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1965
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
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223
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A MIGRATION OF LIBYTHEANA AND KRICOGONIA IN SOUTHERN TEXAS
Harry K. Clench
Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
During a summer vacation collecting trip in 1963 my family and I observed a migration of Libytheana bachmanii larvata (Strecker) and Kricogonia (both castalia (Fabricius) and lyside (Godart)) as we traveled through southern Texas.
We first encountered them in the late afternoon of July 4 on the western outskirts of Catarina (Dimmit County) and stopped to observe and collect. The flight here was sparse, their combined density being only about three per minute over a 100-foot front. The Libytheana seemed about as numerous as the Kricogonia (presumably both species together), but the Kricogonia were flying about two to three feet above the level surface of the field, while the Libytheana were only about half that. They were all headed approximately north, flying at an estimated rate of about eight to ten feet per second. Two Kricogonia were taken (1 S , 1 9 , both castalia) and a single Libytheana. We left at sunset, after about one and a half hours, and the flight was still in progress.
The next morning about 27 miles south of Catarina (in northern Webb County) we again observed the migrants. Shortly after 8:00 A.M. they began to fly along with other butterflies, but at first their behavior showed no sign of migratory activity, being only conventional random movement. About 10:00 A.M. they started to migrate, the flight sparse as before, but now directed almost northeast (30° east of magnetic north, or about 39° east of true north). We collected: K. lyside (2 $ ), L. bachmanii (5).
As we continued south on U. S. highway 83 the migration increased markedly in density. At 27 miles north of Laredo (Webb County) they were passing at an estimated combined rate of about 60 per minute on a 100-foot front, at about the same speed and height above ground as before. At 18 miles north of Laredo a single male K. castalia was taken.
About 12 miles south of Laredo we noticed that the migration had become comprised chiefly of Libytheana; and about seven miles west of Zapata (Zapata County) signs of migration ceased.
On the next day, July 6, the whole morning was spent collecting on the edge of Falcon Reservoir about eight miles south of Zapata. The migrant species were all present (collected: K. lyside (1 $ ), K. castalia (IS ), L. bachmanii (10)), the Kricogonia few, the Libytheana in large
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224
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Clench: Migration of Libytheana and Kricogonia Vol. 19, no. 4
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numbers. No evidence of migratory activity was seen. Libytheana were particularly prevalent on a low, white-flowered, heathlike plant growing in large clumps in open areas and could be seen there by the dozen.
Taking into account the direction of our route and the observed direction of the flight one may conclude that the migratory flight was in a band about 60 miles wide. Assuming an average density of 10 individuals per minute per 100 feet of front, the total rate of passage comes to about 190,000 per hour or 1.7 million per nine-hour day.
Curiously, several days later and about a hundred miles to the east— specifically on July 10 at the junction of U. S. highway 281 and Texas highway 141 (about 14 miles west of Kingsville, in Jim Wells County) — we again encountered a heavy migration of Libytheana (only), this time heading about due south. Our route took us north on 281 and we quickly left the migrants behind, but during the short time we were among them the car radiator became completely clogged.
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INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE
Notice of proposed use of plenary powers in certain cases (A. (n.s.) 70)
In accordance with a decision of the 13th International Congress of Zoology, 1948, public notice is hereby given of the possible use by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature of its plenary powers in connection with the following case, full details of which will be found in Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, Vol. 22, Part 3, published on 13 August 1965.
(2) Designation of a type-species for Anthanassa Scudder, 1875 (Insecta, Lepidoptera) Z.N.(S.) 1697;
Any zoologist who wishes to comment on the above case should do so in writing, and in duplicate, as soon as possible, and in any case before 13 February 1966. Each comment should bear the reference number of the case in question. Comments received early enough will be published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. Those received too late for publication will, if received before 13 February 1966, be brought to the attention of the Commission at the time of commencement of voting.
All communication on the above subject should be addressed as follows: The Secretary, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, c/o British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W.7, England. w E CmNA
Assistant Secretary to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
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