less reticulated, often also ribbed. Larva with few hairs, sometimes with prolegs on segments 7 and 8 absent or rudimentary. Pupa usually in a cocoon above the ground."—(Meyrick.)
The family is represented in New Zealand by the following four genera:—
| Sub-family 1.—[Hypenides] | 1. [Hypenodes]. | |
| Sub-family 2.—[Plusiades] |  | 2. [Plusia]. 3. [Dasypodia]. 4. [Rhapsa]. |
| Sub-family 1.—[Hypenides] | 1. [Hypenodes]. |
| Sub-family 2.—[Plusiades] | 2. [Plusia]. 3. [Dasypodia]. 4. [Rhapsa]. |