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Volume 45, 1912
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Art. VIII.—Notes on the Entomology of the Ohakune and Waiouru Districts.

By G. V. Hudson, F.E.S.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 1st May, 1912.]

The following notes on insects observed and captured in the neighbourhood of Ohakune and Waiouru are the results of a visit made by myself, wife, and daughter in January last. During the twelve days spent in the locality the weather was, on the whole, favourable for collecting, but a deficiency of brilliant sunshine considerably restricted the appearance of certain species. At Ohakune almost all the collecting was done in the forest, which is very accessible, and traversed by good tracks in several directions. On one of the most favourable days of our visit I managed to make a hurried trip to the lower slopes of Mount Ruapehu, but, owing to the distance which had to be traversed, only about three hours were available for collecting on an area ranging from 4,500 ft. to 5,000 ft. above the sea-level. I have seldom visited a mountain so barren of insect-life, and, although my stay was necessarily very brief, the weather was perfect, and it therefore seems evident that most of the species characteristic of mountains in the South Island are not found on Ruapehu.

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The following list of the species observed or captured near Ohakune cannot, of course, be regarded as in any way complete, and will, no doubt, be much extended when the district has been more completely worked by entomologists.

Lepidoptera.

Vanessa gonerilla.

One seen on Mount Ruapehu, at an elevation of about 5,000 ft. Several seen in the lowlands, and a few young larvae observed feeding on a tree-nettle (Urtica ferox) in the forest.

Chrysophanus salustius.

Apparently much rarer than in most places. The few examined were of the typical form.

Euxoa admirationis.

A few at light.

Melanchra mutans.

One at light.

Hypenodes anticlina.

This species, which is usually rare, occurred quite commonly in the depths of the forest. The general results in Noctuae were extremely poor, although sugaring was tried on several nights.

Tatosoma timora.

This insect was remarkably common in the forest, the males in the proportion of about ten to one female.

Tatosoma n. sp. ?

A single male of an apparently new species was captured by my daughter. If actually new, this will make the seventh species of Tatosoma known in New Zealand.

Chloroclystis nereis.

Three specimens of this mountain-insect were taken on Ruapehu, at about 5,000 ft.

Hydriomena deltoidata.

Only a few of this usually abundant insect were observed. They were larger and more vividly marked than average specimens taken further south.

Hydriomena subochraria.

A few in clearings.

Hydriomena rixata.

A few in forest.

Hydriomena purpurifera.

Several taken. I believe this is the first time the species has been taken in the North Island.

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Asaphodes megaspilata.

Common as usual.

Xanthorhoe limonodes.

Two specimens.

Xanthorhoe semifissata.

Common in the forest. Only males seen.

Xanthorhoe beata.

Rare. Some like the South Island forms.

Xanthorhoe chorica.

A fine series of this rare and very beautiful species was secured. Specimens were principally beaten from a shrub closely resembling Leptospermum, on which its larva may possibly feed. This insect has hitherto been recorded from the South Island only.

Xanthorhoe cymozeucta.

Fairly common in forest. A new species not previously taken.

Xanthorhoe cinerearia.

Specimens of both the large lowland and smaller hill form (invexata) were observed.

Epirranthis alectoraria.

Rare.

Selidosema fenerata.

Commonly resting on the trunks of rimu-trees (Dacrydium cupressinum) on which its larva probably feeds. In cultivated districts, where the insect is usually common, the food plant is Cupressus macrocarpa.

Selidosema aristarcha.

Two very fine specimens of this rare insect were beaten out of treeferns.

Selidosema leucelaea.

Taken amongst totara (Podocarpus totara), on which its larva feeds.

Selidosema productata.

Rare.

Selidosema panagrata.

Some fine varieties found resting on tree-trunks.

Selidosema monacha.

One specimen of this extremely rare insect was found drowned in a mountain-tarn on Ruapehu, at about 4,800 ft.

Chalastra pelurgata.

Fairly common. Some good varieties taken.

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Sestra humeraria.

Common as usual.

Gonophylla gallaria.

Rare.

Gonophylla fortinata.

Several observed amongst its food plant (Aspidium aculeatum).

Gonophylla ophiopa.

Some very fine varieties were secured, as well as typical forms.

Drepanodes muriferata.

Fairly common.

Declana floccosa.

Only young larvae observed.

Declana atronivea.

One crushed specimen found on a road in Ohakune.

Diptychophora pyrsophanes.

Very common.

Diptychophora chrysochyta.

Common; larger than usual.

Diptychophora leucoxantha.

Rare.

Diptychophora metallifera.

A few; probably nearly over.

Diptychophora selenaea.

Common, and very finely marked.

Diptychophora auriscriptella.

D. elaina.

Rare.

Crambus flexuosellus.

Rare.

Crambus ramosellus.

The commonest species of Crambus at Ohakune.

Crambus apicellus.

A few on the edges of a mossy lagoon in the forest.

Scoparia minualis.

The commonest Scoparia at Ohakune.

Scoparia dinodes.

Rare.

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Scoparia chimeria.

S. acharis.

S. diphtheralis.

S. characta.

S. sabulosella.

A few specimens of each of these species were observed.

Scoparia cyameuta.

A few at light.

Scoparia paltomacha.

S. trivirgata.

S. crypsinoa.

These three species were common on Mount Ruapehu, at about 5,000 ft. above sea-level.

Scoparia choristes.

S. harpalea.

S. epicomia.

S. asterisca.

S. rotuella.

Single specimens of each of these species were taken in the forest.

Musotima nitidalis.

Evidently rare.

Mecyna flavidalis.

Rarer than usual.

Pterophorus monospilalis.

Several seen. The only “plume” noticed in the locality.

Tortrix excessana.

A few large varieties taken.

Epalxiphora axenana.

Rare.

Tortrix incessana.

Cnephasia jactatana.

C. imbriferana.

These species were common as usual.

Tortrix conditana.

One only.

Izatha copiosella ?

Four specimens of this fine species, which is the largest of the genus yet known, was discovered in the forest at Ohakune.

Izatha huttonii.

I. metadelta.

Two specimens of each of these species seen.

Izatha picarella.

One very small specimen taken.

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Phloeopola dinocosma.

Fairly common.

Trachypepla anastrella.

T. lathriopa.

Both these species were very common.

Gymnobathra flavidella.

This autumnal species was evidently just appearing.

Borkhausenia armigerella.

A few only.

Borkhausenia griseata.

Common, and very large.

Dolichernis chloroleuca.

One only.

Stathmopoda skelloni.

Thylacosceles acridomima.

Both these species were common in the depths of the forest.

Lysiphragma epixyla.

Two taken.

Batrachedra agaura.

A few specimens of this species were found.

Eschatotypa derogatella.

A few only; evidently too late for it.

Endophthora mesotypa.

One very fine specimen found resting on a mossy tree-trunk, where its colouring was strikingly protective.

Sagephora steropastis.

Common.

Erechthias chasmatias.

One only.

Tinea certella.

Rare.

Sabatincta incongruella (Palaeomicra chalcophanes).

The phenomenal abundance of this interesting species, the most ancient lepidopterous insect known, fully corroborates Mr. Meyrick's suggestive remark as to the connection between these insects and pine forests.

Mnesarchaea loxoscia.

The same remarks apply also to this species.

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Hepialus virescens.

From burrows observed in the trunks of Melicope simplex and other trees, this must be an abundant insect in its season.

Porina signata.

Common at light.

Neuroptera.

This order was very well represented by several large and interesting species.

Leptoperla grandis.

One specimen of this large new species was discovered by Mrs. Hudson near the Mangawhero River, and is described in a separate paper (ante, p. 61).

Heteroperla cyrene.

Rare.

Sympetrum bipunctatum.

A very fine series of this brilliant red species, which I had not seen since 1887, was obtained round a large pond in the forest, where, in fact, all the species of dragon-flies known to me occurred in some numbers.

Sympetrum?

This delicate yellow species was also common.

Uropetala carovei.

This large and conspicuous insect was fairly common.

Somatochlora smithii.

Fairly common.

Aeschna brevistyla.

Of this very rapid-flying local species we secured a good series.

Lestes colensonis.

Xanthagrion zealandica.

Both these small dragon-ffies were abundant, as usual.

Ichthybotus hudsoni.

Coloburiscus humeralis.

Several seen.

Stenosmylus incisus.

Several taken in forest.

Oeconesus maori.

Several found.

Olinga feredayi.

One seen.

Pseudonema obsoleta.

One seen.

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Hydropsyche fimbriata.

H. colonica.

Hydrobiosis umbripennis.

All these and several other closely allied species of Trichoptera were seen in numbers.

Diptera.

In addition to several rare species of flies not yet determined, the following species of crane-flies (“daddy-long-legs”) were observed.

Macromastix montana.

Very common on Mount Ruapehu at about 5,000 ft.

Limnophila sinistra.

L. argus.

Both these species were very common in forest at Ohakune.

Tipula viridis.

Several in forest.

Tipula novarae.

One seen on Mount Ruapehu at 5,000 ft.

Tanyderus annuliferus.

Two seen.

Dilophus nigrostigma.

Common on Mount Ruapehu at 4,500 ft.

Coleoptera.

Metriorhynchus erraticus.

This beautiful beetle was very common on dead logs in the hot sunshine.

Stethaspis suturalis.

Several observed.

Beetles generally were not much in evidence, although the locality would probably prove a good one if adequately worked by a coleopterist.

Orthoptera.

A large yellow-green grasshopper with blackish markings and rudimentary wings was very common on Mount Ruapehu at about 5,000 ft. It is apparently closely allied to several species found on mountains in the South Island.

Miscellaneous Observations.

A peculiar cracking sound was heard on several different days proceeding from the middle of a dead tree standing in the forest, and was, I think, due to a large number of weevils (probably belonging to a species of Psepholax) drilling their way out of the tree. When the trunk was violently kicked the sound stopped, but it always resumed two or three minutes afterwards.

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A black spider, with paler markings and a long pointed abdomen, was very abundant on the shores of the large pond already mentioned. It was gregarious, spinning geometrical webs in irregular series amongst the rushes. The spiders, when resting in the webs, exactly resembled dead flies enshrouded in spider's web, and it seems probable that such a striking resemblance would be beneficial to the spider both for aggressive and defensive purposes. As I am not acquainted with spiders, I cannot give this note scientific precision, but deem it desirable to place such an interesting habit on record.

Before returning to Wellington we stayed three days at Waiouru (altitude 2,600 ft. above sea-level), and thoroughly worked the tussock plain on the south-east side of Ruapehu. This locality has a somewhat forbidding aspect, but the following list of the species found indicates that its insect fauna is by no means devoid of interest. The weather experienced at Waiouru was most favourable, and the complete absence of Argyrophenga antipodum here clearly proves, I think, that this butterfly does not occur on the tussock lands of the North Island.

Vanessa gonerilla.

Several seen. No nettles observed.

Chrysophanus boldenarum.

Very common and rather darker than usual on the underside.

Chrysophanus salustius.

Common.

Nyctemera annulata.

Rare.

Euxoa admirationis.

One at sugar.

Leucania unica.

Fairly common at sugar.

Leucania semivittata.

Three taken at sugar.

Aletia moderata.

Several at sugar.

Aletia griseipennis.

One at sugar.

Persectania disjungens.

Several very fine specimens taken at sugar.

Melanchra rubescens.

One at sugar.

Melanchra agorastis.

One at sugar

Melanchra omicron.

One at sugar.

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Hydriomena deltoidata.

Rare.

Xanthorhoe chlamydota.

Of this rare species one specimen was dislodged from flax-bushes near a stream, and another seen.

Xanthorhoe clarata.

Several observed. Rather smaller than usual.

Xanthorhoe stinaria.

Three observed. Apparently the first record from the North Island.

Notoreas vulcanica.

A good series of this fine insect was secured. It was rather scarce, and flew very rapidly in the hot sunshine.

Notoreas peromata.

A fine orange-yellow form occurred occasionally.

Dasyuris partheniata.

Very common, and in the finest condition.

Crambus ramosellus.

A few only.

Crambus vitellus.

Abundant.

Crambus simplex.

Common.

Crambus flexuosellus.

A few only.

Crambus siriellus.

One only.

Crambus apicellus.

Rare.

Crambus heliotes.

Common in the hot sunshine in damp places near the stream.

Scoparia sabulosella.

Common as usual.

Scoparia dinodes.

One at light.

Scoparia diphtheralis.

S. submarginalis.

A few of each were observed.

Diasemia grammalis.

One taken, and several others seen.

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Platyptilia aeolodes.

Two specimens on the Tokaanu Road.

Tortrix leucaniana.

Several seen.

Megacraspedus calamogonus.

Two specimens flying in late afternoon sunshine.

Coleoptera.

Cicindela tuberculata.

The very large handsome variety which was discovered in this locality in 1887 by my brother, Mr. W. B. Hudson, was common and in fine condition.*

Zorion castum.

This beautiful little beetle was common on the blossoms of the Dracophyllum.

Stethaspis suturalis.

Abundant at dusk.

Neuroptera.

Aeschna brevistyla.

Three taken.

Somatochlora smithii.

Common.

Xanthagrion zealandicum.

Common as usual.

Pseudonema obsoleta.

Hydropsyche fimbriata.

Both these species occurred over a small stream.

Diptera.

Cloniophora cuprea.

C. wakefieldi.

C. sp.?

Several of these interesting crane-flies were obtained.

Anabarhynchus maori.

Itamus varius.

Both these rapacious flies were abundant.

Hemiptera.

Melampsalta cincta.

This little cicada was common, the males singing vigorously in the tussocks.

[Footnote] * I am informed by Major Broun that this is a distinct species of Cicindela.

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