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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
NOTES ON A BRIEF COLLECTING TRIP TO NEGROS, PHILIPPINES
A Yuletide collecting trip to the hydro-electric plant site on the island of Negros, Philippines, occasioned a four-day observation of mountain satyrids and a few nymphalids under continuously bad weather. The water power plant is located on a well-forested mountain with elevations from one thousand to three thousand feet. Deep gorges and densely forested sharp slopes are characteristic of this area, but there are good trails into the forest running in many directions from the main road. These trails have been found rich in many species of nymphalids and forest satyrids.
Several days prior to our visit, the roadsides were cleared of tall ferns and grasses. One species of grass, with stiff stems as large as pencils, secreted a sap which had fermented after a few days. This was found to attract nearly ten species of satyrs, several of Neptis as well as three amathusiids. So, despite the rains and fogs during our four days of collecting, we were able to pick a good number of these visitors to the stumps of the grass. I was especially interested in the two species of Ptychandra and three of mountain amathusiids, a Discophora, an Amathusia, and a Clerome. Since this species of grass is common in the area and also on several islands, the discovery will help in future expeditions to increase the catch of these types of forest butterflies. I have not as yet determined the number of days before the exuded sap begins attracting the insect visitors.
We had no chance to observe the "bait" during sunny days because we never saw the sun during our stay. Our cold nights were spent around the posts of mercury-vapor lamps to collect the numerous sphinx moths and many smaller species, as well as some three species of Antheraea, one of a long-tailed Luna Moth, and an interesting mountain species of Attacus. The use of mercury-vapor lamps at logging and mining areas in mountainous areas makes such places rich collecting grounds for moths of all kinds, including several huge beetles. Because of the findings at Negros, a formal expedition to the place is being planned for the coming hot season in the Philippines, to determine if the dry season is a better collecting time in the rain forest of Negros island. Negros has a seven-thousand foot volcano named Kanla-on with a dense forest surrounding it. The lowlands are well adapted to sugar-cane, the main crop of this province.
Julian N. Jumalon, Dept. of Biology, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines.
THE FEEDING HABITS OF OENEIS JUTTA REDUCTA
A recent paper by Masters and Sorensen (1969, /. Lep. Soc. 23: 155-161) discussed the habits of several species of Oeneis. They mentioned, quoting from Eff in Brown (1957, Colorado Butterflies), that Oeneis jutta reducta McDunnough ". . . in spite of the multitude of flowers nearby never visited any." The conclusion was that this species is not a flower feeder. I have collected this insect at six locations in four counties in Wyoming. In two of these areas, it was found to be an avid flower feeder. The habitats vary from exceedingly dry lodgepole pine forests, far removed from moist areas, to the borders of willow bogs such as described by Masters and Sorensen,
The first specimens taken on flowers were collected along the Doubletop Mountain Trail, Bridger Wilderness Area, Sublette Co., Wyoming on 22 July, 1969. I took four specimens and saw others on flowers in a boggy meadow at the forest's edge. On the same date, other members of the collecting party (D. R. Groothuis, J. D. Eff, and P. J. Conway) collected additional flower-feeding specimens. The insects exhibited a preference for yellow flowers although some were seen feeding upon white ones. The
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butterflies, while feeding, remained quite motionless with wings tightly closed. They seemed quite unwary and were easily approached, which is not the usual case with this species in heavily wooded areas.
Additional specimens of O. jutta reducta were taken on yellow flowers along a dirt road in Albany Co., Wyoming on 1 August, 1969. They were found at the edge of a very dry lodgepole pine stand.
Other specimens collected during 1969 in Sublette, Fremont, and Sheridan Cos., Wyoming were found in rather heavily wooded areas flying about rocks and deadfall as described in Brown's book.
From these observations, it must be concluded that O. jutta reducta does feed upon flowers in some instances. Both sexes were involved. Flower feeding was observed during the hours from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (MDT).
Clifford D. Ferris, College of Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
BOOK REVIEW
Annotationes rhopalocerologicae 1970—Charles F. Cowan, Clunbury Press, Berk-hamsted, Herts, England, 70 pp., 15 April 1970. $3.00 US.
"This is the second and final instalment of an addenda and corrigenda to the late Francis Hemming's 'Generic Names of the Butterflies and their Type-Species' . . ." is the opening sentence of this most interesting booklet. Col. Cowan's two contributions to the stability of nomenclature must be studied by every nomenclator and every active taxonomist. Here is a synopsis of the current part:
A. An addenda of generic names published before 1965 and omitted from Hemming's work. Thirty-two names, including eleven for American Lycaenidae by Clench and Poladryas Bauer, are discussed. Seventy names omitted from the index of Hemming's book are listed.
B. Comments on dates of publication of works by 17 authors, including several written by S. H. Scudder.
C. Comments on the changes made in 1964 relative to Articles 11 and 31 of the International Code. These affect forty names including several genera appearing in the Americas.
D. Comments on several cases pending before the I.C.Z.N, involving butterfly genera.
E. An analysis of emended names for genera and comment upon the justification or lack of justification for each case. Several of the forty-seven names touched upon apply to American butterflies.
F. This particular section is an index to all names commented upon by Cowan. The alphabetic list of emendations to be made to Hemming's "Generic Names . . ." is extremely useful.
G. Here are listed alphabetically: incorrect subsequent spellings and unjustified emendations, unadopted synonyms, and ghost names.
Copies of this valuable little booklet may be purchased from the author at Little Gaddesden House, Berkhamsted, Herts, England.
F. Martin Brown, Fountain Valley Rural Station, Colorado Springs, Colorado.