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THE CANADIAN

ENTOMOLOGIST.

ao VOLUME IX. Soy ‘>

Cdited by William Saunders,

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ASSISTED BY Rev. C. J. S. BETHUNE, M. A., Port Hope, Ont.; £. B. REED, London, Ont., and G. J. BOWLES, Montreal, Que.

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LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS VOLUME.

AVATRIO INS, Ee GsByNU Ba seaeta oi vsisne eke store cs sw elota's bye MARYVILLE, E. TENNESSEE. INOS DIRN DNAS). WRAY lees San oe eID CORO eee erie BROOKLYN, N. Y. PROS J Sig | Wed SSS OEE Sr ae no eae West Farms, N. Y. AUSTIN; E. P. ee ach See hess CAMBRIDGE MIASS: BAILEY, DR. JAMES s Reeore See RU Gis ey A EBAN Vy, Ne Vis (EVANS SOS Be IR Bos <n, Re TEU Pca ett WATERBURY, CONN. Pea Sf Es). 2. sae ene cas ose cass eens SOUTH ABINGEON, MASS: BEAN, THOS: E..22- AGA EEE Can ERE IE GALENA, ILL. BIB SIE e PAUVEEES El dekepteres oe Pest Cratinal ok. tevateray oeealte BELLEVILLE, ONT. BE OEMUN Ba RE, Ve Gieics Sisters aioe she cc's Sait) ac ise Port Hope, ONT. TRCN ON GD, ic cee naecan Sree Seana tL ORON TOs 2 ONT, ROMS se AUGER VY. Aaya sasaicohite. ane} aleve lereinanacls-s MANHATTAN, KANSAS. TEENS CIN PH tr PA WW) I BINGE erie eggs ch Secteda shells) 8 eet West POINT, NEBRASKA, UN TICE Rem © ERG eer okies tals eho, tho sak tection tote ROCHESTER, N. Y. CANUTCISISIDIDE S118 The moaobcco io cb aolbor dame MONTREAL, QUE. GEVAWEBE INS Ve “Tiajctiaas- ROR RS EICRE Poa COVINGTON, hey, COUERER. WM 7:5. Se eg gan Ase eb Canes or ie RAI MONTREAL, QUE. ID WENN COUN. 4 | URI Ue AC id A a Se ee LONDON, ONT, IDEA A SIRI NLD eal Oa ee thks Gert ecu «| CLE MDES Nie We JOXOIDAG IE AC aan BR pre eae AE ei a vee ree OTC GLENCOE, NEBRASKA, TOUR (CAE WAS rae DE ie © ae RR eae eRe iy. AVONDALE, OHIO. EIDIWVENID) Sa Wis alcdtmes peartsceiagarshinte as arte tere, eee conte COALBURGH, W. VA. CeBANGUROV 2 DELO Ss Ge meet Asoiset ety ane « Parl eran PHILADELPHIA, PA. © OB e lee oan Wroterttnm teen tere) ec ehiancet a ee AMHERST, MAss. CRO AME APA es anise ra te iol ebiire lammatctelay otab le. Sintate BUFFALO, N. Y. IBDN GAS IN al DY Baad & Deesece a aie DAD ee rani te Ree et CAMBRIDGE, MASss., ET AVI NONE re TIRE SIE BION SEC Ease tS a Ge LEG hd atk eee BUFFALO, N. Y. ett) Wem eee AU ser te baba re oh Wace oh creieieaus + ace a RACINE, WHEISCONSIN. TEENS ey Avemeee ot Bae ame thie? sh tusiaiustos te ALBANY, N. Y. IVI OIE erie Ave eae cate eretors MA Tce sails ae LLAMIL PONS ONE IM OIN EE Thrnces 2 Reais a Pee eee eae s St. Louis, Mo. AVEO RAREST) Tan Pt Grok tare ct atctecatsecun oate ee eases 3ALTIMORE, Mp. RVICIOIRSRCAN Vien SALT I RICAN er sare oo te ES be od ee ates HAMILTON, ONT. NCAR DIRS CARBS 82 2! eeidilcro ss ale Oe wide ees 5 os DALEMEN MAGS: EAE iinet OWNS oe Wisreatdly, tp imrces ns sas ole.s, sins, 10:0 0-2 sas MON EREAT A OUR, ETB ASERS CO) INES Gost VV meee doy Vee ae elie ttekal sco ha weet MONTREAL, QUE. EEE Ce eG ©) 6 Ws Seamer Shs a Aha dene ee ene boe"s wae NEw YORK. SLUIN DE Rog Wasbe eEditOn.. sassesace ee aees LONDON, ONT. SEE VVC IR > Coe Cotes etree 3 errers iis trea e eo NEWPORT ta kave WEAUN VWWiA G BINGE Ne Gail ry Wel sales ects <2 abla si WMEST CHESTER] COs, INE Ve WEENIE. DIR? BUIGEEANAIN,..|. cae. lc veces PERTH, SCOTLAND. NVIEIGICES LONG So Meee irein sh cee ec on ......NEW HAVEN, CONN. MRS IEGOsIT:: -O:-:Seemmreestee actos trsatest acocmale os RACINE, WISCONSIN, WORE EIINGT ON) Ge Bist acs covestaees CHICAGO, ILL.

UNIVER VEAINN, CREA Se Bite wats. vere ss ceneas DURFALO, N.Y,

ERRATA IN VOLUME IX.

The following corrections have been kindly sent us by J. A. Lintner, Albany, N. Y.:—

PAGE.

LINE.

2)

N

® NN

CORRECTION.

For melana read malana. robiginosaria read rubiginosar ta. “* cinerofrons read cinereofrons. “« Stenopis read Sthenopis. argentimaculata read argenteomaculata. “* Flemiluca read Hemileuca. Pholiosora read Pholisora. ‘* vautals read rantalis. eurydice read eurytris. Place RHOPALOCERA before line 31, p. 116. For WVymphalides B., read Melitea Fabr. dele melinus—a Californian species. For lucillius read lucilius. “Palm. read Dalm. dele tenuis—a repetition. Change SpHINGID& to below HETEROCERA, line 31, page 117. For chamoenerii read chameeneril. ‘* Carpenter read Charpentier. procris read Americana. Peraphora read Perophora. ‘* Hib. read Harris. ‘* Hypurpax read Hyparpax. “ce “ce ce

“ Charandra read Charadra. “ Smyrinthus read Smerinthus.

Che Canadian Entomologist.

VOL. IX. LONDON, ONT., JANUARY, 1877. No. 1

HISTORY OF PHYCIODES THAROS, A’ POLYMORPHIC BUTTERFLY.

BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA.

In the month of July, 1875, I chanced to be in the Catskill Mts., when Mr. Mead discovered the food-plant of ¢iavos, as detailed by him in Vol. vii, ENT., p. 161, this being the common wild Aster, 4. ova- angli@, and I obtained from him a cluster of eggs; also afterwards got others for myself by tying the femaies in bags over the stems of the same plant. The larve hatched, and while in their younger stages I brought them to Coalburgh. On the journey, stopping at several points, I had to give them leaves of such species of Aster as I could find, and they ate any and all readily—even German Asters from the garden. By the 4th of September they had ceased feeding, after having all passed two moults, and slept. Two weeks later, part of them were again active and fed for a day or two, when these gathered in clusters and presently passed their third moult, and became lethargic, each one where it moulted, with the cast skin by its side. I placed all the larvee in the cellar, and so they remained till 7th Feb., when such as were alive (many had died from. mould), were transferred to leaves of an Aster which had been forced in the green-house. The same day some were feeding. They all passed in due time two more moults, making a total of five in some cases. But whether those larvee which moulted twice only in the fall did not pass three moults in the spring I cannot say. Further observations are neces- sary on this habit. The first chrysalis was formed 5th May, and its butterfly emerged on 18th, or after 13 days. | Another emerged on 3oth, after 8 days, this stage being shortened as the weather became warmer. There resulted 8 butterflies, all marcia, 5%, 39, and all of the variety hereinafter designated C, except one 2, which was var. B.

The first individuals of the species seen by me, in the field, at Coal- burgh, were 3 marcia, on 18th May. A single 2 was taken 19th, two

74 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

on 23rd, two on 24th, and these were all I saw up to the last date, although I carefully watched for them. Shortly after, both sexes became common. On the 26th I took 7 @, and tied them up in separate bags, on branches of Aster. The next day 6 of the 7 had laid eggs, the clusters varying from about 50 to 225 eggs each. They. were always laid on the leaves, and usually on the under side of them, in rows nearly or quite straight, and touching each other. In the larger clusters the layers were three deep. These gave me hundreds of caterpillars, and each brood was kept separate. The butterflies began to emerge 29th June, the ‘several stages being thus : egg 6 days, larva 22, chrysalis 5. There were four moults and no more, but much irregularity in every larval stage, so that some of the butterflies did not emerge till 15th July. Just after these larvee hatched I went to the Catskills, taking one brood with me, and they reached chrysalis there, and in that stage were mailed back to Coal- burgh. I returned by the time the butterflies from these chrysalids were emerging. There was no perceptible difference in the length of the several periods of this brood and the others which had been left at home, and none of either lot became lethargic. In my absence the larvee had been cared for by a member of my family, charged to note carefully all changes. The butterflies from these eggs of May, with a single exception, were tharos, and this one was marcia § , var. C. This was the second generation

of the season, counting the one which proceeded from the hybernating larvee as the first.

On 16thof July,at Coalburgh, I again obtained eggs from several females, this time all ¢Zavos, as no other form was flying. The eggs hatched in 4 days, the larval stage was 22, and chrysalis 7; but as before, many larvee lingered. The first butterfly emerged on 18th Aug. All were ¢Aavos, and none of the larve had been lethargic. This was the third generation in succession, and from the second laying of eggs.

On rsth Aug., at Coalburgh, I again obtained eggs from a single tharos ?, and took them directly to the Catskills, and they hatched just as I arrived there, zoth. This was the fourth generation of the season from the third laying of eggs. The weather in Virginia had been excessively hot, and so I found it on the journey, but on reaching the mountains it was cool, and the nights decidedly cold. Two days after my arrival the mercury stood at sunrise at 40°. September was a wet and cold month, and I protected these larve in a warm room at night, and much of the time by day, for they will not feed when the temperature is less than

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 8

about 50° Far. The first chrysalis was formed r5th Sept., 26 days from the hatching of the larve, and others at different dates up to the 26th Sept., or 37 days from the egg. Forty per cent. of this brood, or 52 larvee out of 127, became lethargic after second moult. I entered in my journal as follows: “16th Sept., 52 larvee have ceased feeding at second moult.” “26th Sept., fully one-half of the larvae which had ceased feeding at second moult began to feed again, after resting a few days, and have now passed third moult.” After which they became lethargic and so remained. Iwas much puzzled at finding m the summer that the broods then had but four moults, as I satisfied myself by repeated tests,. and that, in each brood, inasmuch as I had noted down three fall moults in some cases, and two in the spring in the larvae of 1875, and written descriptions of them. Moreover Miss Peart had made a drawing of this third fall moult, and it did not correspond with any one of the summer moults, though plainly later than the second, and much smaller than the summer third, besides differing from it in markings. Butin the brood of larvae, whose history I have just recited, the two moults show for themselves, as I have them now before me, and the third agrees with Miss Peart’s figure. The species passes five larval moults in the winter brood, though perhaps but four in some cases, and there are but four in summer.

I returned to Coalburgh 15th Oct., and till I reached this place the weather on the way had been cold, with several frosty nights. So that for a period of 30 days, the chrysalids had: at no time been exposed to warmth. The day I arrived, the butterflies began to emerge, and before the end of aweek all that were living had come forth, viz., 9 males, 10 females. Several were dead, from bruises received on the journey. Of these 9 males, 4 were changed to marcia, var. C, 3 were var. D, and 2 were not changed at all. Of the ro females, 7 were changed, 5 of them to var. B, 3 to var. C. The other 2 females were not different from many ¢laros of the summer brood, having large discal patches on

under side of hind wings, besides the markings common to the summer brood.

Ten of the chrysalids of this brood I mailed from the Catskills to Mr. Lintner, at Albany, N. Y., asking him to keep them in a cool place and watch the result. I have before me from these chrysalids 6 butter- flies, which emerged between 21st Oct. and 2nd Nov., all females, and all of var. B. Of the remaining chrysalids, Mr. Meske, in whose charge they were placed, writes, 27th Dec., that three seem to be still alive, and

4 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

one is dead. In nature I do not believe this species ever hybernates in the chrysalis stage. ‘These butterflies were more completely changed than were those from the chrysalids brought to Coalburgh, as appears by com- parison of the results in the two cases.

And 18 of the chrysalids I had placed on ice, 20th Sept., laying them in a tin box directly on the surface of the ice, the temperature of the house being 40° Far. Part were so placed within three hours after the forming of the chrysalis, and before they had hardened; others within six hours, and others within nine hours, and so all remained for seven days, that being the longest summer period of the chrysalis. On remoy- ing them from the ice, they seemed to me dead. ‘They were soft, and when they became hard had a shrivelled surface. I brought them to Coalburgh, and discovered no sign of life till 21st Oct., when the weather suddenly became hot, the mercury rising to 87°, with a south wind. In two days 15 butterflies emerged, every one marcia, not a doubtful form among them in either sex. There were ro males, 5 females; of the former 5 were of var. C, 4 of D, rof B. Of the 5 females, 1 was var. C,4 of B. The other three chrysalids were dead. _All the butterflies of this brood were diminutive, starved by the cold, but those from the ice were sensibly smaller than the others. All the examples of var. B were more intense in the coloring’of the under surface than any I ever saw in nature, and the single male was as deeply colored as the females, and this also I never saw in nature. The examples of the other vars. were extreme, but not so unusual.

So much for the Coalburgh broods, and I am able to compare their behavior with those of the same species in the Catskills. . When I went thither in June, arriving on the 18th, I found a few male mavcza, var. D,flying, no females. This was exactly one month later than the first males had been seen at Coalburgh. The first female was now taken 26th June, and on 27th and 28th I took one female each day, all of them marcia, var.C. No more were seen, and no ¢havos, though I was daily in the fields. So that the first female was 38 days later than the first at Coalburgh. These three females I set on Aster, and two forthwith deposited eggs. The females of this species give fertile eggs when but a few hours out of chrysalis, just as I have shown, Ent., Sept., 76, that Avg. myrina may do.

The eggs thus obtained I mailed to Coalburgh, and returning soon

after, found that they had hatched, 3rd July. The first moult occurred on the oth, the second on 12th, the third on r5th, the fourth on 18th, and

or

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

the first chrysalis suspended on 2oth, its butterfly emerging 29th July. So that the periods were, egg 6, larva 17, chrysalis 9 days. Five per cent. of this brood became lethargic after second moult. This, then, was the second generation of the butterfly of the season, from the first laying of eggs. All the emerging butterflies were ¢aros, no marcia, and all were characterized by an intense blackness of the dark portions of the wings, as compared with any Coalburgh examples. Also nearly all the females showed the discal band on fore wings above yellow, instead of fulvous. (This last peculiarity, the change in the band, appeared in some of the females of the ‘Azrd Coal- burgh generation, but no other.) On the under side the reticulated lines were unusually heavy, and the marginal cloud and the brown patches largely extended and deep colored. al

This second generation was just one month behind the second at Coalburgh. So far only could I trace the Catskill generation this year ; but, as in 1875, Mr. Mead obtained eggs on the 27th July and following days, the larvae from which all hybernated, that would be the second laying of eggs of the season, and the resulting butterflies the first genera- tion of the following year.

So that, in the Catskills, the species is digoneutic, there being two generations annually, the first of which is mavcéa, or the winter form, and the other is the summer form, and a certain proportion of the larvae proceeding from the first hybernate (so far as appears) and all those from the second.

At Coalburgh there are four generations, the first of which is marcia and the second and third are ¢/avos, and none of the larvae from these have so far been found to hybernate ; and the fourth, under exceptional circumstances, has produced some ¢havos and more marcia the same season, a large proportion of the larvae also hybernating. But had the larvae of this brood remained at Coalburgh, where the temperature for several weeks after they left the egg remained high, the resulting butterflies would have been ¢haros, and the larvae from their eggs would have hybernated. And here I may say that, in addition to the broods spoken of, I also raised others at Coalburgh out of the line of regular succession, as midway between the second and third generations, for example, and none of these larvae became lethargic, and the resulting butterflies were all tharos.

The altitude of the Catskill region in which 1 was is from 1650 to 2000 feet above tide water, and the highest peaks of the range were

6 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

directly near. The altitude of Coalburgh is 600 feet. As appears, the changing of the larvae from New York to Virginia, about 40° latitude, besides the difference of altitude, and the reverse, from Virginia to New York, had no perceptible influence on the resulting butterflies of the several broods, except in case of the last one, where the effect of the change of climate was direct on part of them, both as to the form and the size. The periods of the Catskill brood of June may have been accelerated a trifle by transferance to Virginia, but not more, for the weather in the mountains at that time was warm; and the butterflies retained their peculiarities of color, which, as I have stated, were very marked. So also they retained their habit of lethargy, which, I may say in passing, is a very serviteable habit in a two-brooded species of butter- fly, in a mountain region, and exposed to sharp changes of temperature. If the fate of the species depended on the last larval brood of the year, and especially if the larvae must reach a certain stage of growth before they were fitted to enter upon their hybernation, it might well happen that now and then an early frost, ora tempestuous season, would destroy all the larvae of the district. The species in the Catskills, in such circum- stances, would probably be about as scarce as it now is on Anticosti.

On the other hand, the May brood, taken from Virginia to the Catskills, suffered no retardation of their periods, as compared with other larvae of the same generation left at home, nor was there any change of color, nor did any larva become lethargic. It might have been expected that all of the last brood taken to the mountains would have become lethargic, under the severe conditions to which they were exposed, but the greater number resisted change even in this habit. From all which we may conclude that it takes time to naturalize a stranger, and that habits and tendencies, evenin a butterfly, are not to be changed suddenly.

The larvee of ¢havos are at no period protected by a web, either one common to the community, as with Phaefon, or one for each individual, after the habit of myltta, according to Mr. Henry Ed- wards, in lit. They are exposed, just as are the larva of mycfeis, and the only shelter either of these species have is what the leaf over them affords. I have left larvae of tharos on the growing food-plant, uncovered by any net, till after first moult, expressly to test the point of a web, as it had been suggested that these larvae might wholly change their natural habit in confinement, something that, so far as I know, larvae never do. The larvae of zycée’s I have seen naturally on their food-plant until after

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ii

third moult, and there was not a thread of a web.* The larvae of ¢haros are sluggish, and a pretty sharp jar is necessary to cause them to drop from the leaf. This they do in a coil, and their bristles effectually protect them from all harm.

When about to moult,the larve bred by me ceased feeding, and collected in groups on the covers of the glasses in which I usually kept them, resting for about 36 hours. The body contracted, and as the time for,the moult drew near, the skin became glassy as it separated from the newly formed skin beneath. The spines and bristles of the new skin lie folded down and back, and as the old skin, after splitting behind the head, is shuffled past the successive segments, the spines and pencils of hairs suddenly spring up, and the latter instantly become divergent. Forsome moments the old mask adheres to the new face, but the larva presently proceeds to rub it off with its feet. . When the larva prepares for chrysalis, it spins a button of white silk, and hangs suspended for about 24 hours, its position being nearly circular.

As I have shown, ¢aros is polygoneutic in West Virginia, digoneutic in the Catskills, of New York. Ina high latitude, or at a high altitude, we might then expect to find it monogoneutic, and restricted probably to the winter form marcia. And this is precisely what does occur in the island of Anticosti (about lat. 50°) and on the southern coast of Labrador opposite. Mr. Couper, who collected in 1873 on the island, informs me that ¢haros is a rare species there, though he saw it in localities 100 miles apart ; that he saw no examples later than 29th June, from which date “it disappeared”; and adds, “I do not think any of the diurnals on Anticosti or in Labrador produce a second brood.” - When he left, 27th July, ‘‘ the weather was becoming cold and very few butterflies of any sort were to be seen.” Also, “the summer temperature of Southern Labrador and Anticosti are about the same.” Of ¢havos from Anticosti Mr. Couper has sent me 14 males, 8 females. Of these males, all are var. D ; of the females, 1 is var. C, 7 var. D. With these also came 11 males, 2 females from Labrador, all of same variety, D. All these examples are of reduced size, as might be expected from so cool a region.

Dr. Weisman states (See Can. Ent., Vol. vii, p. 232), that Dorfmeister was led by his experiments on the effect of cold on the pupae of butter-

* T found last summer that szycte¢s larvee will eat asters as readily as Actinomeris sguarrosa, which hitherto I had fed them on,

8 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST,

flies to believe that temperature exerts the greatest influence during the turning into chrysalis, but nearly as much shortly after that time ; and he considers it very possible that a period may be fixed at which the original tendency might be diverted more strongly. — As related above, the chrysa- lids of ¢taros which were subjected to cold three hours after forming reached the same result as those which were exposed six and nine hours after forming. The period of exposure, 7 days, did not seem to me at the time very long for the purpose in view, especially as in Dr. Weismann’s experiments the exposure had been from 34 days to threemonths. This too at a temperature of 33° Far., while in case of tharos it was but 40°. _Itis true, the greater part of the chrysalids of tharos which did not have an exposure to this artificial temperature also produced the winter form of the butterfly, but on the other hand some were not changed at all, whereas in all the chrysalids subjected to ice the change was complete and extreme. Nevertheless it would have been more satisfactory had chrysalids of the summer brood been experimented with, and if I live to another summer, I will test the matter. Itseems to me very probable that a much shorter exposure to cold immediately after the forming of the chrysalis a day or two, or even a few hours—may be found to divert the direction of the form, in this species.

There is a very great range of variation in the winter form. ‘It exhibits at least four well marked types, and there are sub-varieties about each of, and connecting, these. ‘The first, A, has the basal area of under side of hind wings (which area comprises half the wings, and is occupied by the reticulated lines, while beyond is a clear field for a certain space) whitened or silvered, as is also the whole series of sub-marginal crescents, and there is either no marginal cloud, or bu’ ~ eslightest; the extra basal space buff. A sub-var. of this has the basal area whitened, but the rest of the wing clouded, and is between A and B. ‘The second, B, has the whole surface, except a narrow border along costal margin, dark brown, running into blackish, but with a clear white 6r yellow belt formed of the outer reticulated lines, across the disk. Its principal sub-variety has the brown area broken, discovering a yellow ground, the belt remaining white, and is between Bund C. _The third, C, is variegated and gay, the ground being of a deep rich yellow, the marginal cloud extended quite to the belt, and ferruginous in color ; a large patch on the disk and’another on costal margin, both ferruginous ; the reticulated lines of same color and distance, and a lilac flush over the whole hind margin. Sub-varieties of this have the

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 9

ground in shades of buff instead of yellow, the cloud and patches brown instead of ferruginous ; sometimes the discal patch large, triangular and occupying a large part of the basal area ; or in the form of an oblong band extending from middle of the wing to the inner margin, and met by a similar band filling the cell. C passes by grades into D. The fourth, D, has the ground color reddish-ochreous, the lines ferruginous, as also the extra discal points; the cloud and both patches pale brown, often a mere wash of color ; on the fore wings the black spots are reduced and very pale, and the margin is pale fulvous and reddish-ochraceous. Of this type are the northern examples mostly ; but in the Catskills and White Mountains, and

in West Virginia, the red tint is less decided and the cloud and patches deeper colored.

And this variety D gradually shades into the summer form, particularly in the male, so that many examples of: this sex cannot be distinguished from many males of the summer form. There is not much variation in these last, they being generally characterized by a restricted marginal cloud, obsolete discal patch, and very small, if not obsolete, costal patch. But the summer females are of two distinct types, one closely like the male, and consequently also the male of var. D of the winter form; the other quite different from its male, characterized by large brown patches on disk and costa, and a diffuse marginal cloud. ‘This finds its counter- part in the female of var. D, or at any rate agrees most nearly with it, the peculiarities of the winter form being exaggerated in the summer.

Of these varieties, A is rare, and has appeared in none of the butterflies bred by me. I have occasionally taken it on the wing at Coalburgh, and in the Catskills. Var. B is common in W. Va., and nearly all the females taken in the spring are of ‘7's type; in the other sex it is rather rare, most of the examples being of var. C. Through the South also as far as Texas, beyond which I have not. followed the species, var. B seems to be the prevailing winter form. It becomes less abundant to the north of Virginia, appearing but occasionally in the Catskills. At Albany, neither Mr. Lintner or Mr. Meske ever met with it.

Var. C is common in W. Va., in the male, and somewhat sc in the female. So also in N. Carolina, if I may judge by examples sent me by Mr. Morrison. But I have not seen it from farther South, nor from Texas.

It is common in the Catskills, and is occasional even to the extreme northern limit of the species.

10 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Var. D is rare in W. Va., but in the Catskills the male of this is most abundant of all; the female much less so, being replaced by C and B to a great degree. Of 3 males, 3 females, sent me from New Hampshire by Mr. Whitney, and taken at random from his collection, all were of the winter form, var. D, except 1 female of the summer form. From Canada, Labrador and Anticosti, all the examples received were D, with an occa- sional exception of var.C. Of 4 males from Colorado, all were D ; of 2 females, 1 is D, 1 C. From Lake Lahache, Br. Columbia, lat. 54°, and perhaps the most northern limit of the species, I have 1 male D, 1 female C. From New Mexico even, taken high in the mountains, 2 males are decidedly of var. D, and similar to the usual type from Anticosti in markings, the under side also being like that, red-tinted.

(To be Continued.)

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW BOTIS ALLIED TO FLAVIDALIS. BY A. R. GROTE, Director of the Museum, Buffalo Society Natural Sciences.

I have received from Mr. Frank W. Langdon, of Madisonville, Ohio, a specimen ( ) of a new species of otis, which I name Botts Langdonalis after its discoverer. It is one of the largest and most striking forms yet made known, and belongs to the group of /lavédalis, with which it agrees in the general color of body and wings. ‘The fore wings from base to first transverse line are clouded with fuscous, and stained with ochreous. The two discal marks are present, the orbicular a dot, the reniform a streak. The space between the exterior transverse or elbowed line and the sub- terminal line is much wéder than usual, and this space is filled in with a broad fuscous band crossing the hind wings as well ; the lines are only indicated by the contrast of color. An ocher discal dot on hind wings. Beyond the broad common band the terminal space is narrowly yellow on both wings. | Beneath white, opalescent, with discal dots and the broad shade band repeated. _Palpi white tipped with ferruginous ; body white beneath. Lxpanse 37 mil. Length of body 18 wil.

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. it

NOTES ON MELOE ANGUSTICOLLIS. BY W. BRODIE, TORONTO, ONT. 7

In the Editor’s “ Notes on Cantharides,” published in the December No. of the ENromMo.LocistT, there are some particulars in reference to Meloe angusticollis which differ somewhat from my own observations on this species, extending over a period of seven years. According to my experience, JZe/oes make their appearance in the perfect state about the end of August or beginning of September, when they feed greedily on Ranunculus acris. Later in the season, when the abdomens of the females are much enlarged, they. pair, and later still—sometimes after the first frost—they deposit their eggs and invariably die that season.

The larve emerge from the eggs early the following spring, and I think attach themselves to bees generally on the blossoms of the willow. I presume this because I often find females about to oviposit near to willow bushes, but I have detected the young larve in the flowers of Ca/tha palustris, and suppose they will take to any early flowering plant.

In confirmation of these statements I submit the following from my notes on AZe/ve in the vicinity of Toronto, dating from 1870.

Although AZe/oe is common here, I have never found them much further to the north, and as I am pretty well acquainted with all parts of the county, I would say they are not found in the central nor in the northern portions of the County of York. This is curious, as in the better wooded sections the storing Hymenoptera are more numerous than about Toronto.

1870-—Aug. 30th. In early morning saw several Ae/ves descending a white oak tree, in St. James’ Cemetery, which tree was afterwards blown down and proved to be a dee tree. This would indicate that JZe/oe pupates in the hive, and when perfect, deserts it during the night.

1871. Meloes first seen Aug. roth.

1872—Aug. 20th. Melves feeding on R. acris. -

1873—-Aug.-Oct. elves very numerous, feeding on &. aeris ; found many females ovipositing in a cold, wet situation, after first fall frost.

1874—Aug. 29th. Found about forty JZe/oes closely huddled in a ball ; they were not fighting, and although both sexes were present, do

ip THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

not think they were pairing. None of the females had large abdomens, and when disturhed they all quickly ran away.

Sept. rst—ioth. Found.about sixty A/e/ves, of both sexes, many of them pairing; feeding on #. ac77s, on a small miry patch, about one-fourth acre, bounded on the right by a small stream, which they could not cross ; on the left, about 150 yards up a bank, were six hives of neglected bees. This is the same situation where, in 1873, I found females ovipositing after frost.

1875—Aug. Found AZelves in same localities as last season. Captured several females ; fed them on &. acrzs ; they began ovipositing Sept. 2oth. Oct. 2oth, all dead. The eggs were of an orange color, and placed in a hole about 34 inch deep and large enough to receive the abdomen.

1876—Aug. 15th. AZ%eloes first seen. Sept. rst, found about fifty in a ball, as I had found them in 1874. Do not think they were either fighting or pairing ; could not make out what they were doing; when disturbed they soon ran away. ‘This season they were about as numerous as in 1875, in same localities at same dates.

From these notes,from my own recollections and from the recollections of my children, I infer that AZe/oes make their appearance about the middle of August, that they pair and oviposit before the winter sets in, and that they never survive the winter; and also that they are very seldom, if ever, found under stones in the neighborhood of Toronto.

[We are very glad to get these highly interesting and valuable notes from our esteemed correspondent, and hope to hear from him again before long. As AZeloe angusticollis is rarely found in our neighborhood, most of the statements made in reference to it were given by us as the results of the observations of others.—Eb. C. E. |

°

NOTICE.

Tortricide.—I\ shall be much obliged for specimens of Zortricide from collectors in all parts of the U. S. and Canada, as I am now working on that group. Credit will be given to all persons supplying me with material. It is desirable that notes should be furnished of food plant or date of capture. All material sent to me will be determined as fast as possible, and on the completion of my work, sets of specimens will be returned named to the contributors.

A. R. Grove, Butfalo Society of Natural Sciences.

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 13

ON SAMIA GLOVERI AND COLUMBIA. BY DR. H. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

The type 2 specimen of Samza Glovert having been presented by Mr. Strecker to the collection in the museum of which I have. charge, I have most carefully compared it with the type 2 specimen of S. columbia. I am bound to state that 7 cannot find any difference except the rosy color of Glover7, and there are no characters which I consider of value to separate the two species. I freely admit that the examination, however carefully made, of only two specimens, both of which are old and in poor condition, is scarcely sufficient to determine this point, but I wish to draw the attention of students who may have a larger amount of material for

comparison, to the facts stated, with the hope that the true nelatonsiiy of these insects may be determined.

The suggestion that S. G/overd is perhaps produced by the different conditions surrounding it’in the country in which it is found (a salt deformity) is very easily made, but I should object to such a conclusion until we are placed in possession of fuller information regarding the early stages of both species. It would be very interesting and important to know with certainty whether any other Lepidoptera from Utah and Arizona present similar differences in color, among the same or related western and eastern species.

TINEINA. BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KY.

ErRRAtTA.—Ante p. 19, tenth line from top, for “‘ Drura” read Denver. Ante p. 136, eighteenth line from bottom, for ‘‘ Philonome Staintonella ” read P. Clemensella.

Laverna grisseella Cham.

This proves on comparison of specimens to be identical with Z..AZwt- feldtella Cham.

14 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Gelechia glandifuella Zell. Further examination satisfies me that G. se/Za Cham. is the same species.

G. gallaesolidaginis Riley.

The specimens bred by me in the Rocky Mountains (see C7zv. Quar. Four. Sci., v. 2, p. 289) belong to this species, but as suggested (/oc. cit. ) they are much smaller and the markings are indistinct.

Gelechia roseosuffusella Clem.

I have received specimens of this species from Mr. J. D. Putnam, which were taken at Springlake Villa, Utah. It is very widely distributed over North America.

Glyphipteryx montinella Cham.

This species may be distinguished by the fact that the large dorsal streak is behind the first costal streak and opposite to the second, with whitch it is sometimes confluent ; besides, the first costal streak is as large or sometimes even larger than the large dorsal streak. In some speci- mens there is a dorsal white spot on or near the base; the apical half of the fore wings is rather golden brown than golden, as I have described it. The form of the hind wings is like that of G. eguitella, but much broader, while G. exofptatella has these of