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1958
The Lepidopterists' Nevus
25
It is of interest that emergence is a group phenomenon and periodic, heavy one day and perhaps lacking for several days to follow. Also of interest is that, of approximately 500 specimens thus far reared, nearly 80% have been males. The reason for this marked sexual imbalance is not known.
Chronology of the life eyele. The different stages in the life cycle followed approximately the following time schedule:
Middle February - early April: adults emerging and active; eggs laid.
Late April: eggs hatching.
Late April - late June: larvas active, feeding.
Late June - early July: cocoons constructed; pupation.
Early July - middle February: pupal period.
The whole schedule is probably modified in nature where conditions are usually more variable than in the insectary. Limited field observations do, however, indicate that the pattern .'n nature coincides fairly closely with that above.
(Sala) 1912 Hilton Dr., Burbank, Calif., U. S. A. (Hogue) Dept. of Entomology, University of Calif., Los Angeles 24, Calif., U. S. A.
CAPTURE OE A EUNICA TATILA (NYMPHAIAD7E) IN KANSAS
The morning of October 19, 1955, I went over to the nearby timbers to get some hickory nuts. I thought that with the lateness of the season I would not need my net so I left it at home (which was a mistake!), and while picking up some pecans near the entrance of the timbers T decided to go farther in the woods to the hickory trees. Hardly had T gone ten feet when I noticed a "Buckeye" {Precis ccenia Hbn.) fly past me, or at least I thought it was that until it flew into a patch of bright sunlight and I saw a glint of bright purple on its wings. As it lit on the grass and outstretched its wings I could not believe my eyes at first. It had evidently traveled a considerable distance, for I noticed that its beautiful wings were frayed and torn at the edges. I didn't know how I was going to catch it, for it flew up each time I approached it. I also realized that it couldn't fly very far at a time but quickly settled again. Suddenly, I made one last effort to catch it. I took off my sweater (the October air was cool), crept up to the gorgeous creature, and threw my sweater over it. Then by carefully peeking under its edges I saw my Purple Winged butterfly; it started to crawl out from the opening I gave it and I gently grasped the butterfly between thumb and index finger, not damaging it at all beyond its originally frayed wings. I rushed home with my newly captured prize forgetting all about hickory nuts. I managed to identify it in the Klots Field Guide; it turned out to be a Purple Wing, Eunica tatila (Herrich-Schaeffer), confirming my original suspicion that it was a tropical butterfly. From where did it come? Florida? Possibly Mexico. This butterfly has never been taken in Kansas before. The specimen is a female, and I have mounted it for future reference. This was one of the most striking experiences I have ever had during my years of butterfly and moth collecting, — and I didn't have my net that day!
William H. Howe, Ottawa, Kansas, U. S. A.