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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The present work is intended as a guide to those who desire to collect or study our native Lepidoptera , and also as a book of reference to the general reader. In the Introduction I have first given an outline of the Transformations and Structure of the Lepidoptera . Then a brief sketch of the Darwinian theories respecting the origin of species and their special application to various phenomena exhibited by moths and butterflies, as well as a short outline of the general principles which have be
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I.—METAMORPHOSIS.
I.—METAMORPHOSIS.
THE EGG. The eggs of Lepidoptera are generally somewhat globular, much flattened above and beneath. Some are very elaborately sculptured, whilst others are quite smooth. They are usually white or yellowish, but always change much in colour as the contained embryo develops. THE LARVA. The larvæ of moths and butterflies are popularly known as caterpillars. They always consist of thirteen segments, segment number one being the head. The head is furnished with several simple eyes (Plate I ., fig. 2,
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II.—ANATOMY.
II.—ANATOMY.
THE PERFECT INSECT OR IMAGO. In common with all other members of the class, the body of a Lepidopterous insect consists of three main divisions: (1) the head, (2) the thorax, and (3) the abdomen. THE HEAD. The front of the head is termed the face , the top the crown , the sides are nearly entirely occupied by the compound eyes (Plate I ., fig. 11, AA), and the lower surface by the organs of the mouth. The Eyes consist of a very large number of simple lenses arranged in the form of two hemisphere
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III.—ORIGIN OF SPECIES.
III.—ORIGIN OF SPECIES.
The theory of the origin of species as propounded by Darwin may be thus very briefly summarised :— Variation. —No two organisms are exactly alike; there is always some variation from the parent form, in some cases very slight, in others considerable. (For examples of variation see Plate VII ., figs. 1 to 9, varieties of Hydriomena deltoidata ; Plate VIII ., figs. 42 to 47, varieties of Epirranthis alectoraria ; Plate IX ., figs. 6 to 14, varieties of Selidosema productata ; Plate X ., figs. 13 t
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IV.—CLASSIFICATION.
IV.—CLASSIFICATION.
From a further consideration of the foregoing principles it will be seen that all existing species are held to be descended by true generation from pre-existing species, and that, consequently, all the relationships we observe between species are explained by community of origin. The most natural system of classification is, therefore, that which best reveals the scheme of descent, or, as it is termed, the phylogeny, of the group of organisms classified. To construct a perfect system of classifi
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V.—GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.
V.—GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.
The details of geographical distribution are given under the headings of the respective species, so far as I have been able to ascertain them; but our knowledge in this direction is necessarily limited, and I have found much difficulty in obtaining reliable information, on account of the obstacles which exist in regard to the correct identification of species in other countries. The distribution of the species within New Zealand is also very imperfectly known at present, owing to the paucity of
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Family 1.—ARCTIADÆ.
Family 1.—ARCTIADÆ.
The Arctiadæ may be characterised as follows:— "Eyes smooth. Tongue developed. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 connate or stalked (rarely approximated or coincident), 8 anastomosing with cell nearly or quite from base to middle or beyond."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate II ., figs. 1, 2, and 4, 5.) This interesting family, although generally distributed throughout the world, is very poorly represented in New Zealand. Unlike most of the Caradrinina , many of the inclu
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Family 2.—CARADRINIDÆ.
Family 2.—CARADRINIDÆ.
The Caradrinidæ are distinguished by the following characters :— "Ocelli usually present. Tongue usually well developed. Labial palpi moderate, more or less ascending, second joint densely scaled, usually rough, terminal rather short, obtuse. Thorax usually densely hairy beneath. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 connate or short-stalked, 5 obsolete or imperfect, parallel to 4, 6 and 7 connate or sho
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Family 3.—PLUSIADÆ.
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
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Family 1.—HYDRIOMENIDÆ.
Family 1.—HYDRIOMENIDÆ.
The Hydriomenidae are thus characterized:— "Tongue well developed. Fore-wings with vein 10 rising separate; anastomosing with 11 and 9 (forming double areole), or rising out of 11 and anastomosing with 9 (forming simple areole). Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, parallel to 4, 6, and 7 almost always stalked or connate, 8 anastomosing with upper margin of cell from near base to beyond middle, or sometimes approximated only and connected by a bar or shortly anastomosing beyond middle." (Plat
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Family 2.—STERRHIDÆ.
Family 2.—STERRHIDÆ.
"Face smooth. Tongue developed. Palpi shortly rough-scaled. Fore-wings with vein 10 rising out of 9, 11 anastomosing or connected with 9. Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, rising from middle of transverse vein, parallel to 4, 8 very shortly anastomosing with upper margin of cell near base, thence rapidly diverging."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate II ., figs. 49 and 50.) Although less numerous than the preceding, the family is pretty evenly distributed throughout the world, but poorly represented in
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Family 3.—MONOCTENIADÆ.
Family 3.—MONOCTENIADÆ.
"Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, parallel to 4, rising from about or below middle of transverse vein, 8 free or anastomosing shortly near base or seldom from near base to beyond middle (then without areole of fore-wings), approximated to upper margin of cell to middle or beyond." (See Plate II ., figs. 44 and 45.) "Ovum subcylindrical, smooth. Larva more or less elongate, usually with few hairs, prolegs on segments 7, 8, and sometimes 9 rudimentary or absent. Pupa subterranean or in bark
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Family 4.—ORTHOSTIXIDÆ.
Family 4.—ORTHOSTIXIDÆ.
"Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, rising from about middle of transverse vein, 8 connected with upper margin of cell by an oblique bar towards base."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate II ., figs. 46 and 47.) This small family is represented in New Zealand by a single genus only. The peculiar oblique bar connecting vein 8 with the cell towards base, combined with the development of vein 5, distinguish it from all other families. If there is any chance of confusion with those forms of Hydriomenidæ in w
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Family 5.—SELIDOSEMIDÆ.
Family 5.—SELIDOSEMIDÆ.
"Hind-wings with vein 5 imperfect (not tubular) or obsolete, 6 and 7 usually separate, 8 usually obsoletely connected with upper margin of cell near base, approximated to near middle." (See Plate II ., figs. 51 to 64.) "A very large family, equally common throughout all regions. It varies considerably in superficial appearance, and is also remarkable for the variability of structure of veins 10 and 11 of the fore-wings in many (not all) species. Imago with body slender to rather stout; fore-wing
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Family 6.—SPHINGIDÆ.
Family 6.—SPHINGIDÆ.
"Head with dense appressed hairs. Ocelli absent. Eyes glabrous. Antennæ thickened towards middle or posteriorly, in male ciliated with partial whorls. Labial palpi moderate, ascending, with dense projecting scales. Thorax densely hairy beneath. Femora densely hairy. Fore-wings with vein 1 b furcate, 6 out of 8, 9 absent (rarely present in exceptional individuals). Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 approximated at base, 5 from middle of transverse vein, parallel to 4, 6 and 7 connate or stalked, 8 co
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III.—THE LASIOCAMPINA.
III.—THE LASIOCAMPINA.
Not represented in New Zealand. The Papilionina are distinguished by the following characters :— "Head rough-haired. Ocelli absent. Tongue developed. Antennæ slender, dilated apically, forming a gradual or abrupt club. Labial palpi moderately long, more or less rough-haired, terminal joint rather pointed. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Thorax more or less hairy. Fore-wings with 1 b simple, 1 c absent, 5 usually from or above middle of transverse vein. Hind-wings without frenulum, 1 c absent, 3 and 4
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Family 1.—NYMPHALIDÆ.
Family 1.—NYMPHALIDÆ.
"Anterior legs in both sexes much reduced, useless for walking; posterior tibiæ without middle spurs. Fore-wings with veins 8 and 9 out of 7. Hind-wings with præcostal spur." (Plate I ., figs. 7 and 8.) "An extremely large family, mainly tropical. The species are of large or moderate size, usually dark-coloured, with light or bright bands or rows of spots. "Ovum cylindrical or sub-conical, ribbed and often reticulated. Larva with pairs of tentacles or more usually series of bristly spines. Pupa
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Family 2.—SATYRIDÆ.
Family 2.—SATYRIDÆ.
"Characters of Nymphalidæ , but fore-wings with vein 12 greatly dilated towards base." (Plate I ., figs. 25, 26, and 27, neuration of Erebia pluto .) "A large group of very general distribution. The species are usually of moderate size, generally dark coloured with light bands or spots, and with several round, black, white-centred spots on lower surface. Some of them are more fond of shady places than is customary in this group. "Ovum spherical-ovate, surface reticulated and often ribbed. Larva
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Family 3.—LYCÆNIDÆ.
Family 3.—LYCÆNIDÆ.
"Anterior legs developed, but tarsi of ♂ more or less abbreviated, or with one or both claws absent; posterior tibiæ without middle spurs. Fore-wings with vein 7 absent, 8 and 9 stalked or coincident. Hind-wings without præcostal spur." (Plate I ., figs. 15, 16, neuration of Chrysophanus salustius .) "The family is large and very generally distributed. The species are of moderate size or more often rather small, usually blue, dark brown, or coppery-orange in colouring, often with series of small
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REPUTED NEW ZEALAND BUTTERFLIES.
REPUTED NEW ZEALAND BUTTERFLIES.
The following species are recorded by various observers as having occurred in New Zealand. In nearly every case they are only represented by single specimens. They cannot, in my opinion, be regarded as properly belonging to the fauna :— 1. HAMADRYAS ZOILUS, [59] Fabr. The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. On the upper side all the wings are black, becoming brown towards the base; the fore-wings have three dull white spots near the apex; the hind-wings have the whole of the central portions white
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V.—THE PYRALIDINA.
V.—THE PYRALIDINA.
Not dealt with in this volume. The Psychina are distinguished by the following characters :— "Eyes glabrous. Maxillary palpi rudimentary or obsolete (yet sometimes well marked in pupa). Posterior tibiæ, with spurs very short, middle spurs often absent. Fore-wings with vein 1 b furcate, 1 c usually developed, 5 more or less approximated to 4. Hind-wings with frenulum, retinaculum often very broad, 1 c present, 8 connected or anastomosing with cell." (See Plate I ., figs. 30, 31 neuration of Œceti
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Family 1.—PSYCHIDÆ.
Family 1.—PSYCHIDÆ.
"Head densely rough-haired. Ocelli large. Tongue obsolete. Antennæ half the length of the fore-wings or less, in male strongly bi-pectinated to apex. Labial palpi very short, hairy. Thorax densely hairy above and beneath. Abdomen, femora, and tibiæ densely hairy, posterior tibiæ without middle spurs, end spurs extremely short. Fore-wings with vein 1 a anastomosing with 1 b before middle; 1 c (if present) coincident with 1 b beyond middle, 7 absent. Hind-wings, with vein 8, connected by bar with
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VII.—THE TORTRICINA.
VII.—THE TORTRICINA.
Not dealt with in this volume....
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VIII.—THE TINEINA.
VIII.—THE TINEINA.
The following are the principal characters of the Micropterygina :— "Fore-wings with an oblique membranous dorsal process (jugum) near base, forming with the dorsal margin a notch or sinus, which receives the costa of the hind-wings. Hind-wings without frenulum, 1 c present, with 11 or more veins, neuration essentially, almost or quite identical with that of fore-wings. Fore-wings and hind-wings more than usually remote at origin. "In the two families, which constitute this highly interesting gr
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Family 1.—HEPIALIDÆ.
Family 1.—HEPIALIDÆ.
"Head rough. Ocelli absent. Tongue obsolete. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Tibiæ without spurs. Fore-wings with all main veins and costa connected by bars near base, 1 b furcate, forked parting vein strong." (Plate I ., figs. 22, 23, 24, 28, 29.) "By no means an extensive family, yet of universal distribution. It stands more conspicuously isolated than any other group of Lepidoptera , for although it is without doubt a terminal development from the Micropterygidæ (that is one from which no existing
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APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
By FLORENCE W. HUDSON. A BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE PLANTS MENTIONED IN THIS WORK. The following list of trees, shrubs, &c, has been prepared to assist entomologists in recognising the various food-plants mentioned in connection with the insects described in the foregoing pages. In order to meet the requirements of beginners, all botanical terms have been omitted. Those desiring precise scientific information on these plants, will of course consult works specially dealing with botany.
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PLATE XIII.
PLATE XIII.
This organ is termed the tongue by Mr. Meyrick. As many mandibulate insects possess a true tongue, and the proboscis of the Lepidoptera is not homologous with the tongue, but with the maxillæ, I think the term is very misleading. For the examination of the wings taken from dried specimens, I have found that immersion in methylated spirits renders the veins visible after partial denudation with the camel's-hair brush. With recent specimens, however, the scales can easily be entirely removed. I ha
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