Click here for the original journal page (in Acrobat pdf format).

The text below is grayed out because it is not intended to be read. It is a necessarily imperfect OCR of the original and is only used by a search engine.

176

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

VARIATION OF GRAPHIUM MARCELLUS IN MISSISSIPPI (PAPILIONIDAE)1

Bryant Mather2

213 Mt. Salus Dr., Clinton, Mississippi

Introduction

Graphium marcellus (Cramer) was reported from Mississippi (Mather and Mather, 1958) as "apparently generally distributed and locally rather abundant; February through August. The spring form, with shorter tails, is found from February through April; the summer form, with longer tails, May through August. The earliest record . . . is . . . Ballground, Warren Co. on 9 February 1957." A group of 67 Mississippi specimens (48 $ $, 19 9 9 ) taken on dates from 9 February to 27 August, between 1951 and 1967, at 20 localities in 12 counties is now at hand and has been examined. The 12 counties include three in the northern part of the state (Chickasaw, Tishomingo, and Tunica), five in the central (Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Rankin, and Warren), and four in the southern part (Forrest, Harrison, Jackson, and Pearl River). A September record: 24 Sept. 1966, Tupelo, Lee Co., John Bryson, was provided by Charles Bryson; I have not seen this specimen. The sample of 67 specimens was arranged by date of capture and data were recorded for sex, forewing length, tail length, tail pattern, and other parameters, The results are presented and discussed as they relate to seasonal and other kinds of variation, nomenclature, and distribution.

Characters

Sex: The literature on G. marcellus contains few references to characters that might conveniently be used to separate specimens by sex. Clark (1935), in describing the kite swallowtails, stated "the abdominal margin of the hind wings is broadened in the males, and usually bears a distinct scent organ/' Field (1940) wrote of this group "the inner margins of the hindwing . . . are turned upward and rolled over, forming pockets that contain androconia." Inspection of the inner margins of the hind wings of the Mississippi specimens revealed differences that appeared to be consistent and the series was sorted by sex on the basis of these differences. The specimens were subsequently examined by Dr. John M. Burns on 19

1 Contribution No. 143, Bureau of Entomology, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, Fla.

2 Research Associate, Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture.

Volume 24, Number 3

177

43 46 44 42 4o

38 36 34 32

So 28

/^

A

/

/ AAiA

/ A^^jA /o /^A ^^ A

/ 4$z£a

s?w6 sumtz

dV A °

?? A •

|0 !2 14 Ik 18 2o 22 24 2£> ^8 3o TAIL LENGTH, MM

Fig. 1. Relation of forewing length to tail length for 59 specimens of G. marcellus from Mississippi, showing division of the group into spring and summer subgroups and boundaries of available data.

August 1967 and I was pleased to find that my sorting of this series by sex was confirmed by him in each case. I suggest that future writers note this diagnostic criterion for the guidance of others.

Dimensions: Each specimen on which such measurements could be made (eight of the specimens had neither tail complete) was measured to the nearest millimeter for forewing length and tail length. The range in forewing lengths of the 67 specimens is from 30 to 47 mm. The range in tail lengths of the 59 specimens is from 11 to 29 mm. The forewing and tail lengths are plotted in Fig. 1. On Fig. 1 are also shown lines of loci of forewing length to tail length ratio of 1.5:1, 2:1, and 3:1. Since the forewing length : tail length ratio changes with change in forewing length and tail length, the ratio was calculated for each specimen. The

178

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

4-0 60 80

loo \Zo [40          l£>o 180

DAYS AFTER 1 JAN.

Fig. 2. Relation of forewing length : tail length ratio to date of capture for 59 specimens of G. marcelliis from Mississippi, showing separation into spring and summer subgroups at FWL/TL = 2.05 and 137 days after January (17 May).

Volume 24, Number 3                                                                                               179

ANGLE BETWEEN OUTER AND LOWER MARGIN OF FOREWING, DEG.

Fig. 3. Relation of forewing length to angle between outer and lower margin of forewing for 67 specimens of G. marcellus from Mississippi, showing separation into spring and summer subgroups.

range for the 59 specimens was 1.43 to 2.91. These results are plotted in Fig. 2 against dates of capture.

Tail Pattern: Two types of tail pattern were recognized: (a) only the tip of the tail white; (b) white extending far up each side of the tail above.

Red Spot or Spots at Anal Angle of Hind Wing: Four variations of this character were recognized : (a) red spot wide, covering the space between three veins, and step-shaped; (b) red spot of same dimensions as

180

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

in (a) but divided by a narrow vertical black line along the intermediate vein into two red areas each essentially square; (c) red spot reduced so as to occupy the space between only two veins, and rounded; and (d) red spot similar to (c) but accompanied by a much smaller satellite spot in the adjacent space.

Submarginal White Lunules on Hind Wing: The number of prominent white submarginal lunules was found to range from two to four. When only two or three were prominent, often one or two were faintly indicated.

Fifth Black Stripe on Foreiuing: The middle, fifth, black stripe on the forewing above extends downward only through the cell. Three forms of this stripe were noted : (a) a band of generally uniform width, (b) a band narrowing sharply away from the costal margin, and (c) the band reduced to a spot.

Angle between Outer and Lower Margins of Forewing: The angle between the outer and lower (inner) margins of the forewing was measured for each specimen. The measurements were made using a contact goniometer.3 The relation between these results and forewing length is plotted in Fig. 3.

Curvature of Outer Margin of Forewing: The outer margin of the right forewing was inspected from above and classified as "concave" or "convex".

Discussion

Variation: A principal type of variation in G. marcellus is seasonal. Brown (1965) quoted Boisduval's letter of 1 June 1873 to W. H. Edwards in which he wrote: "I believe you are right to put together Ajax and Marcellus in spite of the difference there is in the coloration of the larvae and the length of the tail of the insects in the perfect state [imago]. In spite of the opposite opinion of Abbot, they are probably only seasonal variations." The data on the Mississippi sample were therefore arranged chronologically by date of capture and were examined together with the relationships plotted in Fig. 1, 2, and 3 to determine if seasonal subgroups could be segregated, and if so, how many such subgroups appeared to be clearly differentiable and where the subgroup boundary or boundaries should be drawn both with regard to characters and time. This examination led to the conclusion that the population represented by this sample lent itself better to the drawing of one rather than more than one boundary and hence was more clearly separable into two rather than to more than two seasonal forms. The boundary that appeared most reasonable to draw on the basis of change in characters corresponds, on the time scale, to the

3 Model B, designed by S. L. Penfield, patented 31 July 1900, New Haven, Conn.

Volume 24, Number 3

181

date of 17 May; one of three specimens taken on that date being assignable by characters to the earlier "spring" group; the other two being assignable to the later "summer" group. The final versions of Fig. 1, 2, and 3 were then modified using different symbols for specimens assigned to the two groups. In each case a line can be drawn between areas in which all the points representing specimens belonging to the two groups fall.

The two seasonal forms as segregated from the present sample may be characterized and compared as follows:

From the forewing characterization and comparison it is concluded that the most unambiguously diagnostic characteristic is forewing length : tail length ratio. Since the tail length increases with time more rapidly than does the forewing length and since absolute dimensions are influenced at any point in time by non-dependent factors such as sex and food, it is not surprising that this ratio appears best to indicate the time-dependent change that is observed. If this ratio is 2.00 or less the specimen belongs to the later form regardless of its absolute size or other features. The second most unambiguous character is the width of the red spot or spots in the anal angle of the hind wing. If this area is broad, occupying the spaces between three veins, the specimen belongs to the earlier form with only rare exceptions (one in this series). All specimens having white on the tail confined to the tip belong to the earlier form but, in this series, five having white extending up the sides of the tail are also assigned to this group. Since the sample includes comparable numbers of individuals representing the two forms and since it includes individuals taken over a period of 17 years, I believe it is as representative of the population sampled as one of this size could be.

182

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

The nature of the curvature of the outer margin of the forewing does not appear to be time dependent. It appears rather to be associated with the sex of the specimen, as might be expected by analogy with other species, but there are a significant number of exceptions to the association as is shown in the following tabulation:

Curvature of outer margin                                             Number of specimens

of right forewing, viewed from above                           $ $                      9 2

concave                                                            44                          8

convex                                                                4                        11

Variation in the shape of the fifth black stripe on the forewing above, from a band of nearly uniform width to a band that narrows sharply downward, appears to be random and not time dependent. The more extreme reduction of this band to a spot was observed in four specimens, all belonging to the later form (3 S $, 1 9 ) and, in a manner similar to the tendency to obsolescence of some of the submarginal lunules on the hind wing above, appears to be a character that is more likely to occur among individuals of that form but cannot be described as diagnostic of that form.

Nomenclature: Having discussed the results of the study of variation within the sample of the Mississippi population it now seems appropriate to discuss the names that have been used and the variation that has been reported for populations of G. marcellus both throughout its range and in specific portions of its range. Dos Passos (1964) gave the nomenclature as follows:

"Graphium

269. marcellus (Cramer), "1779" [1777] (gen. vern.) i ajax (Linnaeus), 1758 (partim) (Opinion 286) walshii (Edwards), 1872 carolinianus (Holland), 1931 (Opinion 259) form telamonides (Felder & Felder), "1864-67" [1864] form floridensis (Holland), 1898

gen. aest. lecontei (Rothschild & Jordan), 1906" and then records the names given to four aberrations.

Holland (1931, Plate XLIV) figured four specimens: 1, spring form carolinianus Edwards, = marcellus Cramer; 2. spring form floridensis Holland (type); 3. summer form telamonides Felders, = lecontei Rothschild & Jordan; and 4. spring form walshii Edwards (type). The form represented as # 4 "walshii" by Holland is similar to that which appears earlier in Mississippi; the form represented as # 2 "floridensis" by Holland which is quite similar to # 4, is matched by a few Mississippi specimens

Volume 24, Number 3

183

but is not differentiable as a seasonal form in the present sample. The form represented as # 1 "carolinianus" by Holland is typical of a very few intermediate specimens from Mississippi that are rather inconsistent in their characters. The form figured as # 3 "telamonides" by Holland is similar to the later, "summer" form as characterized above for the Mississippi series.

Most previous workers have discussed seasonal forms of G. marcellus in terms of three such forms: smallest = earliest, intermediate both in time and characters, and largest = latest. Clark (1932) wrote of the population of the District of Columbia and vicinity as forms "marcellus," "telamonides," and "lecontef having forewing lengths of 33-37 mm, usually 35 mm for "marcellus," and 39-48 mm for "lecontei." Field (1940) used the same form names for Kansas and stated that the forewing of "marcellus" ranged from 32-36 mm, averaged 34 mm, and the tails were 15 mm or less; "tela-monides" had forewings averaging 37 mm; and "lecontei" (in Douglas Co.) averaged 44 mm forewings and 23 mm or longer tails. Clark & Clark (1951) wrote of the Virginia population that early spring individuals had forewings usually 32-35 mm but up to 40 mm on the outer Coastal Plain. They did not use form names for the earliest and latest forms but referred to the late-spring form as "telamonides." They also discussed the finding of some individuals that closely resembled "the southeastern spring form floridensis" They stated that the summer form in Virginia had forewings about 45 mm long. In no case has a report been found indicating the size of the sample upon which the observations as to average or range in size was based. All writers agree that as the season advances the butterflies get larger and their tails get longer. No reference was found to the use of forewing length : tail length ratio as a parameter. Kimball (1965) wrote that the Florida population was "abundant throughout the state from March to December. Morgan wrote "... of the three subspecies (sic) described as differing slightly in size, hairiness, color, pattern, and length of tails, and supposed to be restricted to certain seasons or regions, all may be matched by Hillsborough County specimens throughout the year.' Fuller states that around Cassadega the species occurs in the three forms in their usually recognized sequence; marcellus, February; walshi (sic) (Edwards), March, and lecontei (R. & J.), June and July." Kimball concluded: ". . . . the whole subject of subspeciation in marcellus needs to be worked out." Forbes (1960), referring to New York and neighboring states, mentioned an "early spring form (marcellus)" and a "summer brood (lecontei)" adding "intermediate late spring specimens are telamonides Felder" having some characteristics like the earlier and some like the later forms. Haydon (1933) stated that, in Maryland, there were "three dis-

184

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

tinct seasonal forms": marcellus 2.50-2.75 in., telamonides 2.75-3 in., and lecontei 3-3.25 in. Weed (1926), likewise referred to "three distinct forms": marcellus, small early spring with short tails that show white only on the tips; telamonides, late spring, larger, tails a little longer, and with more white on outer half; and ajax, summer, larger, with very long tails. Comstock and Comstock (1940) wrote of "three distinct forms," early spring (marcellus) 2.6-2.8 in., tails 0.6 in., tipped with white — walshii                  c

Edwards; late spring (telamonides), a little larger, tails Vs longer, bordered by white on distal V2 to % of length; summer (ajax) 3.2-3.5 in., tails % longer than early spring.

Although, as has been noted above, most previous workers have discussed seasonal variation in terms of three "distinct" forms, no illustration designated as representing the intermediate form was found in the literature. The intermediate form has usually been called "telamonides" but the only figure designated "telamonides" that I found was that given by Holland (1931) who refers to it as "summer form = lecontei.'' A total of eleven figures were found. The references to these figures, the measured forewing and tail lengths and the computed forewing length : tail length ratio are tabulated below:

FWL,              TL,              FWL/ NO.

FIG. Reference                                                       mm                mm                TL                4

The forewing lengths and tail lengths tabulated above are plotted on Fig. 4 which is drawn to the same scale as Fig. 1 and on which are shown the outlines of the limits of the data for the Mississippi sample. There is less basis for considering the establishment of an intermediate group from

Volume 24, Number 3

185

\o

\1        14- \<o        18 2o 22 24 :?£> 26 30

TAIL LENGTH, MM

Fig. 4. Relation of forewing length to tail length for 11 specimens of G. marcellus figured in the literature and showing the boundaries for these parameters of the available data on the Mississippi population taken from Fig. 1.

these data than from the Mississippi data. The range in FWL/TL ratios for the eleven figured specimens and for the Mississippi sample are compared below:

Figured specimens Mississippi sample

Spring

1.54-1.91 1.43-2.00

Summer

2.33-2.64 2.05-2.91

Distribution'. Ehrlich & Ehrlich [1961] gave the range of G. marcellus as "Florida to Texas, northward to Canada (rare in northern part of range)." Macy & Shepard (1941) gave it as "from southern New England through most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. ... reported several times from southern Michigan north to Saginaw Bay . . " Macy (in Macy and Shepard, 1941) reported seeing one in Hennepin Co.,

186

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

Minn, on 3 July 1932 and recorded Franzen's report of one having been taken in downtown Minneapolis. Sorenson (1967) states that only a single specimen is known from Minnesota, from Mankato, Brown Co. It was not listed for Colorado by Brown, Eff, and Rotger (1957). Forbes (1960) gave the range as "Conn, to 111., and s to Fla." Fiske (1901) stated that it was "said to have been taken in Hooksett (New Hampshire) but I have nothing more than mere hearsay to go by." Shapiro (1966) reported taking 46 in the Delaware valley in 10 years. Klots (1951) gave the range as southern New England (rare) west through southern Ontario, Mich., Minn., and Wise, south through Central Florida and Gulf States. Field (1940) wrote: "Canada south to Florida and west through the eastern half of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas." He gave records from eight Kansas counties. Riotte (1967) noted that a specimen had been taken at Humber Plains west of Toronto in 1891 but not since. Masters (1967) listed it as abundant to common in northeastern Arkansas. Kendall (1964) reported it as found from late March to early July in east Texas. He collected eggs, larvae, and foodplant (Asimina parviflora (Michaux.) in Polk Co., Texas, on 14 April 1962, and reared nine adults that emerged on 18-19 May, 6 June, 31 Aug 1962, and 25, 27 March and 11 April 1963. It was not listed for the Waco, Texas, area by Gooch & Strecker (1924). Lambremont (1954) and Ross & Lambremont (1963) recorded its occurrence in seven Louisiana Parishes; Kendall (1964a) added an eighth; the flight period in Louisiana, based on these reports, is 17 March to 10 September. Harris (1950) reported it abundant over the entire state of Georgia, February to October.

After reviewing these somewhat differing statements, I have concluded that the available data indicates that G. marcellus occurs throughout Florida (Kimball, 1965) rather than only to central Florida (Klots, 1951) and generally in an area bounded by the Atlantic Coast northward at least to Connecticut (Forbes, 1960) and westward, possibly into New Hampshire (Fiske, 1901), through Toronto, Ontario (Riotte, 1967), Michigan (Macy & Shepard, 1941), and Minnesota (Sorenson, 1967); southward to include the eastern halves of Kansas and Oklahoma (Field, 1940) and east Texas (Field, 1940, Kendall, 1964).

Summary

A sample of the Graphium marcellus (Cramer) population of Mississippi, consisting of 67 specimens (48 $ S, 19 2 9) taken on dates between 9 February and 27 August between 1951 and 1966 at localities in 12 counties distributed over the state, was examined. Data were obtained on forewing length, tail length, forewing length : tail length ratio, distribution

Volume 24, Number 3

187

SUMMER.

F:ORE

-SPRIN6

TAIL

4S LENGTH, MM

Fig 5. Distribution of forewing lengths and tail lengths of Mississippi G. marcellus, divided into spring and summer subgroups.

of white at tail tip, variation of red spot or spots at the anal angle of hind wing, angle between outer and lower margin of forewing, curvature of outer margin of forewing, variation in submarginal lunules of hind wing, and variation of form of fifth black stripe of forewing. It was concluded that the major variation is time dependent, that the sample may most logically be considered as including representatives of two (rather than more than two) seasonal forms, that the most unambiguous character for separating these forms is forewing length: tail length ratio; that the change from the earlier form to the later form occurs when this ratio drops to 2.00 or less which corresponds in time to approximately 17 May. Concurrently, but less unambiguously, the forewing length increases from 37 mm or less to 38 mm or more, the tail length from 18 mm or less to 19 mm or more, the white at the tail tip extends up the sides of the tail, the red spot at the anal angle of the hind wing narrows from being two spaces wide to being one space wide, and the angle betwen the outer and lower margin of the forewing increases from less than 102° to more than 102°. These two forms may be referred to as earlier and later, or "spring" and "summer," or

188

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

as gen. vern. ' rnarcellus" and gen. aest. "lecontei." A character that may conveniently be used in sexing specimens is described. Conflicting statements about geographic range are reviewed. It is concluded that G, rnarcellus occurs throughout Florida and generally northward at least into Connecticut, possibly into New Hampshire, westward to Toronto, Ontario, Michigan, and Minnesota; southward to include the eastern halves of Kansas and Oklahoma, and into eastern Texas.

Literature Cited

Brown, F. M, 1965. Three letters from J. A. B. D. de Boisduval to W. H. Edwards

and the identity of Melitaea pola Bdv. and Melitaea callina Bdv. Jour. Lepid. Soc.

19:197-211. Brown, F. M., D. Eff, and B. Rotger, 1957. Colorado butterflies. Denver Mus.

Nat. Hist. Proc. 3-7 368 pp. Clark, A. H., 1932. The butterflies of the District of Columbia and vicinity. U.S.

Nat. Mus. Bull. 157. 337 pp. Clark, A. H., 1936. The swallowtail butterflies. Smithson. Ann. Rept. for 1935.

Publ. 3367:383-408. Clark, A. H. and L. F. Clark, 1951. The butterflies of Virginia. Smithson. Misc.

Coll. 116(7), 239 pp. Comstock, J. H. and A. B. Comstock, 1904. How to know the butterflies. Appleton

& Co., New York. 311 pp. Ehrlich, P. R. and A. H. Ehrlich, [1961]. How to know the butterflies. Wm. C.

Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa. 262 pp. Field, W. D., 1940. A manual of the butterflies and skippers of Kansas (Lepidoptera,

Rhopalocera). Bull. Univ. Kans. 39. 328 pp. Fiske, W. F., 1901. An annotated catalogue of the butterflies of New Hampshire.

N. H. College, Ag. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 1. 80 pp. Forbes, W. T. M., 1960. Lepidoptera of New York and neighboring states, Part IV,

Agaristidae through Nymphalidae, including butterflies. Cornell Univ. Ag. Exp.

Sta. Mem. 371. 188 pp. Gooch, W. T. and J. K. Streciker, 1924. A list of diurnal Lepidoptera from the

vicinity of Waco, Texas. Baylor Bull. 27:21-28. Harris, L., Jr., 1950. The butterflies of Georgia. Ga. Soc. Naturalists Bull. 5. 33 pp. Haydon, F. S., 1933. The Papilionidae of Maryland. Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Md. Vol.

2, 14 pp. Holland, W. H., 1931. The butterfly book (revised edition). Doubleday & Co.,

Garden City, N. Y. 424 pp. Howe, W. H., 1964. Our butterflies and moths. True Color, N. Kansas City, Mo.

208 pp. Kendall, R. O., 1964. Larval food plants for twenty-six species of Rhopalocera

(Papilionoidea) from Texas. Jour. Lepid. Soc. 18:129-157. Kendall, R. O., 1964a. New distribution records for three species from Arkansas,

Louisiana, and Texas (Hesperiidae, Papilionidae). Jour. Lepid. Soc. 18:190-191. Kimball, C. P., 1965. Lepidoptera of Florida. Div. of Plant Industry, Fla. Dept. of

Ag. Gainesville. 363 pp. Klots, A. B., 1951. A field guide to the butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

349 pp. Lambremont, E. N., 1954. The butterflies and skippers of Louisiana. Tulane Univ.

Stud. Zool. 1:127-164. Macy, R. W., and H. H. Shepard, 1941. Butterflies. Univ. of Minn. Press Minneapolis. 247 pp.

Volume 24, Number 3

189

Masters, J. H., 1967. Observations on Arkansas Rhopalocera and a list of species occurring in northeastern Arkansas. Jour. Lepid. Soc. 21:206^209, 277.

Mather, B. and K. Mather, 1958. The butterflies of Mississippi. Tulane Univ. Stud. Zool. 6:6&-109.

dos Passos, C. F., 1964. A synonymic list of nearctic Rhopalocera. Mem. Lepid. Soc, No. 1. 145 pp.

Riotte, J. C. E., 1967. New and corrected butterfly records for Ontario and for Canada. Jour. Lepid. Soc. 21:135-137.

Ross, G. N. and E. N. Lambremont, 1963. An annotated supplement to the state list of Louisiana butterflies and skippers. Jour. Lepid. Soc. 17:148—158.

Shapiro, A. M., 1966. Butterflies of the Delaware Valley. Spec. Publ. Amer. Ent. Soc. 79 pp.

Sorenson, J. T., 1967. The Rhopalocera of Minnesota, Part III, family Papilionidae. Newsletter Assn. Minn. Ent. 1:56-57.

Weed, C. M., 1926. Butterflies. Doubleday, Page & Co., New York. 286 pp.

THE AEGERIID RAMOSIA FRAGARIAE IN A FLIGHT TRAP, AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF

In mid-August 1966, my wife and I were camped at Poker Flat, an attractive small meadow at 5040 feet altitude in the forested Siskiyou Mountains of the northwest corner of Siskiyou County, California. On the thirteenth I foolishly kept my eye on a butterfly instead of on the ground, and ran over a small rock cliff. Fortunately I netted the brute, Parnassius phoebus sternitzkyi McDunnough, on the way down, but in landing head first on the talus lost considerable skin from arms, legs and side, and sprained an ankle. Next day I was glad just to sit around camp.

Luckily a flight trap, the simple, one-pole, P. H. Arnaud-adaptation of a Malaise trap, had been put up earlier. It was set on dry, rocky ground between the forest and the marshy southern edge of the meadow, directly above the headwaters of the West Branch of Indian Creek. To be doing something, I hobbled out to empty it every hour. It caught quantities of flies and wasps throughout the day, but at the 3 PM servicing, it contained also a series of a small black and orange clearwing moth, Ramosia fragariae (Hy. Edwards). None was caught before or after the 2 to 3 PM period.

I interpreted this as a surprisingly restricted flight period for the species, and later so reported it to several lepidopterist friends (I am a coleopterist). But when the specimens were readied for pinning and spreading a couple of years later, it was seen that there were twelve males and one female, so it is more likely that the female inadvertently flew into the trap and was followed by her hopeful suitors.

This swarming of a number of males around one female may be characteristic of these small clearwings. In my field notes for 26 July, 1964, referring to a spot near Route 14, altitude 8,825 feet, 1.5 miles northeast of the summit of Granite Pass in the Big Horn mountains of north central Wyoming, I recorded: "Near camp found a spot where $ S aegeriids were swarming, wasp-like, over a tuft of grass; took a series, then found a live 9 in [the tuft of] grass; ants were attacking the 9 . Got a couple more 2 $ nearby." These moths proved to be Ramosia chrysidipennis (Boisduval).

I am indebted to J. N. Shepard for identifying the butterfly, and to J. W. Tilden for the names of the moths.

Hugh B. Leech, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.