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18
Muller: Erebus odora
Vol.13: no.l
appeared to have fed a little on the surface of the leaf of the Virginia Creeper. Two hundred larvae — and healthy ones — were dead,,
Opening the second paper bag I found to my surprise three hundred fifteen more eggs. This fact appeared to give me another chance. Removing the female to a third bag, again four containers were prepared. When the larvae were hatched in a few days they were placed in them and the following plants added : Mulberry, Sumac, Honeysuckle, Wild Cherry, Oak, Catalpa, Osage Orange, and some leaves from unknown garden bushes. But the results were exactly similar to the first lot. After two days I got in touch with a botanist who helped me find two species of Cassia and some Kentucky Coffee Trees. One larva only ate the surface of a Coffee Tree leaf, but again they all perished.
Then my obliging female laid one hundred thirty more eggs, giving me still a third chance — like a new lease on life. These larvae were put on Coffee Tree, Cassia, and Fig, three food plants upon which Erebus odora is supposed to feed, but again the results were negative and after three days all the larvse were dead.
This female lived in captivity for nineteen days laying six hundred forty-five eggs from which emerged healthy, lively larvae. Can anyone tell me why I failed to rear them? What is the food plant for Erebus odora in New Jersey? I am much puzzled.
R.D. 1, Lebanon, NJ., U.S.A.
VANESSA ATALANTA TAKEN AT ATLANTIC CITY AT 2 A.M.
Remington (1948) noted that more information was needed on the habits of Lepidoptera, including the location of night resting for diurnal species. Mrs. Mather and I observed that Vanessa atalanta was rather common at Atlantic City, Atlantic Co., New Jersey, during the period 16 through 21 June 1957. We were surprised however to find two individuals resting on the boardwalk within about 50 feet of each other at about 2:00 A.M. on the morning of 21 June. They were easily approached and taken by hand.
Reference
Remington, Charles L., 1948. Lepidoptera biology — open for study. Lepid. News 2: 37.
Bryant Mather, P. O. Drawer 2131, Jackson, Miss., U. S. A.