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Journal of The LEPIDOPTERISTS, Society
Volume 18 1964 Number 3
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LARVAL FOODPLANTS FOR TWENTY-SIX SPECIES OF RHOPALOCERA (PAPILIONOIDEA) FROM TEXAS
by Roy O. Kendall
135 Vaughan Place, San Antonio, Texas
This is another in a series of papers which, it is hoped, will eventually report at least one local larval foodplant for each species of Rhopalocera resident in Texas. At present, larval foodplants are known for only one third of the more than 300 species which have been collected in the State. Larval foodplants and distributional notes are given for 26 of the following species and subspecies.
Papilionidae Battus poly damns lucayus (Rothschild & Jordan), Battus philenor (Linnaeus), Graphium marcellus (Cramer), Papilio multicaudata Kirby, Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll, Papilio cresphontes Cramer, Papilio palamedes Drury, Papilio troilus ilioneus Smith
Satyridae Euptychia cymela (Cramer), FAiptychia hermes sosybius (Fabricius), Euptychia gemma freemani (Stallings & Turner), Euptychia dorothea (Nabokov)
Nymphalidae Dymasia dymas (Edwards), Chlosyne gorgone carlota (Reakirt), Phyciodes tharos (Drury), Phyciodes picta Edwards, Phyciodes phaon Edwards, Phyciodes texana (Edwards), Anartia jatrophae luteipicta Fruhstorfer
Lycaenidae Phaeostrymon alcestis alcestis (Edwards), Phaeostrymon alcestis oslari (Dyar), Satyrium calanus falacer (Godart), Callophrys henrici solatus (Cook & Watson), Euristrymon Ontario autolycus (Edwards), Strymon melinus franki Field, Strymon laceyi (Barnes & McDunnough), Hemiargus isola (Reakirt), Hemiargus ceraunus zacheina (Butler & Druce)
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Each of these species and subspecies is treated separately in the order given. A chart of larval foodplants arranged alphabetically by plant family and genus, summarizes these data.
Battus polydamas lucayus (Rothschild & Jordan)
Unlike B. philenor, lucayus thrives on Aristolochia elegans Cab. which appears to be its principal larval foodplant locally. This tail-less swallowtail is well established in San Antonio, where it flies from March to mid December. Adults emerge from overwintering pupae in March and April. Peak emergence occurs from August through October. The best place to find this butterfly is near its larval foodplant.
Bexar County Texas, 3 August 1957. Four larvae were found on A. elegans growing in the laboratory garden. One was lost, the remaining three pupated 10, 11, 13 August. Adults emerged 23 - 25 August 1957. Eggs were found 12 October 1957 and reared to maturity. An egg laying female was taken 9 August 1958; additional ova were deposited in captivity. Adults were reared from these eggs. Another female was observed 13 September ovipositing on this plant. From eggs found 16 November 1958, a few pupae overwintered. Adults emerged from these pupae 14 March to 19 April 1959. Soon after these emergences, eggs were again found on the A. elegans which indicated that others had emerged in nature about the same time as those in the laboratory. From these ova, the first larva pupated 20 July 1959. By 30 July many more eggs were to be found on the plant. Observations disclosed first instar larvae on 26 August and 21 September 1959. In 1960 eggs appeared 17, 19 and 31 July, 9 and 18 September. First instar larvae were observed 27 August. A few pupae remained in diapause until 16 March 1961. Throughout 1961 and 1962, eggs, larvae and adults appeared at about the same time as in previous years.
A test of foodplant specificity was conducted 14 October 1961. A small twig of A. elegans containing a cluster of first instar larvae was placed in a container with A. longiflora. When the larvae had eaten all of the leaves of A. elegans they moved to the A. longiflora and ate it as though no change had been made. A good number were reared to maturity. Immatures have not been found in nature on A. longiflora.
The writer has not taken this species in any other Texas County. This is probably because he has done very little city collecting other than in San Antonio. He has one sight record from Comal County 9 August 1959.
Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus)
In southern Texas this insect is very common from February to October. Although specimens have been taken 25 December and 29 January, the period November through January is the least likely to find adults.
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The chief larval foodplant in this area is Aristolochia longiflora Engelm.
6 Gray. For the collector who is not familiar with this plant, it has low ascending stems with linear leaves resembling blades of grass. Every year since 1955 the writer has been presented with larvae of this species by friends who know his interest in caterpillars. Each time this question is asked: "What were they eating?" The reply is always the same: "Grass".
Most botanists agree that this plant is very difficult to find. By far the simplest and easiest way to locate A. longiflora is to follow an egg laying B. philenor. After the first brood of the season, it is practically impossible to find this plant by any other means because larvae keep it eaten to the ground. Many times this butterfly has been followed only to find a single blade of A. longiflora. Even though the plant is repeatedly eaten to the ground, it continues to put forth new growth from its large tuberous root.
It is generally believed that B. philenor larvae will feed on all species of Aristolochia. One exception to this is A. elegans Cab. which does not meet with larval taste satisfaction. Straatman (1962) found it toxic to larvae of two other lepidopterous species which normally feed on Aristolochia.
Bexar County Texas, 1955. Late in the season a seedling A. elegans was obtained for the purpose of attracting B. philenor. It was not visited by this insect until the following year when the vine grew to a good height. On 13 June 1956 three clusters of eggs were found. Two more appeared the following day. These eggs were removed and placed in small containers for observation. Newly hatched larvae were offered juvenile leaves of A. elegans which they sampled and then refused to eat more. The operation has been repeated many times since with the same results, but females continue to deposit their eggs on the plant. On 20 June 1957 a half-grown larva was found feeding on A. elegans. It died during pupation. Three more larvae made it through the first ins tar and then died 9 October 1959. A third instar larva was found
7 July 1950 and this one made it to maturity. In the years to come it will be interesting to see if B. philenor larvae develop a tolerance for the appearent toxic properties of A. elegans. It seems probable that this plant is really not toxic but only distastful to B. philenor larvae. After all, starvation can be as lethal as toxicity.
About four feet from the laboratory garden A. elegans, grows a nice clump of A. longiflora. Most females are attracted to the larger A. elegans. A female was observed ovipositing on A. elegans 23 August 1959. It was netted and placed over the clump of A. longiflora but it refused to oviposit and was released. Upon release it flew directly to
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A. elegans and resumed egg laying.
The writer has collected B. philenor in 41 other Texas Counties as follows: Atascosa (25 Feb. 61, 12 Nov. 62), Bastrop (2 Sept. 61, 19-20 May, 26 Aug., 30 Sept. 62), Bee (3 Sept. 62), Brazos (30 Sept. 62), Brewster (7 June 60), Burnet (24 Sept. 60), Caldwell (19 May 62), Comal (10 May 57, 24 May 58, 22 May, 62), Goliad (25 Feb. 62), Gonzales (2 Mar. 57, 10 June 61, 27 Apr., 7 July, 25 Aug. 6 Aug. 60, 21 May 62), Concho (3 Aug. 61), El Paso (15 June 60), Frio (4 Feb. Aug. 62), Hidalgo (19 Mar. 61), Hill (22 Sept. 62), Jeff Davis (8-10 June 60), Jim Wells (17 Apr. 62), Johnson (22 Sept. 62), Karnes (25 Feb., 3 Sept. 62), Kerr (17 June 60, 30 June 62), Kimble (16 June 60), Kinney (30 Apr. 61), Lee (30 Sept. 62), Live Oak (26 Nov. 61, 10 Nov. 62), Madison (30 Sept. 62), Mason (14 Aug. 61), McCulloch (14 Aug. 61), Nueces (19 Apr., 1 Sept., 10 & 24 Nov. 62), Pecos (16 June 60), Presidio (11 June 60), Reeves (9 June 60), Refugio (25 Feb. 62), Rockwall (23 Sept. 62), San Jacinto (14 Apr. 62), San Patricio (10 Sept. 60, 7-8 Oct., 24 Nov. 61, 22-25 Feb., 1-25 Apr., 2 Sept., 11 & 20 Nov. 62), Sutton (16 June 60), Travis (2 & 5 Sept. 60), Uvalde (30 Apr., 4 May 61, 10 Mar. 62), Val Verde (30 Apr. 61), Victoria (13 Apr. 62), Wilson (20 Mar. 60, 25 Feb. 61, 25 Feb. 62).
Graphium marcellus marcellus (Cramer)
This species may be found in wooded areas of eastern Texas where its larval foodplant, Asimina parviflora (Michx.) Dunal, grows. It flies from late March to early September. Adults emerge from pupal diapause in late March and April. The best place to find marcellus is along sunny forest trails and openings.
Polk County Texas, 14 April 1962. After indicating a desire to rear this beautiful butterfly, Andre Blanchard of Houston, Texas, very generously pointed out exact locations where he had taken it on previous occasions. It was midmorning and cool when we arrived at the first spot. We drove slowly along a forest trail looking for the larval foodplant. We were examining the first plants for larvae when an adult came along. Of the ten or more seen during the next two hours, only one tattered male was taken. Searching for immatures proved more successful. Inventory disclosed eight first instar larvae and 16 ova. Blanchard insisted that the writer keep all immatures, so after visiting a few other favorite spots and filling an ice chest with pawpaw, A. parviflora, we returned to Houston.
Laboratory rearing was very successful. Except for crushed leaves the foodplant kept well under refrigeration. Ten pupae were obtained; all other immatures including one pupa were preserved. Adults emerged 18 May (1$), 19 May (29 9 ), 6 June (1$) and 31 August (19). The four remaining pupae emerged the following year: 25 March (1$ ), 27 March (15, 19) and 11 April (19).
Papilio multicaudata Kirby This magnificent swallowtail is well established in Texas. Its range here appears to be the Edwards Plateau, westward to El Paso and northward through the Panhandle. A notable exception is a female in
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the collection of Mrs. F. G. Butler examined 5 April 1962. It was taken in the Butler yard, no date, at Alice, Jim Wells County, Texas. In San Antonio and Bexar County this insect is quite common at times. Here it flies from February to November with greatest emergence in March and September.
Bexar County Texas, 29 May 1960. Mrs. John L. Lattimore, a neighbor in San Antonio, sent me a last instar larva which she found in the grass beneath an Arizona ash (Fraxinus sp.) in her yard. There were no other trees nearby on which this larva might have fed. It pupated 31 May and a male emerged 21 October 1960. Early in June 1960, W. A. Pluemer reported finding a larva on his Arizona ash. He successfully reared it to a pupa 19 June. Later, as he was leaving; the city, the pupa was entrusted to my care. A female emerged 30 October 1960.
A female taken 12 March 1961 was confined in a cylindrical cage made of hardware cloth with a window screen insert, 12 x 24 inches high. A screen cover was also provided. A few terminal twigs of Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh, var. subintegerrima (Vahl) Fern, (grown from seeds collected at Three Rivers, Texas) were placed in a bottle of water in the cage. About eight inches of space was allowed above the top of the twigs. The cage was then placed in a room so that the sun coming through a window could strike it. From time to time the caged female was moved to compensate for the movement of the sun. The insect was fed a weak solution of sugar-water twice daily.
During the period 17-25 March, fifty ova were deposited. Newly hatched larvae accepted F. subintegerrima immediately. Except for five casualties, all larvae pupated by 30 April. Eighteen of these were donated for use in other scientific research. Nineteen adults emerged: 5-24 May (6), 9 June (1), 4-28 September (10), 1 October (1) and 26 November (1). The other eight pupae remained in diapause until the following season.
Brower (1958) found no documented larval foodplant records of Fraxinus from Texas. This brings to three the known and documented larval foodplants for multicaudata in Texas. Kendall (1957) recorded Ligustrum vulgare L. and Ptelea trifoliata L.
The writer has collected this species in six other Texas Counties as follows: Bandera (2 Apr. 59), Comal (21 May 62), Mason (14 Aug. 61), Randall (4 Aug. 61), Travis (2 & 5 Sept. 60) and Uvalde (10 Mar. 62).
Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll
My field notes for this species date from July 1955. It is common at
times in the southern portion of Texas. Adults have been taken in nature
every month of the year except December and January. The month of
November is represented only by a single ragged specimen. One reared
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female emerged 7 December. It is further noted that most eggs deposited in February and March will yield adults within about 18 days from pupation. Some pupae from this early brood remain in diapause until the last of August, early September or until the following February or March.
The literature gives a great variety of Umbelliferae and Rutaceae as larval foodplants for this species. My own observations include dill, Anethum graveolens L.; carrot, Daucus carota L.; D. pusillus Michx.; Ruta graveolens L.; and Thamnosma texana (Gray) Torr. It turns out that R. graveolens is a common larval foodplant for P. p. asterius and Papilio cresphontes Cramer. It is easy to grow. It is evergreen in the milder climates and cut branches keep exceedingly well in water.
Bexar County Texas, 12 October 1959. Mr. Raymond S. Cordova brought me a single larva which he found feeding on R. graveolens at his home in San Antonio. The larva was reared through on the 18 inch branch which he brought. An adult emerged 9 May 1960. After the larva had stopped feeding, the leafless branch was stuck in the ground and it grew. Soon there was no shortage of R. graveolens and many larvae have since fed upon it. Wild females show no preference for dill, A. graveolens over R. graveolens which at times grow side by side in my yard. It is not uncommon to see females of both P. p. asterius and P. cresphontes taking turns ovipositing' on the R. graveolens.
On 5 March 1961 a female P. p. asterius was seen preparing to oviposit on Thamnosma texana (Gray) Torr. which was growing near the shoulder of a County road. Just then an automobile passed and frightened it away. The plant was then dug up and replanted outside the laboratory. Later examination disclosed two ova and one second instar larva on the plant. These were reared to maturity. On 12 May several larvae were found on a much denuded plant; they were transferred to dill. Thamnosma texana is common in certain localities of Bexar County. It may also be found growing singly or a few together throughout certral and western Texas. This probably accounts for P. p. asterius occurrence in desert scrub regions of the State.
The writer has taken asterius in 20 other Texas Counties as follows: Bandera (2 Apr. 59), Bastrop (20 May 62), Brewster (7 June 60), Caldwell (19 May 62), Coke (3 Aug. 61), Comal (6 Aug. 60), El Paso (15 June 60), Gonzales (27 Apr. 62), Jeff Davis (8-10 June 60), Karnes (25 Feb. 62), Kinney (30 Apr. 61), Live Oak (22 Oct. 60), Medina (22 Mar. 58), Pecos (16 June 60), Presidio (11 June 60), Reeves (9 & 15 June 60), San Patricio (7-8 Oct. 61, 12 Nov. 62), Uvalde (4 May 61, 10 Mar. 62), Wilson (20 Mar. 60), Val Verde (30 Apr. 61).
Papilio cresphontes Cramer Bexar County1 Texas, this species has been taken each month of the year except December and January. The earliest and latest dates are
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25 February and 26 November. Reared specimens have emerged in December. In extreme southern Texas, wild adults should be found occasionally in early December. Larvae have been found from 2 April to 26 December on Citrus, Ptelea trifoliata L., Ruta graveolens L., Zanthoxyhim fagara (L.) Sarg., Z. clava-herculis L. and var, jruticosum Gray. The most significant of these is R. graveolens. It is the one known plant of the family Rutaceae which is acceptable to Papilio p. aster ins, discussed above.
During the period October 1959 through October 1962 numerous larvae have been found and reared on R. graveolens. Locally this plant is grown by certain individuals or families for medicinal purposes. The writer cannot vouch for its medicinal value, but it provides all of the nutrition required to produce normal adults of the two named butterfly species. Someone should check the plant chemistry of R. graveolens, Anetkum graveolens and one species of Zanthoxylum to determine their common chemical denominators. The results of such study should prove highly significant in learning why one of these plants is mutually acceptable to two otherwise heterogeneous feeders.
The writer has collected cresphontes in 31 other Texas Counties as follows: Atascosa (4 Apr. 57, 12 Nov. 62), Bastrop (19-20 May 62), Bee (3 Sept. 62), Blanco (24 Sept. 60), Brooks (21-22 Mar. 61), Burnet (24 Sept. 60), Caldwell (7 July 62), Cameron (19-22 Mar. 61, 21 Apr. 62), Comal (6 Aug. 60), Frio (10 July 56), Gillespie (25 Sept., 6 Oct. 60), Gonzales (7 July 62), Hidalgo (19-22 Mar. 61, 23 Apr. 62), Hill (22 Sept. 62), Hopkins (23 Sept. 62), Jim Wells (19 & 22 Mar. 61, 5 & 17 Apr. 62), Karnes (25 Feb. 62), Kenedy (19-22 Mar. 61), Kerr (17 June 60', 30 June 62), Kenney (30 Apr. 61), Kleberg (22 Mar. 61), Live Oak (13. 27 Apr.,
5 May 61, 19 Mar. 61, 10 Nov. 62), Llano (25 Sept. 60), McCulloch (14 Aug. 61), Nueces (24 Nov. 62), San Patricio (10, Sept. 60, 7-8 Oct. 61, 26 Nov. 61, 1-24 Apr. 62, 2 Sept., 10-12 Nov. 62), Stonewall (13 Aug. 61), Taylor (13 Aug. 61), Travis (2 Sept. 60), Webb (5 June 60) and Wilson (25 Feb. 61).
Papilio palamedes palamedes Drury
The palamedes swallowtail inhabits the Coastal Bend and eastern areas of Texas. It may be found common at times near the coast and inland where good stands of Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. grow. It has been taken as early as 24 February. The latest date is 24 November.
Polk County Texas, 14 April 1962. In the area east of the Alabama
6 Coushatta Indian Reservation, south of U.S. Highway 190, adults were found flying in good numbers. Persea borbonia was just beginning to put forth new growth. Two females were taken while feeding on blossoms of Cirsium horridulum Michx. Both females oviposited on P. borbonia in the laboratory. One deposited 63 and the other 111 ova. Eggs started hatching 20 April, and larvae were fed P. borbonia. The first larva pupated 12 May and the last on 23 May. Adults emerged: 28 May (2$ $ ), 29 May (23 8, 29 9 ), 30 May (4$ 8, 19 ), 31 May (29 9 ), 1 June (1$, 19), 2 June (2$ $, 39 9 ), 4 June (2$ S, 29 9), 5 June (9),
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6 June ( 9 ) and 7 June ( 9 ). Immatures were preserved and live pupae were provided for other scientific research.
San Patricio County Texas, 6-10 April 1962. At Ingleside some 70 larvae were collected in nature on P. borbonia. On 10 April two females were taken and kept alive for eggs. Over a six day period, 12-17 April, one female deposited 131 eggs, the other 70 under laboratory conditions. Ova started hatching 18 April, and larvae ate P. borbonia. Pupation occurred from 10-17 May. Adults emerged: 28 May ( $ ), 29 May (3 3 $, 19), 30 May (13, 69 9), 1 June (2$ 9), 2 June (2$ 3, 3? $ ), 5 June ( $ ), 22 June ( $ ), 26 June ( 9 ), 8 July ( $ ), 13 July ( $ ), 17 July ( $ ), 21 July ( 9 ), 22 July ( $ ), 23 July ( 9 ), 25 July ( $ ), 27 July (3, 9 ), 30 July ( $ ), 31 July ( $ ), 2 Aug. ( 9 ), 9 Aug. ( $ ) and 19 Aug. ( 9 ).
The writer took one adult, probably a stray, at Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas 17 June 1960. Robert Stewart took one at Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 2 April 1961. Other Texas counties where P. palamedes may be found are: Aransas, Harris, Montgomery, Nueces, San Jacinto and doubtless others.
Papilio troilus ilioneus Smith
The spicebush swallowtail is common in eastern Texas where Sassafras, Lindera (Benzoin) and Magnolia grow. Zanthoxylum is another reported larval foodplant. In south Texas where an abundance of Zanthoxylum may be found, ilioneus is conspicuously absent. The exact range of ilioneus in Texas requires further field work to establish. This study is limited to six county locations. One of these, Kerr County, may re^ present the western breeding limit.
Comal County Texas, 29 June 1963. Dr. J. W. Tilden informed the writer that he had seen adults flying on this date at a spot locally known as the Second Crossing, the second low-water bridge across the Guadalupe River northwest from New Braunfels, Texas. Following the river road from New Braunfels one crosses the river four times before reaching the Canyon Dam Reservoir. The second crossing is one of these spots. Following Dr. Tilden's lead, the described location was visited 3 August 1963. After considerable searching a small clump of Lindera pubescens (Palmer & Steyerm.) Rehd. was located. Although the bushes were much defoliated, several egg shells, two unhatched eggs, six larvae and three pupal cases were found. The pupal cases were secured beneath jutting rocks. The two eggs hatched 6 August; larvae pupated 26 & 29 August; and adults from the eggs emerged 6 Sep (1$ ) and 9 Sep (19). Adults from field collected larvae emerged: 1 Sep (1 $ ), 2 Sep (19) and 4 Sep (19).
Harrison County Texas, 29 September 1962. At Caddo Lake State Park, two larvae were found on small cutover Sassafras albidum (Nutt.)
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Nees seedlings. Both larvae pupated 16 October and two females emerged 31 October 1962.
Kerr County Texas, 27 June 1963. On Texas Highway 39 about eight miles southwest of Hunt where the highway crosses the Guadalupe River there is an abandoned cabin on the side of a cliff with fresh spring water gushing from the rocks beneath. Hero Dr. John M. Burns and the writer found adults not uncommon but difficult to catch as they flew back and forth along the face of the cliff. After considerable searching the food plant was found; a fairly large Lindera pubescens bush growing from the cliff behind the old cabin. Numerous larval shelters could be seen and twenty-three larvae were recovered. Later, most of the larvae were preserved due to a shortage of larval food. Adults emerged: 23 July (1$), 24 July (2$ 3, 29 9) and 12 August (19).
Robertson County Texas, 4 September 1960. On U.S. Highway 79 near the Navasota River, four larvae and 11 ova were found on juvenile leaves of small (3-4 feet) Sassafras albidum bushes. The larvae were transferred to Persea borbonia 13 September which they readily ate. Except for one larva which continued to feed until 1 October and then escaped, all pupated by 19 September. All immatures were preserved except three pupae which remained in diapause until the following March. These emerged 13 March ( 9 )? 24 March ( 9 ) and 31 March ( $ ).
Smith County Texas, 4 September 1960. At a roadside park on Texas Highway 64, two larvae were found on cutover S. albidum. One larva was preserved, the other pupated 13 September and a $ emerged 6 April 1961.
Walker County Texas, 3 September 1961. At Huntsville State Park, one $ was taken but no immatures were found. S. albidum is not uncommon in the park.
Euptychia cymela cymela (Cramer)
Bexar County Texas, 13 May 1961. In a live oak coppice about 14 miles north of San Antonio, E. cymela was found flying in good numbers together with Euptychia rubricata Edwards and freshly emerged Cercyonis pegala texana (Edwards). Many of these C. texana were still hanging from blades of grass not yet thoroughly dry. The time was about 9:30 AM CST.
One female E. cymela was kept alive for eggs. It was placed in a jar with a bit of broad bladed grass from the spot. By the time we had returned home one egg had been deposited on the grass. The female was then placed in another container into which had been placed Stenotaphrum secundatum Kuntze (St. Augustine grass). Very shortly thereafter three more eggs were deposited; bonded to the blades of grass. During the
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following few days an estimated 60 to 70 eggs were deposited; 24 of these
were preserved. The remaining eggs started hatching 20 May. Larvae
readily accepted S. secundatum. Except for three, all larvae were placed
on potted grass out-of-doors. A few days later it was discovered that
ants had eaten all of the larvae. Of the three retained in the laboratory,
one pupated 14 August and emerged 24 August. The second pupated 28
August and emerged 6 September. The third entered diapause about 15
October; it too was placed out-of-doors. Periodic examinations thereafter
disclosed that it remained in diapause through 3 March 1962. Sometime
between 3 and 11 March the larva disappeared; it may have escaped.
Needless to say it was very disappointing to loose so many larvae, but
the three survivals tell us a great deal about the life history of this
species.
Bastrop County Texas, 20 May 1962. In Bastrop State Park, one very
ragged female was taken and kept alive for eggs. Two days later, six
eggs were deposited on S. secundatum after which the insect died. The
eggs hatched 28 May and the larvae readily ate S. secundatum. Two
larvae died by 9 August; two more perished 10 September but a third
pupated this date. The sixth larva was lost the following day. On 20
September a female emerged. All of the casualties in this experiment
were credited to improper care.
Adults of this species have been taken by the author in other Texas Counties as follows: Aransas (Aransas National Wildlife Refuge) 8 April 1962. Brazoria (Churchill Bridge) 15 April 1962. Caldwell (Texas Hwy 20 near intersection of Farm Road 1854) 19 May 1962. Gonzales (Palmetto State Park) 27 April 1962. Polk (near Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation) 14 April 1962. San Jacinto (Sam Houston National Forest) 26 May 1956 and 14 April 1962.
Euptychia hermes sosybius (Fabricius) De Quincy, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, 6 September 1959. Several females were observed to oviposit on carpet grass, Axonopus com-pressus (Sw.) Beauv. A good number of ova were obtained from captive females taken then. All first ins tar larvae were lost due to fungus before returning home.
Comal County Texas, 6 August 1960. A female taken this date readily oviposited on Stenotaphrum secundatum Kuntze, and the resulting larvae, ate it unhesitatingly. The first larva pupated 6 September. Adults emerged from 12 to 16 September. A good series of all immature stages was preserved.
Cameron County Texas, 1 April 1960. Adults were quite common in the city of Brownsville. One gravid female, confined in a jar with S. secundatum, deposited about 40 ova. All larvae were lost in the first instar due to fungus. Again on 20 March 1961 adults were found quite plentiful in Brownsville. A few eggs were obtained from one female
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kept for this purpose. The first egg hatched 26 March. The first larva
pupated 4 May. The first adult emerged 9 May and the last one, 20 May.
Although this species is a resident of Bexar County and throughout
most of the eastern and southern part of the State, no attempts have been
made to rear it from other localities. It may be found in wooded areas
on warm sunny days during most of the year.
It has been taken by the author in other Texas Counties as follows: Aransas (Aransas National Wildlife Refuge) 8 April 62. Bastrop (Bastrop State Park) 4 & 5 September 61 and 19-20 May 62. Bowie (near Redwater) 24 September 62. Brazoria (Churchill Bridge) 15 April 62. Caldwell (U.S. Hwy. 90 at San Marcos River) 7 July 62 and 25 August 62. Goliad (Goliad State Park) 25 February 62. Gonzales (Palmetto State Park) 27 April & 7 July 62. Hildalgo (Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park) 19 March 61. Jefferson (near Fannett) 9 November 61. Liberty (Tex Hwy. 105 at Trinity River) 6 June 56. Polk (near Alabama & Coushatta Indian Reservation) 14 April 62. San Jacinto (Sam Houston National Forest) 25 May 56 & 14 April 62. Shelby (Sabine National Forest) 29 September 62. Smith (Tyler State Park) 3 September 1960. Tyler (near Woodville) 25 May 56. Victoria (Victoria City Park) 3 June 61. Walker (Huntsville State Park) 2-4 September 61. Washington (near Brenham) 25 May 56.
Euptychia gemma freemani (Stallings & Turner)
Comal County Texas, 6 August 1960. Adults were found flying in fair numbers along the Guadalupe River west of New Braunfels. At the spot where they were most common, Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon Pers. was very abundant. This led me to consider it as a possible larval foodplant. One female was kept alive for eggs. It was confined in a jar with three species of grasses, C. dactylon, Stenotaphrum secundatum Kuntze and Panicum sp. During the next few days a good number of eggs were deposited on C. dactylon only. All of the eggs deposited proved to be infertile except one. This one hatched 24 August. The larva ate and matured on C. dactylon. A female emerged 19 September.
Cameron County Texas, 20 March 1961. A pair in copula were taken in Brownsville. The female was fed a weak solution of sugar water and provided with C. dactylon on which to oviposit. By 22 March fourteen (14) eggs had been deposited. The following day, S. secundatum was substituted for the Bermuda grass. No eggs were deposited during the day, so C. dactylon was again introduced; oviposition resumed within a minute. Ten larvae pupated by 28 April. The first adult emerged 2 May and the last, 20 May 1961. The early stages were preserved.
San Patricio County Texas, 26 November 1961. Adults were found quite common at the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge in a wooded area along the Aransas River. C. dactylon was abundant at this spot also. Two females were kept alive for eggs. The following day 45 ova were deposited. Eggs started hatching 1 December. Thirty-six larvae pupated; the first on 25 December and the last one 14 January 1962.
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Twenty-eight adults (17 $ S, 11 £ $ ) emerged from 28 January to 7 February.
The author has also collected this subspecies at the Welder Wildlife Refuge 22 February, 1-3 April and 11 November 1962. In Goliad County (Goliad State Park) it was taken 25 February, and in Hidalgo County (Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park) it was taken 19 March 1961 and 22 November 1962.
Euptychia dorothea (Nabobov)
Jeff Davis County Texas, 12 June 1960. In the Davis Mountains where Texas Highway 166 crosses the upper end of H. O. Canyon, several examples of this species were taken. Adults were fairly common at this spot but difficult to catch. When disturbed they would fly a little way then take up a resting position on the ground, mostly in underbrush, not unlike other species of the genus. After numerous attempts at stalking, I tried a different, more successful method. I would approach within 15 or 20 feet of where the insect was resting, squat down and then throw the rocks so they would land just beyond the insect. The disturbance would often cause the specimen to fly toward and within reach of the collector. A good series was taken in this manner. One female was kept alive for eggs. The following day it was placed in a container with Bermuda grass, C. dactylon. Almost immediately the female began ovipositing on the grass. A day later it appeared as if every blade of grass was beaded with eggs.
Hopes of rearing this beautiful butterfly were high until about a week later when all the eggs collapsed indicating they were infertile. The eggs had been brought down from an altitude of 6,500 to 800 feet. The possibility that this change might have caused the ova to collapse occurred to me, but I was without microscope capability to make a positive determination. Although initial attempts to rear this species were unsuccessful, there is little doubt but that its larval foodplant is grass.
Dymasia dymas (Edwards)
Pecos County Texas, 16 June 1960. On U.S. Highway 290 at a small bridge about four miles east of Bakersfield, a female was taken while feeding on a yellow (Compositae) flower. Except for two males taken ten days earlier in Dimmit and Maverick Counties (determined by H. A. Freeman) the writer had never before seen D. dymas.
Not until the specimen was in the killing jar was it recognized to be a female. It was quickly emptied out into a jar with a screened lid where it soon became active again. Due to the superficial resemblance of D. dymas to Texola elada (Hewitson) it was decided to try for oviposition
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on Siphonoglossa pilosella (Nees) Torr. A brief search disclosed the plant to be growing within a few feet of where dymas was taken.
Twenty eggs were deposited 17, 18 June 1960 on S. pilosella. Judging from the abdomen size, few eggs had been deposited prior to capture. It died 18 June. For some unknown reason only four eggs hatched, and these on 20 June. The larvae readily ate S. pilosella; the first pupated 3 July. At this time one last instar larva was given to W. A. Pluemer for photographing. It too pupated (4 July ?) before he could make the picture. The larva, a bit of the foodplant in a vial of water, and these inside a half-gallon cylindrical paper container with a tight fitting lid, had been delivered to the photographer. A female emerged on or about 8 July and was returned 11 July. It was then discovered that eggs had been deposited on the S. pilosella. The container had remained covered at all times except when Mr. Pluemer discovered the emergence. There were three clusters of eggs; one of nine, one of seven and one of three plus two singles for a total of 21. The other two larvae pupated 5 and 6 July. Adults emerged 7 July ( 3 ), 9 July (?) and 10 July ( $ ).
Although rearing of this species was limited to laboratory experiment, further research will most likely show that D. dymas selects S. pilosella in nature as a larval foodplant.
The writer examined a female taken 21 October 1962 at Helotes, Bexar County, Texas by Roy W. Quillin. It was flying with Texola elada.
San Patricio County, 14 October 1963. At the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge six females were taken flying about and visiting the blossoms of S. pilosella.
Chlosyne gorgone carlota (Reakirt)
This butterfly seems to inhabit the northern portion of Texas where it is widely distributed and common locally. Additional field work is required to determine the number of broods and fix its range within Texas.
Bastrop County Texas, 20 May 1962. On Texas Highway 71 beneath the Colorado River bridge at Bastrop, adults were flying in good numbers. Two females were kept alive for eggs; one of these was taken in copula. Each female deposited but one cluster of eggs, these on 20 and 21 May. The first cluster started hatching at 10:00 PM CST 25 May; the other was not observed emerging until 6:00 AM 27 May. Larvae were offered Helianthus annuus L. which they accepted. The first larva pupated 9 June. Adults emerged: 13 June (13 ), 14 June (113 3, 1$ ), 15 June (263 3,6? $ ), 16 June (503 3, 11$ $ ), 17 June (193 3,55$ $ ), 18 June (53 3, 26$ $ ), 19 June (23 3, 9$ $ ), 20 June (33 3, 11$ $ ), 21 June (23 3, 3$ $ ), 22 June (33 3, 6$ $ ), 23 June (13, 4$ $ ), 24
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June (IS, 19 ) for a total of 124 8 8 and 133 9 9. In addition, eggs, 30 pupae and an equal number of larvae were preserved. An undetermined number of larvae entered diapause about 12 June.
Stonewall County Texas, 13 August 1961. One male was taken and others were seen at a roadside park on U.S. Highway 83 where it crosses the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River.
Tarrant County Texas, 16 June 1961. A few larvae were received from Mr. E. M. Kinch of Fort Worth which he found in nature on H. annum. Three of the larvae had pupated in transit; a forth pupated 20 June. The remaining larvae entered diapause but later died. Adults emerged 20 June (8), 24 June ( 8 ) and 28 June (2 9 9). Again on 25 June 1962 more larvae and pupae were received from Mr. Kinch. From these, adults emerged 26 June (8), 27 June (3 3 8 ), 30 June (2 9 9), 2 July (39 9 ), 4 July (18, 19 ) and 5 July ( 8 ).
Phyciodes thaws thaws (Drury)
The Pearl Crescent may be found in every major floral area of Texas. It has been collected from April to November.
Gonzales County Texas, 10 June 1961. At Palmetto State Park a female was observed to oviposit on Aster prealtus Poir. The female very slowly deposited 105 eggs beneath a terminal leaf. Ova were placed in a partial double-decker mass. Examination of another plant from which an adult was flushed disclosed a second mass of eggs. The captive female deposited additional ova 11 June then died. Eggs found in nature started hatching about 6:00 AM CST 12 June; those from the captive female, 14 June. Larvae were reared to maturity on A. prealtus; the first pupated 7 July. Adults emerged: 5 July (18 ), 6 July (2 8 8 ), 7 July (29 9), 11 July (38 8), 12 July (28 8), 13 July 128 8, 49 9), 14 July (38 8, 29 9 ), 15 July (48 8, 109 9 j, 16 July (18, 19 ), 17 July (29 9) and 18 July (3 9 9); total 28 8 8, 249 9. Numerous immatures were preserved.
Other Texas Counties in which the writer has taken tharos are: Bastrop (20 May 62), Brazoria (15 Apr. 62), Caldwell (19 May & 7 July 62), Cameron (1 Apr. 60), Liberty (6 June 56), Panola (29 Sept. 62), San Jacinto (14 Apr. 62), San Patricio (21 Aug. & 10 Sept. 60, 24 Nov. 61) and Shelby (29 Sept. 62).
Phyciodes (Phyciodes) picta Edwards Presidio County Texas, 11 June 1960. At a point on Texas Highway 170 near Alamita Creek, 6.5 miles southeast of Presidio, adults were found in good numbers feeding on the blossoms of Heliotropium curassavicum L. Several females were kept alive in hopes that eggs might be obtained and the immatures reared through. A search was then made for the reported larval foodplant, asters. None were to be found. As a temporary expedient a bit of Heliotropium was placed in the container with the females.
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Two days later no eggs had been obtained. It then came to mind that Siphonoglossa pilosella (Nees) Torr., common in the area, might be the local larval foodplant. On the third day a few sprigs of S. pilosella were placed in the container with the females. The females began ovipositing within minutes after introducing this plant. The eggs were fertile. The larvae ate S. pilosella and matured in due course. The first larva pupated 8 July and the first adult emerged 13 July 1960. A fine series of adults were obtained and immature stages were preserved.
Adults were also taken in the wild 6 June 1960, Maverick County and 13 June I960, Jeff Davis County Texas.
Phyciodes (Phyciodes) phaon Edwards
This species seems to be commonly distributed over all of the State. It has been taken every month of the year except December and January.
For a number of years it had been observed that various butterflies were attracted to the blossoms of Phyla (Lippia) nodiflora (L.) Greene. It was not until June 1960 that the writer determined the plant to be the well known larval foodplant of P. phaon. At this time a quantity of the plant was transferred from the wild to the laboratory garden. Here it grew well.
Bexar County Texas, 8 August 1960. Mrs. Kendall reported seeing what she thought was P. phaon visiting the the Phyla blossoms. The following afternoon we inspected the plant. After netting a female from a blossom, a closer examination of the plant disclosed six clusters of eggs on the underside of leaves near the ground. The captured female deposited a cluster of eggs on each of the following four days. Three more clusters were found on the plant 12 August. The day following this, a single larva was found in the wild about 12 miles from San Antonio. It was on the under surface of the leaf near the ground.
Ova from the captive female and from nature started hatching 10 August. The larvae were reared to maturity on P. nodiflora. The first larvae pupated 24 August and the first adults emerged 28 August 1960. On 6 September the last imago emerged for a total of 129. The early stages were preserved.
On 16 September 1960, about 11:15 AM CST, two females were seen at the Phyla. One was quite worn and feeding on blossoms. The other, much fresher, would alight first at one spot and then another with an obvious uncertainty of flight. After serveral of these erratic movements the insect chanced to alight on a leaf just above the ground. Without further ado deposited a large cluster of eggs beneath it. Examination of other leaves disclosed several more clusters. It was decided to leave these ova on the plant and observe them first hand in nature. Reexamina-
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144 Kendall: Foodplants in Texas Vol.18: no.3
tion on 21 September disclosed only one cluster of eggs and no larvae. The remaining eggs showed signs of eminent hatching. The leaf was therefore marked and reexamined the following day, at which time the eggs were gone and no larvae could be found. Apparently some predator had come during the night and ate them. Eggs were found again 4 October. These were taken into the laboratory and under controlled conditions reared to maturity. These eggs hatched 8 October; adults started emerging 28 October 1960.
The writer has taken this: species in 24 other Texas Counties; representative of all major areas of the State. The specific counties and dates of capture will therefore not be listed.
Phyciodes (Tritanassa) texana Edwards
On 30 October 1960 Mr. Andre Blanchard of Houston, Harris County, Texas wrote: "I have been hoping for two or three years to find the foodplant of P. texana. I have not been as lucky as you, but I feel very definitely that one more plant should be added to your list of four and that is Dicliptera brachiata (Pursh) Spreng. There is one place in Houston (Memorial Park) where P. texana is often seen in great numbers. There is a patch of D. brachiata right where P. texana is most abundant. I have raised all the eggs I could get on Shrimp Plant, but I have been unable to try them on D. brachiata."
It was 26 November 1960 when Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard led Mrs. Kendall and the writer to the spot in Memorial Park. It was about midday. We entered a small opening in the wood and looked upon a little knoll bedecked with much defoliated D. brachiata. Several P. texana were slowly moving about. We had not been there five minutes when Mrs. Kendall observed a female P. texana oviposit on the upper leaves of this plant. The egg laying served to remove any doubt that D. brachiata is another larval foodplant for this species. Perhaps all genera of Acanthaceae are acceptable as larval foodplants to P. texana. The other known foodplants were recorded by Kendall (1959).
In Bexar County, P. texana has been taken every month of the year. It is least likely to be found in December and January. Additional field work may disclose that a few larvae overwinter.
The writer has taken adults in thirteen other Texas Counties as follows: Caldwell (19 May, 7 July 62), Cameron (3 Apr. 57, 19-21 Mar. 61, 22 Apr. 62), Comal (4 Mar 56, 9 Aug., 4 Sept. 59, 6 Aug. 60, 21 May 62), Goliad (25 Dec. 60, 25 Feb. 62), Gonzales (2 Mar. 57, 27 Apr. 62), Hidalgo (19-21 Mar. 61, 22 Nov. 62), Jeff Davis (10-13 June 60), Kerr (17 June 60), Medina (2 June 57), San Patricio (26 Nov. 61, 12 Apr. 62, 10 Nov. 62), Travis (2 Sept. 60), Uvalde (10 Mar. 62), Webb (5 June 60).
Anartia jatrophae luteipicta Fruhstorfer Hidalgo County Texas, 23 October 1960. Adults were flying in good
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numbers in sunny locations along wooded areas south of Mission. Several females were seen to oviposit on Ruellia occidentalis (Gray) Tharp & Barkley which was growing along road ditches. Two ovipositing females were kept for eggs but one soon died, probably due to injuries received when caught. The other one deposited a number of eggs, most of which were preserved. The young larvae commenced feeding soon after hatching. Six larvae pupated 17 November, others during the following week. Adults emerged 29 November (2$ S, 29 $), 30 November (1$), 1 December (IS) and 2 December (la, 3$$). The life history was preserved. Additional research is required to determine the number of broods and diapause.
Phaeostrymon alcestis alcestis (Edwards) The single brooded alcestis hairstreak may be found from about the last week in April to the first week of June depending upon the climatic conditions of its range.
Maverick County Texas, 6 June 1960. A long search extending over a period of six years for the immatures of this species ended on this date. The spot was a roadside park on U.S. Highway 277 between the villages of Normandy and Quemado. Dr. W. J Reinthal accompanied Mrs. Kendall and the writer. An alcestis was seen sitting on a branch of Sapindus drummondii Hook & Arn. In order to reach the insect it was necessary for the writer to jump. When the net came crashing down it contained two females alcestis. A quick search of the foliage disclosed a number of empty pupal cases. On the chance that this might be the larval foodplant for alcestis a small branch was cut from the tree and brought along for closer examination later. With a magnifying glass each leaf was examined and then the stems. Sure enough, in the axillae and leaf scars at the base of new growth, 28 unhatched and 16 hatched ova were found. The egg shells represented a prior season brood. During the following two years samplings of S. drummondii branches were made over a wide area including 14 Texas Counties and one in Kansas. The results of these samplings follow:
Bexar County Texas, S April 1961. At two locations a number of various instar larvae were found on trees with trunks about eight inches in diameter. A few larvae were found on seedlings beneath a larger tree at one of these locations. Recent high winds and heavy rains may have dislodged them from the larger tree. One of these locations was revisited 16 April; 26 more larvae and 1 pupa were found. Pupation occurred from 12-22 April. A total of 29 adults reared from these larvae emerged from 23-28 April. Twelve larvae and four pupae were preserved. At a third location 26 unhatched and 11 hatched ova were found 21 May 1961.
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Caldwell County Texas, 19 May 1962, On FM 20 near the intersection of FM 1854, several adults were taken while feeding on blossoms of Asclepias tuberosa L. They were badly rubbed and damaged indicating the end of the flight period. Although S. drummondii is common in the area none was observed in the immediate vacinity.
Gonzales County Texas, 10 June 1961. At Palmetto State Park near Ottine, a few twigs from a fairly large (trunk about 10 inches diameter) S. drummondii tree yielded 24 unhatched and eight hatched eggs.
Jeff Davis County Texas, 9 June 1960. On Farm Road 1832 in Big Aguja Canyon, Davis Mountins, a sampling of twigs from a very large S. drummondii tree yielded many eggs. Eggs started hatching 9 April 1961. By 25 April 30 larvae had spun their girdles and three or four of these had pupated. Fifty-six adults emerged from 3-11 May. These were the subspecies oslari (Dyar) (determination by Harry K. Clench). Representatives of two complete life histories were preserved.
Kerr County Texas, 17 June 1960. At Kerrville State Park twigs of S. drummondii yielded 22 unhatched ova.
Kimble County Texas, 16 June 1960. On U.S. Highway 290 about one mile northwest of Texas Highway 27 intersection, a few twigs were taken from branches of S. drummondii overhanging the road. Seven unhatched eggs were found.
Live Oak County Texas, 24 November 1961. On Texas Highway 9 at La Parra Creek about 4.5 miles southeast of U.S. Highway 59 intersection, four eggs were found on S. drummondii. Only one small branch could be reached.
Mason County Texas, 14 August 1961. On U.S. Highway 87 a few miles southeast of Mason, a single S. drummondii tree was found growing beside the road. Its trunk was no more than four or five inches in diameter, but it was obviously a very old tree. One small branch was pulled down with the aid of my net and cut off. It yielded seven unhatched eggs, ten egg shells and a Battus philenor (L.) pupal skin.
Randall County Texas, 4 August 1961. In Palo Duro Canyon State Park a few twigs were cut from S. drummondii. Four eggs were found; (hey hatched 4 April 1962 but the larvae died.
San Patricio County Texas, 25 November 1961. At the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge, three hatched eggs were found on S. drummondii twigs. At the same location on 2 April 1962, 33 first and second instar larvae were found. The first of these larvae pupated 11 April. Adults emerged from 23-25 April. Most of these immatures were preserved.
Tarrant County Texas, 29-30 May 1961. Mr. Robert Stewart advised
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me that he had taken four adults on S. drummondii near the Trinity River in Fort Worth. On 10 June he found one larva which later died. He also reported taking a large series of adults in the same area on 31 May 1962, but this time they were found around larger trees. I examined these specimens 22 September 1962.
Taylor County Texas, 13 August 1961. At Abilene State Park located on Farm Road 89 near Buffalo Gap, 12 unhatched eggs and five egg shells were found on S. drummondii twigs.
Travis County Texas, 5 September 1960. In Zilker Park at Austin, 17 eggs were found on twigs of a fairly large S. drummondii tree.
Sumner County Kansas. Stallings (1941) reported taking over 200 specimens during the period from middle of June to middle of July at two locations in a hedge row. On 11 November 1961 I wrote Mr. Stallings explaining where this butterfly lays its eggs and ask if he would sample the S. drummondii trees which I felt sure had to be in the hedge row. On 6 February 1962 he wrote; "Sunday afternoon Viola and I went out to see if we could find some alcestis eggs. It is still too muddy to get back to where the main colony is but we checked some trees along the roadside not too far away. After the second or third branch that I checked I found three eggs. Viola and I were all excited on how easy it was to find them and decided to gather you a bushel of eggs, more or less. So we spent the rest of the afternoon hunting and found two more eggs. So, it isn't as easy as it first sounded." The following weekend they found 24 more unhatched and five hatched ova which they sent to the writer. These eggs were stored on the shelf beside those from various other locations. Next time they were examined, twenty-one (21) had hatched and the larvae perished. This was long before the S. drummondii was ready to leaf out in the San Antonio area. The eggs had been subjected to freezing temperatures in Kansas; the much warmer temperature of Texas stimulated hatching.
Rearing Technique. Eggs were removed from twigs with a sharp knife. The twigs were held firmly on a table or other sturdy object, then by making a slight angled cut on either side of the egg it was removed on a "V" shaped chip. These chips were placed in small plastic containers bearing appropriate labels and stored in the garage. Periodic examinations were made to determine hatching. From about the middle of March on eggs were examined daily. Upon hatching, a small sprig of juvenile S. drummondii leaves was placed in the container. The newly hatched larvae would climb upon it and start feeding. Each day a fresh sprig was substituted for the old one. The latter was then placed in a large container with a larger twig of foodplant. If closed jars are employed, care must be used to assure that the jar does not become over
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crowded either with larvae or foodplant. When fully mature, larvae begin to loose their color and move about. This is the time to move them to another container for pupation.
Biology. Based on immature stages, typical alcestis does not differ from the subspecies oslari. The egg laying habits are identical and the larval foodplant is the same. Chinaberry (Melia) of the MELIACEAE (Mahogany family) has been reported in literature as the larval food-plant. Melia azedarch L. was repeatedly offered larvae in the laboratory and they refused it. S. drummondii belongs to the SAPINDACEAE 4 (Soapberry family). Locally this plant is known as wild or western chinaberry which may account for the use of Melia in the literature. Eggs are deposited on the twigs of large trees or very old small ones; never on small seedlings.
Satyrium calanus falacer (Godart)
Medina County Texas, 24 April 1960. On the R. A. Haby Ranch adjacent to Medina Lake, the author searched under rocks, logs and debris for last instar larvae of Nymphalis antiopa lintnerii (Fitch). In addition to five lintnerii larvae, one S. falacer pupa was found. This pupa was under an old log secured to the bark. A variety of trees and shrubs grow at this spot including walnut; the one on which the larva most likely fed. A female emerged 6 May 1960.
Bexar County Texas, 23 April 1961. A few miles south of San Antonio near the Atascosa County line, hickory, Carya texana Buckl. grows in fairly large patches. This is the sandy area of the County. While scratching among fallen leaves beneath one of these trees a pupa of S. falacer was found. There is good reason to suspect the larva fed on hickory because this is the only species of tree growing within 100 yards of the spot. A male emerged 3 May 1961.
Kendall County Texas, 23 April 1961. Mrs. A. M. Montgomery gave me two last instar larvae which she found on Juglans microcarpa Berl. growing on the bank of the Guadalupe River at Comfort. One of the larvae appeared sickly; it was preserved. The other was reared through on /. microcarpa. A female emerged 12 May 1961.
The author has also collected adults of this species in the following Texas Counties: Bastrop (Bastrop State Park) 20 May 1962; badly worn. Caldwell (Farm Road 20 near intersection of Farm Road 1854) 19 May 1962; feeding on blossoms of Asclepias tuberosa L., badly worn. Comal (Guadalupe River, few miles west oi New Braunfels) 15 May 1960; 1$, fairly fresh. Further rearings of this species will disclose the best time and places to collect it in nature.
Callophrys (Incisalia) henrici solatus (Cook & Watson)
Bexar County Texas, 17 February 1962. At a spot just north of San
Antonio, solatus was found flying in fair numbers. This was the fourth
consecutive season it had been taken near the city and we still didn't
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know its larval foodplant. None of the foodplants reported for henrici (Primus, Vaccinium, Gaylussacia and Cercis) seemed to hold for solatus. In an all out effort to solve this problem, a bit of logic and process of elimination were employed. A mental note had been made of the various botanical specimens found at each of seven locations where solatus had been taken previously. These were now written down and it became apparent that persimmon, Diospyros texana Scheele, was the one plant common to all locations. D. texana not D. virginiana L. of eastern Texas, is the smooth-barked shrub so common in the Edwards Plateau area.
Mrs. Kendall and I revisited the spot on the following day, this time to concentrate our attention around persimmon trees. We arrived at the location about 10:45 AM CST. Some 50 feet away was a nice persimmon tree partially exposed to the morning sun. Before I could get my collecting things from the car. Mrs. Kendall announced that a fema]e had just been seen ovipositing on persimmon buds. We continued to observe the activity around this shrub and saw two more females deposit eggs. Then a male came along, established a control point on an upper branch and proceeded to patrol the area. Everything that came within three or four feet was driven away. While we watched, he chased off a Battus philenor, Papilio asterius, Colias cesonia, Colias philodice, Strymon melinus, several honeybees and a large redish-brown wasp. It was about 11:15 AM when the solatus activity around this and other nearby trees suddenly stopped. It occurred to us that perhaps solatus had gone off to feed. We checked some flowering Forestiera pubescens Nutt. about sixty feet away and took seventeen and could have taken as many more. Three females were kept alive for eggs. A few females had begun to return to the persimmon about 1:20 PM at which time we departed.
During the period 19 February — 20 March more than 300 eggs were deposited by the three females on buds of D. texana. They refused to oviposit on leaves. One egg collected in nature 18 February hatched 21 February. The other ova hatched about four days after they were deposited. Larvae readily ate the juvenile leaves of this plant. They will also eat the fruits but not the older leaves. From 16 March to 17 April about 90 larvae pupated. The early stages were preserved and pupae were also provided for chromosome counts. Adults emerged from pupal diapause the following year. Two males emerged prematurely on or about 20 January; others emerged: 15 Feb. (1? ), 3 Mar. (13 ), 4 Mar. (23 3 ), 5 Mar. (53 3, 2$ 2 ), 6 Mar. (19 ), 7 Mar. (23 3, 19 ), 8 Mar. (13, 3? 9 ), 9 Mar. (2$ 3, 39 2), 10 Mar. (34 3, 39 9), 11 Mar. (2$ 3, 39 9), 12 Mar. (13,29 9), 13 Mar. (13, 49 9), 14 Mar. (19), 15 Mar.
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(Id), 16 Mar. (IS), 17 Mar. (23 3), 18 Mar. ($), 19 Mar. (1$). Sixteen pupae died.
In Bexar County this species has been taken as early as 7 February; the latest date is 4 April. It has also been collected in Comal County (4 Mar. 56) and Uvalde County (10 Mar. 62).
Euristrymon Ontario autolycus (Edwards)
Bexar County Texas, 8 April 1961. Near San Antonio two larvae were found on Quercus virginiana Mill. One died, the other pupated in due course and a male emerged 22 April. Still another larva found 16 April, fed for a few days then pupated; a male emerged 29 April 1961.
Kerr County Texas, 7-8 May 1960. At Kerrville State Park, adults were found very common. Three hundred ninety specimens were collected on blossoms of Asclepias decumbens (Nutt.) Shinners. Adults were also common around oak trees in the park. Several, freshly emerged, were still hanging from blades of grass beneath the oaks. Scratching among fallen leaves under one large Q. virginiana yielded two pupae. One was dead; from the other a female emerged 13 May. Also, a female taken in copula deposited 78 ova during the period 9-12 May on twigs of Q. virginiana. Eggs were kept at fairly constant temperature in the laboratory and they failed to hatch the following year.
San Patricio County Texas, 1 April 1962. At the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge, four larvae and one pupa were found on Q. virginiana. One larva had spun-up in the bark but a predator had killed it before pupation. The pupa also proved to be the victim of a predator. Closer examination disclosed one of the larvae to be Strymon melinus. The remaining two larvae pupated in due course and two males emerged 15 April. At the same location another pupa was found 12 April which produced a female 15 April. Three days later adults were seen flying about the upper branches of oaks.
At a roadside park on Farm Road 632 near Ingleside, 6 April 1962, 26 larvae were found on Q. virginiana and Q. laurifolia Michx. Numerous larvae of several other lepidopterous species were found on the oaks: Catocala (several spp.), Hemerocampa leucostigma Smith, Safia amella Guenee, Malacosoma disstria Hiibner. A return visit 10 April found the trees almost completely defoliated and the E. autolycus larvae moving about in search of food. Twenty-five more larvae were collected. The first seven larvae pupated 10 April. The first adults (333, 2 9 9) emerged 20 April; the last one, 5 May. A good series of immatures was preserved and live pupae provided for chromosome counts.
The writer has collected this species in five other Texas counties as follows: Comal, 11 May 58, 15 & 22 May 60; Caldwell, 19 May 62; Gonzales, 27 Apr. 62; Kendall, 7 & 8 May 60; and Uvalde, 4 May 61.
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1964
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
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151
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Strymon melinus franki Field
In Texas franki is more common than typical melinus. The writer has collected it each month of the year except December and January, in 37 counties representing every major botanical area of the State.
Bastrop County Texas, 2 September 1961. At a roadside park on Texas Highway 21 about 5.5 miles northeast of Bastrop, two last instar larvae were found eating the immature seeds of Lespedeza hirta (L.) Hornem. One larva proved to be parasitized. The other pupated 8 September and a male emerged 17 September. Also, in Bastrop State Park 4 September, two more parasitized larvae were found on this plant.
Bexar County Texas, April 1956. A larva found feeding on the blossom buds of Lupinus texensis Hook matured in due course and a male emerged but the exact date was not recorded. Six second instar larvae were found 20 August 1957 on blossom buds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. All were lost due to fungus. A female was observed 20 April 1958 to oviposit on blossom buds of wine cups, Callirhoe leiocarpa Martin growing in the laboratory garden. More eggs were obtained from the captive female but once again all larvae were lost due to fungus. A number of larvae found 3 May 1958 feeding on L. texensis buds produced adults but emergence dates were not recorded. A female was observed to oviposit 19 June 1960 on blossom buds of Lantana macropoda Torr. Careful examination disclosed a first instar larva feeding on the buds of this plant. This larva, reared to maturity on L. macropoda buds, produced a female 9 July 1960. Another larva found on this plant 6 July 1960 proved to be parasitized. Again in the laboratory garden, a female was seen ovipositing 10 July 1960 on blossom buds of althea, Hibiscus syriacus L. A week later one was seen to oviposit on Croton monanthogy-nus Michx. On 4 March 1961 a female was observed ovipositing on blossom buds of L. texensis. A larva found 21 February 1962 feeding on juvenile leaves of Diospyros texana Scheele; pupated 11 March and a male emerged 19 March 1962. A last instar larva found 1 August 1962 on blossom buds of Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. pupated 4 August but was parasitized; an Ichneumonid emerged 21 August 1962.
Gonzales County Texas, 15 August 1959. On U.S. Highway 183 not far from Palmetto State Park, a female was observed to oviposit on blossom buds of Cassia puberula (Greene) Macbride.
Kerr County Texas, 18 July 1959. At Kerrville State Park a female was observed ovipositing on blossom buds of Indigofera texana (Buckley) Turner. In the laboratory, it deposited more than a dozen eggs on this plant. Eggs started hatching 21 July. Larvae readily ate buds of I. texana. On 24 July they were offered P. vulgaris buds which they also ate. Fungus killed all but two of the larvae and these were offered Passiflora
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incarruita L. blossom buds 29 July which they accepted. One more larva died of fungus 5 August. The remaining larva pupated 10 August and a female emerged 19 August 1959. Still another larva found 30 June 1962 on J. texana pupated 6 July with a male emerging 13 July 1962.
San Patricio County Texas, 1 April 1962. At the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge a larva was found feeding on juvenile leaves of Quercus virginiana Mill. It was among Euristrymon o. autolycus larvae found on the same tree. It pupated 6 April and a female emerged 17 April 1962. Also at the Refuge, while gathering Erynnis funeralis larvae 24 April on Sesbania drummondii (Rydb.) Cory, four franki larvae were found eating the juvenile leaves of this plant. One larva was killed accidentally; the remaining three pupated 30 April, 3 & 4 May, and the adults emerged 9 May ( £ ), 13 May ( 9 ) and 14 May 1962 ($).
Val Verde County Texas, 1 May 1961. On U.S. Highway 90 near the Devil's River, one larva was found eating the immature seed pods of Porlieria angustifolia (Engelm.) Gray. It produced a female 15 May 1961.
Careful attention has not been given to the rearing of this species because it is so common. It is significant to note however, that franki not only feeds on blossom buds and immature fruits but also on juvenile leaves of certain plants. Fifteen larval foodplants representing eight botanical families are recorded in this paper. Of these, franki will eat the juvenile leaves of three. Undoubtedly the juvenile leaves of many other plants are acceptable to melinus and franki. Although larvae were not reared through on each of these 15 plants, there is little doubt that franki larvae find them acceptable. These 15 plants are as follows. FAGACEAE: Quercus virginiana; LEGUMINOSAE: Lespedeza hirta, Lupinus texensis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Tecoma stans, Cassia puberula, Indigofera texana, Sesbania drummondii; ZYGOPHYLLACEAE: Porlieria angustifolia; EUPHORBIACEAE: Croton monanthogynus; MALVACEAE -.Callirhoe leiocarpa, Hibiscus syriacus; PASSIFLORACEAE: Passiflora incarnata; EBENACEAE: Diospyros texana; VERBENA-CEAE: Lantana macropoda.
Strymon lacenji (Barnes & McDunnough)
San Patricio County Texas, 22 April 1961. At Lake Carpus Christi State Park on the Nueces River near Mathis, one fresh male was taken. Another specimen was seen within a few feet of the first but it escaped capture. It was not until July 19, when H. A. Freeman made the determination, that I knew the real significance of this catch; otherwise, more time would have been devoted to searching the spot for additional specimens.
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
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153
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While this species is not on the reared list, it seems appropriate that a note should be included in this paper recording the capture. All of the four known specimens in collections are from Texas; this is the only male. H. A. Freeman has two females which he collected in Hidalgo County; one on 24 October 1944 and the other 14 December 1946. The holotype female was collected at or near Del Rio in Val Verde County 9 July 1909.
Hemiargus isola isola (Reakirt)
The first known larval foodplant for isola was recorded from Taylor County Texas by Remington (1952). He found one larva feeding on a seed pod of mesquite, Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. Kendall (1959) recorded the buds and blossoms of Indigofera miniata Ortega var. leptosepala Nutt. Since then, six other larval foodplants have been discovered and they are given here.
Bexar County Texas, 30 April 1960. Two females were taken ovipositing on the blossom buds of sour clover, Melilotus indicus (L.) All. Additional ova were deposited in the laboratory. M. indicus was not readily available so the eggs were placed on potted Dalea pogonanthera Gray and placed inside a large screened cage outdoors. The eggs soon hatched but the larvae disappeared. On 18 June 1960, two ova were found on the blossom buds of Albizia julibrissin Durazz. growing in the laboratory garden. The small branch was sleeved. Pupae were found in the sleeve, 4 & 9 July; a female emerged 10 July from one, the other had succumbed to a predator. Four other imagos whose larvae fed on the buds of this plant, emerged 23 & 29 July, 3 August 1960 and 31 May 1961. A female was observed ovipositing on the buds of this plant 27 May 1961; the eggs were not collected. On 1 & 2 July 1961 adults were found swarming around the blossoms of Acacia hirta (Nutt.) Robinson. A female taken at this time refused to oviposit. On 4 July however, while examining the cage, a larva was found crawhng on the screen cover. Assuming that it had parted company with the withered twig below, fresh A. hirta buds were offered and found acceptable. The larva pupated 13 July and a male emerged 19 July 1961. A female was seen to oviposit on the buds of this plant 16 July. Closer examination disclosed a last instar larva feeding on the buds. It was taken into the laboratory where it pupated 20 July and a female emerged 26 July 1961, Again on 27 May 1962 isola was found swarming around A. hirta and soon a female was seen to oviposit on the blossom buds. Also at this time, two larvae on the plant were found to be attended by ants, and a pair of adults were taken in copula. The larvae pupated in due course; a male emerged 2 June and a female 5 June 1962. Another larva found 17 June 1962 was feeding on the juvenile leaves of Acacia roemeriana Scheele;
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it pupated 29 June and a female emerged 6 July 1962.
Caldwell County Texas, 21 May 1962. One larva found on A. hirta pupated 27 May and a male emerged 3 June 1962.
Kerr County Texas, 20 June 1962. At Hays Memorial Park in Kerrville, adults were found feeding on the blossoms of Melitotus indicus and Indigofera lindheimeriana Scheele. Examination of the last named plant yielded two larvae; they pupated 3 & 4 July and adults emerged 9 & 10 July 1962. At the same location and date, two other larvae were found on 7. leptosepala, one of which proved to be parasitized. The other pupated 5 July and a female emerged 11 July 1962.
Medina County Texas, 24 April 1960. In a ravine adjacent to Medina Lake, two females were observed ovipositing on the buds of D. pogonanthera var. walkerae (Tharp. & Barkley) Turner. After depositing an egg among the buds, the female would fly to another plant exposed to the midday sun and repeat the process. Although larvae were not reared through on this plant, it is not likely that two females would repeatedly choose a wrong larval foodplant. It is believed that further research will show isola larvae feed on the buds, fruits and juvenile leaves of a wide variety of plants.
The writer has taken imagos in 28 other Texas Counties as follows: Aransas (20 Aug. 60), Atascosa (31 Mar. 57), Bandera (2 Apr. 59), Bastrop (19-20 May 62), Brewster (7 June 60), Cameron (21-22 Apr. 62), Coke (3 Aug. 61), Comal (8 Nov. 59, 21 May 62), Crocket (16 June 60), Culberson (14 June 60), Dimmit (6 June 60), El Paso (15 June 60), Gonzales (7 July & 25 Aug. 62), Guadalupe (7 July & 26 Aug. 62), Hidalgo (3 Apr. 57, 20 Mar. 61, 23 Apr. & 22 Nov. 62), Jeff Davis (10-13 June 60), Kimble (16 June 60), Kleberg (22 Mar. 61, 17 Apr. 62), Maverick (6 June 60), Nueces (11 Apr. & 1 Sept. 62), Pecos (16 June 60), Presidio (11 June 60). Reeves (9 & 15 June 60), San Patricio (10-11 Sept. 60), Travis (2 & 5 Sept. 60), Uvalde (30 Apr. 61), Val Verde (7 June 60, 30 Apr. 61) and Webb (5 June 60).
Hemiargus ceraunus zacheina (Butler & Druce) Bexar County Texas, 15 August 1961. Two larvae were found on Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze var. hirta (Nutt. ex Torr. & Gray) Robinson which had recently been planted in the flower garden. This is the small thornless Acacia which reaches a height of about two feet and forms small colonies. One of these larvae was parasitized, the other pupated 18 August and a male emerged 25 August. A female was taken 10 September 1961 and confined in a small jar with a sprig of juvenile A. hirta leaves. During the period 10-21 September, 98 ova were deposited. The female died 22 September. Eggs started hatching 13 September. Larvae accepted the juvenile leaves. Twelve larvae pupated between 1-14 October. Adults emerged from 10-23 October 1961. The early stages were preserved. There were heavy losses among the larvae. These losses were later attributed to the presence of two aphis eating Dipterous larvae, family Syrphidae,
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which were found in the rearing container. It is believed that many of the zacheina larvae fell prey to these predators. On 24 September 1961 a female was seen ovipositing on A. hirta; time, about 11:45 AM GST.
On 9 September 1962, a female was observed to feed on the blossoms of Rhyncosia minima (L.) DC and then deposit an egg on a blossom bud of the same plant. Examination disclosed still another egg. A net was not at hand to catch the female, but the two eggs were brought into the laboratory where they later hatched. The larvae accpeted the blossom buds of R. minima but they were soon to die from fungus.
The writer has found zacheina very common in areas where neither
A. hirta nor R. minima were present. It is therefore believed that the
buds and juvenile leaves of a variety of legumes may be acceptable to
larvae of this species.
Other Texas Counties in which zacheina has been taken are: Atascosa (12 Nov. 62), Bee (3 Sept. 62), Hidalgo (3 Apr. 57 & 22-23 Nov. 62), Lee (30 Sept. 62), Live Oak (26 Nov. 61 & 10-12 Nov. 62), Nueces (1 Sept., 10 & 24 Nov. 62), San Patricio (10-11 Sept. 60, 7-8 Oct., 24-26 Nov. 61, 2 Sept., 10-11 & 21-24 Nov. 62).
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CHART OF LARVAL FOODPLANTS
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Family
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Species
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Lepidoptera
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Acanthaceae
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Dicliptera brachiata Ruellia occidentals Siphonoglossa pilosella
Asimina parviflora Aristolochia elegans
Aristolochia langiflora
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Phyciodes texana Anartia j. luteipicta Dymasia dymas Phyciodes picta
Graphium marcellus
Battus p. lucayus PBattus philenor Battus p. lucayus Battus philenor
Phyciodes tharos Chlosyne g. carlota
Callophrys h. solatus Strymon m. franki
Strymon m. franki
Euristrymon o. autolycus Euristrymon o. autolycus Strymon m. franki
Euptychia h. sosybius Euptychia g. freemani PEuptychia dorothea Euptychia cymela Euptychia h. sosybius
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Annonaceae Aristolochiaceae
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Compositae
Ebenaceae
Euphorbiaceae Fagaceae
Gramineae
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Aster prealtus Helianthus annuus
Diospyros texana
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Croton monanthogynus
Quercus laurifolia Quercus virginiana
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Axonopus compressus Cynodon dactylon
Stenotaphrum secundatum
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156 Kendall: Foodplants in Texas Vol.18: no.3
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CHART OF LARVAL FOODPLANTS
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Family
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Species
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Lepidoptera
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Juglandaceae Leguminosae
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Carya texana Juglans microcarpa
Acacia hirta
Acacia roemeriana Albizia julibrissin Cassia puberula Dalea walkerae Indigofera leptosepala Indigofera lindheimeriana Indigofera texana Lespedeza hirta Lupinus texensis Melilotus indicus Phaseolus vulgaris Prosopis juliflora Rhyncosia minima Sesbania drummondii
Lindera pubescens Persea borbonia
Sassafras albidum
Callirhoe leiocarpa Hibiscus syriacus
Fraxinus subintegerrima
Passiflora incarnata
Ptelea trifoliata Ruta graveolens
Tlmmnosma texana Zanthoxylum clava- herculis Zanthoxylum fagara
Sapindus drummondii
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?Satyrium c. falacer Satyrium c. falacer
Hemiargus c. zacheina Hemiargus isola Hemiargus isola Hemiargus isola Strymon m. franki Hemiargus isola Hemiargus isola Hemiargus isola Strymon m. franki Strymon m. franki Strymon m. franki Hemiarus isola Strymon m. franki Hemiargus isola Hemiargus c. zacheina Strymon m. franki
Papilio t. ilioneus
Papilio palamedes
Papilio t. ilioneus
Papilio t. ilioneus
Strymon m. franki Strymon m. franki
Papilio multicaudata
Strymon m. franki
Papilio cresphontes
Papilio cresphontes
Papilio p. asterius
Papilio p. asterius
Papilio cresphontes
Papilio cresphontes
Phaeostrymon a. alcestis Phaeostrymon a. oslari
Papilio p. asterius Papilio p. asterius Papilio p. asterius
Strymon m. franki Phyciodes phaon
Strymon m. franki
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Lauraceae
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Malvaceae
Oleaceae
Passifloraceae
Rutaoeae
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Sapindaceae Umbelliferae
Verbenaceae Zygophylliaceae
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Anethum graveolens Daucus carota Daucus pusillus
Lantana macropoda Phyla nodiflora
Porlieria angustifolia
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1964 Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 157
Acknowledgement
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation for supporting the extra printing costs of this paper.
References
Bailey, L. H., 1939. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. Macmillan Co.,
New York. Brower, L. P. 1958. Larval foodplant specificity in butterflies of the Papilio
glaucus group. Lepid. News, 12: 103-114. Ehrlich, P. R., & A. H. 1961. How to Know the Butterflies. Dubuque, Iowa;
Brown. 262pp. Jones, F. B., C. M. Rowell, Jr., & M. C. Johnston, 1961. Flowering Plants and Ferns
of the Texas Coastal Bend Counties. Sinton, Texas; Rob & Bessie Welder
Wildlife Foundation. 146pp. Kendall, R. O., 1957. New foodplants in Texas for Papilio multicaudatus. Lepid.
News 11: 224. ..............., 1959. More larval foodplants from Texas. Journ. Lepid. Soc, 13:
221-228. Klots, A. B., 1951. A Field Guide to the Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., Baston. Remington, C. L., 1952. The biology of Neartic Lepidoptera, II. Foodplant and
pupa of Hemiargus isolus. Psyche, 59: 129-130. Stallings, D. B., 1941. A note on Strymon alcestis (Edw.). Journ. Kans. Ent. Soc,
14: 63. Straatman, R., 1962. Notes on certain Lepidoptera ovipositing on plants which are
toxic to their larvae. Journ. Lepid. Soc, 16: 99-103. Turner, B. L., 1959. The Legumes of Texas. University of Texas, Austin. Vines, R. A., 1960. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southwest. University of
Texas, Austin. Wills, M. M. & H. S. Irwin, 1961. Roadside Flowers of Texas. University of Texas,
Austin.
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VENATION ABERRATION IN PAPILIO GLAUCUS
In June of 1961 on a dirt road in the woods near Weston, Vermont, I came across a flight of Papilio glaucus canadensis Rothschild & Jordan, and in a several day period took nearly two hundred. They were all fresh males, flying southeast, single file about five feet from the ground along the sunny side of the road. The flight was most dense during the late morning hours, when the individuals were flying by at the rate of six to seven a minute.
Returning to the same spot in 1962 the same phenomenon was discovered being repeated. It was on June 8, 1962 during one of these flights that a specimen was captured with the following venational aberration.
Vein Mi on each of the hind wings, rather than continuing singly to the margin, divides and bows into an oval coming back together to form
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