CHLOROCLYSTIS LICHENODES, Purd.
(Pasiphila lichenodes, Purdie, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 70.)
(Plate [VI]., figs. 15 and 16, varieties.)
This extremely interesting species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Dunedin in the South Island; it has also been found at Stewart Island.
The expansion of the wings is about ¾ inch. The fore-wings are dull green; there is a large pale brown area near the base, divided by fine black lines into three distinct patches; the central portion of the wing is mottled with black, pale brown, and dull green; there is a very broad, irregular band of chocolate-brown near the termen, outlined with black towards the base and with white towards the termen, the white line almost dividing the band into four or five patches. The hind-wings are dull greenish-brown; there are several irregular black and white transverse lines and small patches of chocolate-brown, the markings being more distinct towards the dorsum. The cilia of all the wings are pale brown barred with dark brown.
I have observed that in many specimens of this species the ground colour is entirely pale brown instead of green; the markings, however, are not variable.
The perfect insect appears from November till February. It frequents forests, resting with outspread wings on lichen-covered tree-trunks, where its wonderfully perfect protective colouring may be seen to great advantage. The remarkable brown patches on the wings have undoubtedly been acquired for this protective purpose, and Mr. Purdie's name is certainly a most appropriate one. It is not, I think, a common species.
CHLOROCLYSTIS INDICATARIA.
(Eupithecia indicataria, Walk. 1708. Pasiphila indicataria, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 52.)
(Plate [VI]., fig. 17 ♂, 17A ♀.)