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The Lepidopterists' News
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY
P. 0. Box 104, Cambridge 38, Massachusetts
•
Edited by C. L. Remington and H. K. Clench
Vol* I, No. 8 December, 1947
This, the last number of Volume I, la devoted substantially to the first annual Season Summary of Lepldoptera in North America* The region was divided into eight fairly uniform faunistic areas, for each of which a general summary was compiled. This year five of the eight were summarized by an individual member within the area. In succeeding years it is planned to have all areas so treated.
In all, 45 different members participated in the reports. These are listed at the end of each area summary. Of course each of the five signed compilers provided a large share of material for the report for his area. All areas were represented, but a particularly weak response from the Southeast and Central areas decreased the significance of summaries #5 and #6. Area #1 was the most completely covered. This year three members collected extensively in the Par North and two reportsf covering well-separated sections, make that area probably better covered this year than usual. Certain important gaps appear in this year*s record, with the following sections missing and needing attention: Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, the Canadian Par West, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and the Dakotas, the entire Southeast, except Florida and Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, eastern Michigan,Iowa, most of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and Newfoundland. Eventually we hope to extend the summaries through Mexico.
A very noticeable lack of moth records shows up in a perusal of the following pages. It is hoped that moth records will be at least as numerous as those for butterflies next year, since the moths comprise a vastly larger group of the Lepidoptera.
This year some members were caught unawares or given too little advance notice of the Summary. Also, records had to be of a rather random nature and in some cases based on memory. Future participants are earnestly urged to begin keeping simple notes throughout the collecting season, with exact dates noted so that a basis for accurate comparison may be obtained after a few years and the records of the Summary may gain in value. The next Summary is planned as a supplement to the NEWS, with allowance for at least twice as much material as this year*
In these summaries an effort has been made to use up-to-date nomenclature (Limenitis. not Basilarchia or Heterchroa; Speyerla, not Ar-gynnis; Boloria, not Brenthis; Minols, not Cercyonis or Satyrus; Sphinx, not Hylolcus; etc.). Most subspecific names have been omitted since in' all American cases known to us the races are geographic. The NEWS does not use Latin names for varieties, forms, or aberrations. Authorities1 names are not considered necessary for this sort of project and have been deliberately omitted.
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FIELD SUMMARY OF LEPIDOPTERA - 1947 SEASON
1. SOUTHWEST- CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, NEVADA by Lloyd M. Martin
The early fall rains of 1946 caused many of the early species of butterflies to emerge ahead of schedule in certain localities in the Southwest* Lycaenopsls pseudarglolus echo was reported as early as Dec« 17, 1946, in La TunaC"anyon, Los. Angeles Co., with Incisalla iro-ides out at El Cajon on Jan. 26 and with Melitaea wrightil, which usually appears in April, being taken on Feb. 24i Many species of moths that normally appear much later in the season came out very early and were gone by the first of February. From Jan,, 1 to the present day has been the driest year in 64 years here in southern California with less than 3 inches of rain for most sections that normally have 15 to 20 inches. This long dry spell caused many of the local species that are usually common to hold over, possibly until next year, or until we get more rain. Bauer found Hemileuca nevadensls common at Riverside Nov.4*
In the desert, Melitaea neumoffeni, Anthocaris cethuya, and Euchloe creusa had a short, very early flight in late February* From late March through April very few of the desert species of butterflies, which are usually out in good numbers, appeared to any extent* In Mint Canyon the day-flying moths appeared in early March. Annaphila dlvlnula, Xan-thothrix neumogeni, Melicleptera pulcheripennls, Dysocnemls prorupta, and Euproserplnus phaeton mo lave were more abundant than usual (Evans)* Held found the October desert collecting poor because of unusual dryness. Melitaea chara, Danaus strigosa, Hemiargus gyas, Brephldlum ex-ills, and PhLoITsora libya were fairly common in washes, and one Apo<5em-ia palmeri was found*
Polygonus amyntas arizonensis was taken in Presidio Park, San Diego, by several collectors in unusual numbers in September. Also an unusual number of Pyrgus xanthus was taken during the season* Both of these are rare in collections. "Tharsalea hermea was much below normal at average date" (Thorne)* Poanes melane» a recent arrival in San Diego Co., has become one of the commonest skippers in the county. Habro-cfeis grunus was extremely common throughout August all over the S* California Mts*
1 In general, the collecting conditions were very poor in the mountain regions of California, though in some localities some good reports came in from late collecting* The High Sierras yielded Parnasslus beh-rli, Melitaea malcolmi» Lycaena cupreus, and Paplllo indra, in the early part of August* The Speyerla were not out as"plentifully as usual, but several good species were taken in small numbers. Qenels chryxus Stanislaus was common on July 4* 0. chryxus ivallda and Euphydryas sierra were scarce and two weeks early* Satyrium fullginosa, Lycaena hetero-nea, and Melitaea hoffmanni all had a good year*
In northern California, Glaucopsyche lygdamus behrii and Plebejus marlcopa emerged about a month later than usu&IT~ Coliaa occldentalis chrysomelas and Euphydryas edjtha rublcunda seemed to be fairly plenti-ful, but were two weeks early* Apodemia mormo langel was out in good numbers near Antioch, both males and females being taken at the normal date. E* editha bayensis was unusually rare*
(continued on next page)
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!• SOUTHWEST- cont#
Southern Arizona also lacked its normal amount of rain* However, moth collecting was very good# Several very rare species were taken, such as Arctonotus terlootii, Bertholdia trigona, Gerrodes longlpes, Charadra pataa Euchaetias antica and Sphinx doXTii australis. So far, 250 species of butterflies and moths have beendetermined from the many thousands of specimens collected in Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mts., Arizona. When the material is all determined the number of species from this one locality will come close to 600.
Around Yuma and the Gila Mts. in Arizona Bauer took several good species. Papilio rudkini and its forms have definitely been established* Anthocharls pima Twhich was absent in 1946) was flying in considerable numbers all through February. The majority of spring species were out in numbers, though some that have been taken in the past did not appear* Melitaea dymas, though absent in springy was common in late summer♦ The migrants, Danaus plexippuSj Libythea bachmanii and Vanessa cardui,arrived earlier than usual. Anthanassa texana was taken for the first time at Yuma. Bauer found the larvae of HemiXeuca juno nabout 75$ infested with two kinds of parasitic flies and one waspV11
Only one report came in from Nevada. Hammer spent June 13th at Lehman Caves in hopes of getting Euphydryas nubigena lehmani but not one specimen was seen. Aglals milberti and Plebejus saepiolus were fresh and common. They reported the country very dry, which generally should produce many good species of butterflies and moths.
Contributors: D.L. Bauer, J.L. Creelman, T«W. Davies, W.H. Evans, W.A# Hammer, Graham Held, R.T. Reeves, C.L. Remington, C.I. Smith, F*T.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Eugene Monroe, of MacdonaldsCollege, Quebec, spent the last two weeks of July collecting at LAC A LA TORTUE, near Grand M^re, Champlain Co#j Que*, an exceptionally interesting locality in the sandy portion of the St. Lawrence Valley with a special flora and fauna. He took over 7000 moths in ten nights (only half of which were really favorable)* Included were: Fag it ana littera,, Syneda alleni, Syngrapha hochenwarthii, Polychrysia formosa, Capis curvata, Acossus centerensls, Apantesis Williams 11 j Lexis bicolor, Eubaphe laeta, Hepialus~gracilis, Sthenopls qua-* driguttata, etc"^ Sphlngids were common at light, esp. S. gordlusT"" The; commonest phalaenid was Septis arctica, of which several melanics were \ taken, Munroefs only melanics of the year. Geometrids were abundant, esP* Semiothisa spp. Crambids were the dominant pyralids, while Chori-stoneura fumiferana was the commonest moth{the spruce form outnumbered the jack pine form 3?1). At bait, S. arctica, Pseudospaelotis haruspi* £&, and Zanclognatha §pp# were numerous, but no Catpcala, pro5"» b^eoause of retarded season.
*t # # « *t
Monroe, commenting on the Gaspe trip in August (see p.58), considers that trip too late for G. lygdamus couperi. tfIn the southern Laurent ians, this species flies in late May and early June; in the Lauren** tide Park it appears later in June. It was abundant in a collection from Bic, Rimouskl Co., Que., made in early July. The date of appearance In this region appeared to be slightly ahead of Plebejus saepiolus.'
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2. NORTHWEST" OREGON, WASHINGTON, IDAHO, AND BRITISH COLUMBIA
by John C# Hopfinger
The Northwest had alternating good and bad spells for Lepidoptera in 1947♦ Albright reported that in Oregon April and May had excellent weather, with butterflies normal and abundant, but continuous rain throughout June almost eliminated Lepidoptera and much retarded and limited the July fliers« The Steens Mts. had snow in June. The Blue lifts. (3500*) had fair collecting at that time. By August the Lepidoptera regained normalcy. Speyeria erinna and Satyrium fuliginosa were common on Iflt« Hood Aug. 24 at 6000', and Habrodais grunus was common at 3000*. A notable record was a torn Erebus odora near Dayton,Aug.15♦
In Washington, the coastal region was ?almost a month early this year.11 Freeh in found that parnassius clodius, Oeneis chryxus , Speyeria hydaspej Euphydryas taylori", Boloria chariclea, Epar^yreus tityrus, and Pyrflus ruralis were unusually common. Colias Occident alia 5Coenonympha. ampelosT Limenitis lorquini, Incisalia iroides, Yl mossii, !♦ eryption were above average. Parnassius smintheus," Neo'phasia menapla, Speyeria cybele, S>. serene, all Vanessa, and the Papilios had a poor season.Ag-lais callfornica was still common but continued to decrease from the plague year recently experienced, A. antiopa continues to be rare.
Collecting in north-central Washington v/as good up to the end of May# Heavy rains and cold winds during most of June stopped the flight of all species usually taken in the middle of summer. In the higher country, from 4000! up, there was nothing to be had, up to the middle of July. After that date, Euphydryas, Boloria, Speyeria, Erebla were as plentiful as usual. This kept on until the' last trip, about the end of August„ In one spot, at 4500 * in the Cascades, S. washlngtonia, garretti and a form of atlantis were very common, some 50 of each being taken in half a day. Remington and Anderson found Neophasia menapia plentiful there at the end of August, something unusual, and Polygonia spp. very common. Papilio were almost a total loss. Half a dozen J?. oregonia were seen where usually they are not at all scarce. P. eury-medon, rutulusA daunus were also very scarce, and not a single~indra was seen. In the early spring, Ifelitaea sterope made a fine comeback, the first time in years it was fairly common* E. anlcla also came back after some 4-5 years of absence.
Around the orchard districts, the use of DDT in spraying for codling moth has ju3t about wiped out all local Lepidoptera, such as Col-las 3 Pleris rapae, £• beckerl, as well as the housefly, a single one of which wa3 seen, which is remarkable. Altogether, with the exception of Papilio, I would call the 1947 season better than average.
No reports were received from British Columbia or Idaho.
Contributors: Ray Albright, A. Anderson, D.P. Prechin, C.L. Remington*
S.B. Smalley informs us that the "Calephalis borealis (mutlcum?)1' reported in the NEWS (p* 70) were examined by Dr. A.E. Brower and Mr* W.S. McAlpine and were C. borealis. The food-plant around Cincinnati is Senecio obovatus MuhT.
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3. ROCKY MOUNTAINS- NEW MEXICO, UTAH, TO ALBERTA
by J* Donald Eff
All reports show that this territory, which includes some of the richest butterfly collecting spots in North America, had a season which ranged from slightly below normal to very poor* Even in Colorado, where there was relatively good collecting as usual, the season was mostly two or three weeks later than normally* Here there was fine weather in early May, in contrast to the previous year*s dry, early spring* Snow and a spell of wet, cold weather in late May eliminated some species usually out then and greatly retarded appearance of others* Fresh In-cisalia eryphon, Callophrys agama, Anthocaris sara, and other strictly early June species were not uncommon on July 10th* Stailings and others found some of the Arctic-Alpine species, such as Oeneia lucilla and Boloria helena^ were entirely absent or rare, rather than normally very common* On July 27 Erebia magdalena was in mid-flight on the rock-slides, compared to the 1946 flight period of July 7-20* Nabokov reported over a hundred different species, races, and forms around LongTs Peak during the summer, including a female E. magdalena remarkably close to E* erinna* He also found Plebejus~shasta very common* Species which were" normally abundant in Colorado: Parnassius smintheus, Euchloe ausonides, Colias meadii and alexandra, Coenonympha ochracea/HBrebia eptpsodea, Minois oetus and olympus, Speyerla hesperis, Bofo'ria myrfna and friggaf Melitaea arachne, Euphydryas capella (at lower levels), Phyciodes gorgone and barnesi, Glaucopsyche lygdamus, Plebejus lycea, melissa, and saepiolus, and others. Among- the unusually uncommon species were all the Theclinae, Euphydryas eurytlon, Boloria freija and alticola, Oeneis uhleri, Erebja theano, Colias scudderi, and Phyciodes nycteis *
In Utah, Downey reports the same cold, late spring, followed by a summer with average temperatures well below normal and a noticeable reduction in the number of Lepidoptera flying* This was Utah*s "poorest summer since 1941*" Plebejus annetta and Phyciodes barnesi were not taken at all, "for the first time in many seasons•" All Strymon were scarce♦ In the high Uinta Mts. (N.W*Utah) "several days were spent without seeing a single specimen*" In the famous Ephraim Canyon Hammer found new snow June 22 and a retarded season, with Melitaea alena just appearing. A week later P.S# Remington found alena fresh and common and in late July Limenitis wiedemeyeri, Hypaurotis chrysalus and various Speyerla were comnron at lower levels out high in the canyon no Lep-idoptera were present. Hammer found Phyciodes tharos very common and newly-out along with Speyerla utahensis in Provo Canyon June 14* Downey found both broods of Aglais californica and A. milberti "out in great numbers." Brephidium exllis, a rare mid-summer visitor in the Salt Lake Valley was taken on October 91
Glasgow reports a steadily cold and unproductive season on the Green River between 7000* and 9000f in Wyoming, although Coenonympha fraydeni, Speyerla eurynome, and Boloria kriemhild were fairly common* (See NEWS, p* 84, for Wyoming notes)*
No reports were received from New Mexico, Montana, or Alberta*
Contributors: J#C« Downey, Clyde Glasgow, W*A» Hammer, A*H« Moeck, V,V. Nabokov, C*L, & J.E. Remington, P.S* Remington, D*B* Stallings*
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4* GREAT PLAINS- TEXAS AND EASTERN PLAINS OP ROCKY MS. STATES TO SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA
by Don B# Stallings
The 1947 season on the Great Plains commenced wet and late and continued in that fashion well into June* As a result, flights of nearly all Lepidoptera were from 10 to 20 days late* Many species usually common in the first third of any season were scarce or entirely absent«
The subtropical area of Pharr and Brownsville, Texas, is difficult to correlate with the remainder of the Great Plains area* However, the following species appeared in 1947 in better numbers than in 1946: As** cia josephina, Danaus eresimus, Euptoleta hegesia, Apodemla walker!,"" Thecla 'bazochii, Strymon pastor, Strymon clyric, Achalarus coyote, Co-gia calchas, Chiomara asychis~Lerodea tyrtaeus", Lerodea~data1 L» 5u-TTa, and Spathilepia clonlus* On the~bther hand the following species were few or absent this year: Papilio ornythion, Papillo anchisiades, Chlosyne endeis, Anartia fatima, Vlctoriha steiieles, Timetes chiron, Athena petreus, Adelpha fessonia, Ernes is ernesia, Strymon azia7~Mitoura xaml, Astraptes fulgerator and Synapte malltioaia* This being an area where citrus fruits are grown, it may be that the use of D*D#T« and other insecticides affects the Lepidoptera populations from season to season. The late fall was extremely dry and butterflies consequently
scarce.
■
Collecting in the Big Bend area of Texas from June 26 to July 3 produced about the same material as was collected the year before during the first 10 days of June* (See NEWS, p* 42)•
In the Panhandle of Oklahoma and the Mesa country of N#E«New Mexico Phyciodes picta, Amblyscirtes oslari and Atrytonopsls vierecki were found in fair numbers on May 30, The picta were of the spring brood and were flying just 15 days earlier than the summer brood for 1946 in the same area, indicating that the 1947 season was 15 to 30 days late*
In Kansas spring collecting (Mar«20-June 20) was practically nil, due to continued rain* Euchloe olympla, usually abundant in early April, did not appear until the last half of April and then in few numbers * The number (always small) of Megathymus yuccae did not seem to be affected although the flight was at least 10 days late* The June flight of Isogramma hag enl did not occur* In spite of a record lack of late summer rain, Minois alope appeared on schedule in July and in the usual numbers. In August and the 1st part of September good flights of Isogramma hagjeroi, Melittia lindseyi and Melittia snowi were observed* Later fall material was generally scarce and failed to show the usual extreme fall or winter formsm
Saskatchewan was as follows (Bruggemann): "Spring cold, wet, and very late; spring butterflies nearly absent, on the wing only days instead of weeks; (normally) common moths very few or none* Summer started hot and dry, butterflies fair to good; some Phalaenids fair, Notodontids very good, Geometrids very poor* (Summer) continued with numerous hailstorms and ended wet; fall rather wet and cold, sugaring hopeless, no Catocala and no Geometrids; season ended nearly a month earlier than usual," A few species did well* Boloria frigga was common "for the first time in nearly ten years"; "a pair of Euptoieta claudia,the first taken by me in this district";4 Poecllopsis raehelae*
Contributors; P#P#Bruggemann, HfA«Freeman, C«L*Remington, J*FUTurner«
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5* CENTRAL- MISSOURI TO WEST VIRGINIA, NORTH TO ONTARIO
Along with protracted cold weather in spring, east-central Missouri had a remarkable year,in which some species formerly considered rare or strays appeared in large numbers * Often for several consecutive years no single Euphydryas phaeton is seen and search of its Mo* host (Aureo~ laria grandlflora;yields nothing* But in the late summer of 1946 O'Byme found many nests of larvae, and in June, 1947, phaeton had one of its great years* Phyciodes gorgone, a rare species in Mo*,suddenly appear* ed plentifully in late June & early July* Strymon ontarjlo,usually mod~ erately common, was very scarce in 1947 but was out at the usual time* Calephalls iguticum was unusually common through June,, the normal date* Again in early Sept* it was fresh, flying with Hesperla leonardus, which was out at the normal time* Catocala had a poor year*
In north-central Illinois Glenn reported "the poorest collecting season I have experienced in the past 16 years•^ The spring was cold & wet, with record rainfall for May* The spring moth emergence was much curtailed with some normally abundant species not seen at all,and those which did emerge were 2 to 3 weeks later than usual* The cold & rain continued into June but July & August were dry & hot* Even the pest moths, such as the Corn Borer & Codling Moth, were relatively scarce in both 1st & 2nd broods* In general the summer & fall collecting was poor and larvae difficult to find* However, Loxostege similalis caused considerable garden damage and the Crambidae were normally abundant* The leaf-mining moths were numerous in late summer & fall, coming back after scarcity in 1945-46* wGelechiidae and Tortricinae were very scarce*1? Parasites of moth larvae were much less numerous than in 1946,when they were very abundant* An unusual record for west-central 111* was a Strymon m-album in May, reported by Starrett from Elsah* He also notes the abundance of Nathalls iple, Eurema lisa, Colias eurytheme> & Papllio hilenor this fall and the relative scarcity of Anaea anclria* Woodcock iiought the season at Chicago normal, but did little field observing*
In upper Michigan Voss found the season retarded, with normal May fliers out as follows: Oeneis- June 21, Inclsalia- June 23, Coenonympha - July 8. Feniseca tarquinlus & Phyciodes nyctefs, tharos, & bates! r were much less abundant than in 1946* Vanessa virglnlensrs & Lethe ortlandia were commoner than in recent years* August had an early rost and also great heat & drought, but the moth collecting at light was fair and a great variety of species of butterflies was noted*
Y/isconsin^ Weather was much like north-central 111*, and little appeared at Green Bay before June* June was excellent for skippers, which were flying two weeks late* The unusually common June skippers were Carterocephalus palaemon, Hesperla metea, Polltes mystic, Ambly~ : sclrtes samoset, & Erynnis spp* Limenitis arthemls & Melitaea harrlsli had a poor year* Catocala were notably scarce* Griewisch reports "hun-dreds of Ctenucha vlrglnica" found dead, stuck to flowers* He could not determine the cause but suggested a fungus*
At Payne, Ohio, Price found Papllio ajax & marcellus common and other .Papllio unusually scarce* Vanessa cardui had its third straight year of scarcity* Atrytone dion was commoner than in 1946, and A* bi-macula was rare as usual* Catocala was very scarce* In generalj tEe year was normal after the cold, wet spring*
Contributors: M*0* Glenn, Louis Griewisch, H*I. 0!Byrne, H*F* Price, P.S* & C*L* Remington, D* Starrett, E*G* Voss, H*E* Woodcock#
i
*
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6. SOUTHEAST- FLORIDA TO LOUISIANA, NORTH ~TO ARKANSAS AftD VIRGINIA
Several reports covering some part of the season in Florida showed it irregular and with rjiore time below normal than in other years• In Dade and Monroe Counties January was very favorable and productive•February ajad March were unusually cold and retarded the Lepidoptera* Stry-mon favoniusa normally common in mid-March, failed to appear until late April, and then was scarce* Eunlca tat11a was still uncommon by June 30* In spite of dry weather in April and May the flight periods were about normal by June 30* Aphrissa statira was on the wing at almost any time, with greatest abundance in June* Dryas phaetusa seemed to have a good year* Anthanassa frisia was abundant. Athena petreus, usually common, was very rare. Anaea portla was uncommon as usual. Pap-ilio aristodemus ponceana, on Key Largo, was approximately one month later than usual* It was much scarcer than in the peak years of 1934-35 and 1944-45• The following table (from Schoenherr) may be useful for comparison with £. ponceana in future years;
May 11 May 14 May 17 May 18 May 31 June 1 June 7
v v v v «r
Males taken 0 15 2 4 1 1 Females taken 3 17 17 2 5 Observed 8 11 19 3 36 15 13
. taxOT Mrs. Grimshawe took a number of Asbolls sandarac (new to U*S.A.?) in
early September around Miami and in spring many Eurema nise perlmede at Royal Palm Park* Schoenherr gave no comparisons on the Sphingldae collecting, but took 25 spp.,including Cocytaeus antaeus, Isoparce cupres-sijLapara coniferarum, Protambulyx carter!, Pseudosphinx tetrio, Phryx> us calcusj pachylia ficus, Calliomma parce, Cautethla grotei, Perigonja lusca. Fires in the Everglades continue to Have a serious effect on Lepi&optera, as on the other fauna and flora* ^1^
Fuller found At1ides halesus in the latter part of its brood and very common in central Florida Nov. 15, and Strymon m-album less abundant there. Near Sanford Anartia jatrophae was common in November* In northern Florida Berry noted the extremely wet year, with high tides and severe hurricane damage all combining in a poor year, with everything late* Catocala sappho, generally not rare, was not found at all* £• 3alr was abnormally rare. Strymon calanus (= wlttfeldi) and S. fav-onius were nearly normal. He reports taking some Heaperia meskeT, Poa-nes howardla Atrytone palatka, A. berryl, Atrytonopa"i "s... loammi3 and the first Wallengrenia otho he had eVer seen* MegathymuTT yuccae was found on Merritt Is. An unusual capture for Florida^was an albino female of Golias eurytneme.
,.*f f\ctc * "Sv A-rt-n'T n "■ 'if ArfT fin ■ *
There is a great void in information from all other southeastern states this ,year,although Fuller mentions an unusual abundance of Pier-is protodice and Euptoieta claudla on the Virginia-Tennessee border* In the Great Smoky Mts. in mid-June we found unusually heavy rain and mist with relatively few butterflies present. Limenitis astyanax, Papilio glaucus, and Everes comyntas were the only common spocies. Ackermann, in the Smokies in1late June and early July,found Sparganla luctuata extremely common, but only above 3000!. It was in c^loaS association with the equally common and similarly marked Neodezia albovittata. The latter was also common at low altitudes*
Contributors: 0. Ackermann, D.F. Berry, S#V# Fuller, Mrs. C.N. Grimshawe, C.L. Remington, W.H. Schoenherr.
Ism
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?• NORTHEAST- MARYLAND NORTH TO QUEBEC AND NEWFOUNDLAND
by Eugene Monroe
At Irwin, Pa., the recession of Alsophila pometaria larvae continued after the pest years of 1943-45; Catocala were very scarce. No other reports are at hand from Pa. and none south through Maryland*
At Rochester, N.Y., Papilio troilus and glaucus were in usual numbers, and Pyrgus communis was abundant/ but all other butterflies were unusually scarce. Autumn strays included only 1 specimen each of Alabama arglllacea, Magusa orbifera, and Tetanolita mynesalis.
At Pall River, Mass., Rogers reported Incisalia unusually scarce, Erynnis abundant, and Speyeria, including idalia, at or near normal numbers. Autumn Lepidoptera scarce, most migrant species absent.Johnston found Atrytonopsis hianna and Hesperia metea common outside of Boston in May. Summer collecting around Petersham was exceptionally poor, but Limenitis astyanax and arthemls were common and Lethe port-landia in fair numbers. See Clench (NEWS, p. 58) for Theclinae.
At Hancock, N.Hr, June 30, S. atlantis was common, but L. arthemis proserplna, Lycaena thoe, and Atrytone bimacula were just emerging.
In Maine, the season opened 2-3 weeks early for hibernating species. Cold, wet weather in May and June reduced Lepidoptera abundance. Incisalia, Lycaenopsis, Erora, ]?. glaucus were all scarce or absent. Z* ajax was in normal numbers, but late. Warm, dry weather after early July had adverse effects. Most Lepidoptera were scarcer than usual. Polygonla were not seen. Vanessa vlrginiensis3 Phyciodes tharos, and Colias philodice were unusually common in Sept. and Oct. £. eurytheme was moderately common. Sphingidae, Autographa, Catocala, "etc., were scarce. Common grass and weed feeding moths were mostly normally abundant. New record for Maine: Hellothis virescens.
In the Upper St. Lawrence Valley hibernating species were below normal, as were May and early June spp., except for Pieris rapae. P# vlrginiensis and Pap, glaucus were very scarce. Moths, esp. Scoparia and Geometridae, became abundant in late June. In July & Aug. moths were common, but mostly common grass and weed feeders. Nymphulinae & Schoenobiinae were normally abundant; Euxoa (but not Feltia & Agrotis) were greatly depressed, Catocala less so. Habrosyne rectangulata was commoner than H.scriptal Autumn Lepidoptera were abundant, C.philodice very common, £. eurytheme much scarcer than in 1946. Phalaenids and other moths common in Sept. & Oct. On the Lanoraie Bog Euphydryas phaeton, Melitaea harrisii, and Atrytone bimacula and other butterflies were common, but about a week later than normal. See notes on Lac h la Tor-tue (NEWS,p.89)# At the Laurent ides National Park frequent collecting at 1500!-3000f showed the season abbreviated, but succession normal and abundance above normal, p.glaucus3 Glaucopsyche lygdamus% Erynnis sp#, Carterocephalus mandan weFe very abundant at lower levels in June. Ere-bia discoidalis was well distributed. Usual acid bog Geometrids were common, tfhe early August fauna was typical: Polygonia faunus, gracilis, progne, Boloria myrina & chariclea common; B. bellona & frei.ja scarcer* One worn Plebe.jus aster was taken. Moths were common, Sthenopis more than usual. £. eurytheme not seen in the Park this year, though common in 1946. New Quebec record: Deidamia inscriptum.
Contributors: 0# Ackermann, A.E. Brower, W.M. Johnston, C.P. Kimball, W.P. Rogers*
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8. FAR NORTH- ALASKA TO LABRADOR
Two reports on Lepidoptera in northern Canada provide information on this little-known and consequently particularly interesting region* Only the vicinity of Churchill on Hudson!s Bay has been well collected, so seasonal comparisons for most Arctic localities are not possible*
Hovanitz made a trip to northwestern Canada specifically for his genetics studies of Colias and his notes deal entirely with that genus* In the first week of July in the Peace River country the season was retarded, with CU Christina just emerging and C* gigantea at its peak* C* philodice eriphyle was uncommon* Near Ft. Smith, N*W.T., gigantea was common in willow thickets and Christina rare, July 6-9* On July 24-26 gigantea had nearly disappeared and Christina was very abundant. Near Yellow Knife, July 10-12, no Colias were seen* "July 12-19 was spent at Coppermine on the arctic coast. •••The period was too early for the 1947 season although in a normal year the week would have been excellent. Colias booth! was taken in quantity on the 17th and 18th. ..This species appears tt> be a hybrid between Colias nastes and hecla but the latter two were not taken.u Booth! was again found at Dismal Lakes• Near Jasper, Alta., Christina was very common in late July* Several important sections on host plants and hybridization from Hovanitz* report have been selected and will appear elsewhere in the NEWS.
Freeman spent the whole open season in far northern Manitoba for the purpose of more inclusive study of Lepidoptera than was Hovanitz1 aim. His terse, clear report is quoted directly: tfThe period from June 11th until July 11th was spent in the subarctic region at Churchill in northern Manitoba. During that period certain species of Oeneis,Erebia and Boloria were particularly common and it was possible to capture more than 100 butterflies during the course of a single day. One would gain the impression that over the whole of such a vast country, the butterfly population must be extremely immense and the numbers incredible• In general I should say that the Churchill region during the past summer was extremely profitable for collecting Lepidoptera.
"From July 11th to August 15th I collected on the north-western shore of Baker Lake, a locality situated in the center of the so-called Barren Lands and about 450 miles north and slightly west of Churchill. This location lies about 300 miles north of the tree-line and in general the short summer season was extremely inclement and very poor from the standpoint of Lepidopterous collecting; however, I managed to cap-ture a significant series of Colias boothii Curt., Erebla fasciata Butler and Erebla rossi Curt. I also took 2 specimens of Boloria frlgga improba Butler and 2 Plebejus aquilo Bdv. Boloria polaris Bdv. was fairly abundant as were some of the smaller Noctuids represented by the genus Anarta and Symplstis. Oeneis taygete hanburi Wats, and an Oeneis in the melissa complex were fairly numerous. Colias nastes subarctica McD. only occasionally encountered. A few Pyralids, Toriricids and Ge-ometers completed the Lepidopterous picture of the area. As this material is not spread as yet, my determinations are naturally only tentative in these difficult northern groups. In general I should say that the past summer in this area was extremely poor and there were only 5 days during my stay there that the temperature was high enough for butterfly activity; a good deal of my butterfly collecting occurred under rocks and other cover.M
Contributors: T.N. Freeman and William Hovanitz.
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RECENT PAPERS ON LEPIDOPTERA
•
129 • Cliermock, Ralph L., lfA New Subspecies of Limenitis archlppua (Lfep-idoptera, Nymphalidae) .tf Am* Museum Novitates, no. 1365, 2 pp« 7 Nov* 1947. New race from Vera Cruz and Hidalgo, Mexico,named hoffmanni for C.C. Hoffmann, who first recognized the race as distinct. The southernmost Limenitis in America. Resembles Danaus eresimus montezuma. Chermock reviews the butterflies which the races of archlppus (The Viceroy) resemble* Refers to the Monarch as Danaus m. menippe.
130. Chermock. Ralph L., trA Revisional Study of the Euptychla pyracmon Group." Ent. News, vol. 58, pp# 193-204, 12 figs. Oct. 1947♦ One of the most satisfying papers we have had the pleasure of reviewing this year. Dr. Chermock has studied genotypes of the genera Neonympha, Meglsto, Euptychla, Cissia, Cyllopsis, and Taygetis, and sinks Neo'nympha^ Meg 1st o, and Cissla as synonyms of Euptychla (having page priority), with Cyllopsis as a subgenus and Taygetis as a probable subgenus (or synonym) of Euptychla» The E. pyracmon group, with eleven species, makes up the subgenus Cyllopsls» Two new species are described? nayarit (Nayarit, Mexico) and ps'eudo-pephredo (S#Angel, Mexico). Several current names are dropped in-to synonymy. Nabokov1s extremely interesting E. dorothea from Grand Canyon proves to be perfectly distinct genitalically from all other species. The male genitalia are clearly figured for the genotype of Euptychla (herse) and all the species of Cyllopsis except hedemanni and clinas. A diagrammatic sketch of the pattern elements for the subgenus is given * A key to all species is another fine feature. The checklist at the end of the paper gives detailed references and establishes the following synonymy for the species of Euptychla (Cyllopsis);
---*—*—,---- _*-----£----
gemma gemma (Hiibn*) pyracmon pyracmon (Butl*) gemma freemanl (Stall%& Tur.) syn. hilarla God.& Salv#
syn. form inductura (*■*:*) pyracmon henshawi (Edw.)
dorothea dorothea (Nabokov) hedemanni Feld.
syn* edwards1 (Nabokov) syn. lthama Butl# sy31* avicula (Nabokov) syn. vet ones God.& Salv#
syn* texana (Wind) clinas God.&Salv«
dorothea maniola (Nabokov) rogersi God.& Salv*
pephredo God. & Setlv* ardente 11a Butl.& Dr.
pseudopephredo R. Cherm* philodice philodice God.&Salv.
.
nayarit R« Cherau philodice nelsoni God#& Salv*
131. Kiriakoff, S*Gf/ "Het Vraagstuck der »physiologische Ondersoorten' bij Vlinders." (In Flemish). Naturwet* Tljdschrift(Ghent)avol. 29, pp* 43-47. 30 Apr* 1947. Maintains that le Douxf strphysio-
logical subspecies" is not desirable and sympatric non-crossing
butterflies are actually species.
132* Stallings, Don B# & J.R* Turner, "A new subspecies of butterfly**1 Pan-Pacific Ent., vol. 23, pp. 119-120. July, 1947. Describe as new Strymen Ontario race violae (Folsom, N.Mf) based primarily on ground-color differences from races autolycus and illvia. Note expresses "opinion that one of the basic characters of valid subspecies of £epidoptera on continental areas is change of ground co -Lor #
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BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES
8* William Jacob Holland (1848-1932)
Although W*Jt Holland has received boundless recognition from individuals and societies throughout the world, it must be acknowledged that he was by no means the great Lepidopterist that Edwards and Scudd-er were* His two best-known publications, the Moth Book and the Butterfly Book, stand as his most extensive contributions to Lepidopterology andj as was noted in the reviews of these volumes (NEWS, pp*27,51,57), although taking a definite place in this fieldTs literature and encouraging a widespread popular interest, both leave much to be added in accuracy and completeness*
Holland was born on Aug* 16, 1848, in Jamaica, West Indies, where his father had been sent as a missionary* In 1867 he graduated from the Moravian College and Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa*, and went to Amherst College* Upon receiving his A*B* in 1869,he became principal of the Amherst High School, and a year later transferred to a similar position in Westboro, Mass* He won an A*M* in 1872 from Amherst* The same year he was ordained in the Moravian ministry, and accepted a pastorate in Philadelphia* He successively held that another ministerial post and several professorships both in zoology and other fields* He was inordinately proud of his several honorary degrees bestowed by various universities* Even during the course of his ministry, he devoted time to scientific pursuits, such as joining the U<>S* Eclipse Expedition to Japan in 1887 as a naturalist* In 1879 he married Carrie Moor-head, and they had "two bonny boys"* For five years Holland was Chancellor of the present University of Pittsburgh* In 1898 his "close friend", Andrew Carnegie, invited him to become Director of the Carnegie Museum, a post which he held until 1922, when upon retirement he became Director Emeritus. He died on Dec* 13, 1932, at the age of 84, just after the publication of the revised edition of the Butterfly Book*
Some of those who knew Holland personally are inclined to criticize his sense of self-importance and air of pomposity* A review of the list of his published works on entomology indicate that there is e-ven less basis for this scientific egotism than would be expected. Of the 117 papers on insects which he wrote, all but a very few are on Lepidoptera* Numerous papers on Lepidoptera are lists of collections, while only two short papers are on life histories, and only one is a large revision or other very extensive piece of research* The largest number of the papers deal with the Lepidoptera of Africa, in which Holland described hundreds of new species and scores of new genera, many of which were collected by Holland himself* These range over many families of moths and butterflies* Other contributions concern the faunas of the Bahamas, Malaysia, and various islanda*
Other fields in which Holland dabbled are numerous, including paleontology (especially Jurassic dinosaurs),ornithology, archaeology, and history* He was an authority on museum administration and founded the American Association of Museums* He is acknowledged as the prime force in directing the growth of the Carnegie Museum, and edited its Annals and Memoirs for 34 years* He aided in the organization of the first international entomological congress and was made an Honorary Life Member* He will be a controversial figure for many years, but in whatever low esteem his research papers may be held, his two valuable books on American moths and butterflies deserve great credit* Pew scientists lived
more colorful or active lives* T - *>
J •xli*r\*
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NOTICES BY MEMBERS
Available now: LIVING PUPAE(COCOONS) OP ACTIAS SELENE,long-tailed Xndo-Australian saturniid* Reared locally under netting^ free from parasites# Otto H* Schroeter, 613 Williams Street, New London,Connecticut
I have at present a very few butterflies in papers for disposal* Let me know what you want in the way of Pacific Coastal insects; I will make an effort to obtain them* I will probably be able to offer later a few pupae of Arzama obliqua^ Will accept cash or what have you for exchange* Ri chard liuppy, R*R* 1, Marine Drive, Wellington, Vancouver Is*, B#C%, Canada*
GEORGIA LEPIDOPTERA offered in exchange for Lepidoptera from other parts of U*S*A* or foreign countries* H*W*Eustis, Woodbine Rd*,Augusta, Ga*
Wantedjpapered specimens of ACTIAS LUNA,AUTOMERIS 10, CITHERONIA REGA-LIS, & EAGLES IMPERIALIS for cash, or will exchange rare Catocala* R*C* Casselberry^ 53 Edgemont Road, Scarsdale, New York*
TO TRADE: 67 Papilio troilus chrysalids for Lepid*, preferably cocoons or chrysalids* The Hynes Family, 152 Meachem Ave*, Battle Creek,Mich*
Will purchase MORPHO MENELAUS, RHETENOR, SULKOWSKYI by the hundred lot or whatever quantity available* The Butterfly Store, 77 Madison Ave*, New York 16, N.Y*
WISH TO PURCHASE Canadian (esp* Arctic) Boloria & Colias* Alexander B* Klots, Dept* of Biology, College of City of New York, New York 10, N*Y*
# * * a » * * * NEWLY AVAILABLE LIVING MATERIAL * * # * # * * #
PUPAE OF PAPILIO ZELICAON and p* PHILENOR HIRSUTA from California, full data, offered in exchange for papered butterflies needed for our collections*
Thomas W* Davies, 9734 Castlewood St* William A* Hammer, 5300 Walnut St* Oakland, California
LIVING PUPAE & EGGS
Pupae of Citheronla regalis and Euparthenos nubilis* Eggs of Catocala cara, £♦ concumBeris, and C*ama-brix*
Herman Wilhelm, Buckingham Rd,, R*D* #1, Willimantic, Conn*
4f # -> sf # & # <* # •::- # x & -:;- # x # & *- <$ # & # -a # & # # # -;* # # # # # #
After completing the NEWS manuscript we have just received (Dec*13 the long-awaited "Systematic Catalogue of Speyeria (Lepidoptera, Nympha-lidae) with Designations of Types and Fixations of Type Localities" by dos Passos & Grey* It is the culmination of a campaign undertaken seve ral years ago to bring order from the chaos then present in the Americai "Argynnis", and we cannot be too enthusiastic in welcoming it* The NEW' will carry a full-page summary in the next number, but meanwhile- warmest congratulations to members Dos Passos & Grey £or their achievement; & # *- 4fr # # # # & # & *> # x # x # & # & # # *t x # # ** # # # <& * # # # *
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A NEW QUERY COLUMN
*
There have been several requests for the establishment of a "Question and Answer11 column in the NEWS* In order to insure au-
■m- # # # v* # # # # •* # •Jt *• •* # # # # -> •;* # # # # # # # # # -::- # # # # # *
4*
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thoritativeness we approached Professor W*T*M« Forbes to, prepare # the answers and he very kindly consented to do so if extensive li- f
brary research is not required* We hope this will be a busy col*-uran* Send questions on any lepidopterological matter to the editor* Naturally, mere matters of opinion are not wanted* If sufficient material is received it may be possible to commence this feature in the January NEWS*
#
# •it
4* # # 4* ft 4* 4fr # tt
Add to Board of Specialists (pp* 15, 14, & 86):
# •# # # # # # He & •> # * tt # # * $t # # ;$* # # #
NORTH AMERICA
All Pieridae and Boloria (Brenthis).....................Dr. A.B. Klots
Dept. of Biology, College of City of N.Y., N.Y. City 10,
Phalaenidae and Notodontldae...........................J.G. Franclemont
5829 Little Falls Rd., Arlington, Virginia,
NEW MEMBERS
American Entomological Society, 1900 Race St., Philadelphia 3, Pa, Arau,jo,Dr.R.L.,Instituto Biologico,Caixa Postal 119-A,Sao' Paulo,BRASIL. Bailey, Norman S., 16 Neponset Ave., Hyde Park 36, Mass, LIFE HIST.,
ESP, OF TABANIDAE (DIPTERA) & TINGITIDAE (HETEROPTERA) • Baker, James, 2800 Broadway, Baker, Oregon. Buchholz, Otto, 493 Markthaler PI., Roselle Park, N.J. ALL N.A. MACRO-
LEPID, BUY, EX. Carr, Robert, 5151 Colerain, Cincinnati 23, Ohio. REARING, C, MOUNTING. Ehrlich, Paul R., 538 Academy St., Maplewood, N.J.
Fattig, P.W., Dir. of the Museum, Emory Univ., Emory University, Ga. Frechin, Donald P., 1504 N, Lafayette, Bremerton, Wash. DIURNAL LEPID.
OF N.A. EXCEPT HESPERIIDAE; PAPILIO MACHAON COMPLEX OF WORLD. Hulbirt, Lowell, 310 W. Electric St., Glendora, Calif. RHOP., ESP. LY-
CAENIDAE & HESPERIIDAE. Klots, Dr. Alexander B., Dept. of Biology, College of City of New York,
17 Lexington Ave., New York 10, N.Y. N.A. PIERIDAE & BOLORIA. Murphy,Gardner,16 Chauncy St.,Cambridge 38,Mass. NEW ENGL. RHOP. & HET, Nielsen, Mogens C, 13661 Castleton Ave.
RHOP. & HET. (SPRINGIDAE, SATURNIIDAE,
HIST., REARING. Sweetman, Harry F., 910 S. Sibley Ave., Litchfield,Minn. TAX., LIFE
HIST., OF LEPID. OF U.S. C. ALSO OTHER ORDERS. Travassos Filho, Dr. Lauro, Caixa Postal 172-A, Sao" Paulo, BRASIL.
Detroit 27, Mich. C. N.AM. CERATOCAMPIDAE, CAT.). LIFE
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Franclemont, John G., 5829 Little Falls Rd., Arlington, Va. Roberds, J., 2022 Huntington Lane, Redondo Beach, Calif.
THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' NEWS is the monthly newsletter of The Lepidopter-ists* Society. Membership in the Society is open to anyone interested in the study of butterflies and moths. The dues are $51.00 for 1947, and the NEWS is sent free to all members. Please make checks and money orders payable to: Charles L. Remington, Treas. Address all communications toj P.O. Box 104, Cambridge 38, Massachusetts.
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