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68
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 40(1), 1986, 68
ABERRANT POSTMEDIAL SPOTS IN ICARICIA ICARIOIDES LYCEA AND /. ACMON (LYCAENIDAE)
Several nearctic lycaenids tend to abnormal expression of ventral postmedial spots. This generically takes the form of some or all spots being elongated. Illustrations recently published include a multiple occurrence in Satyrium calanus falacer (Godart) (Wright 1981, J. Lepid. Soc. 35:158-159). Single occurrences have been shown for Satyrium acadica acadica (W. H. Edwards) (Leeuw 1979, J. Lepid. Soc. 33:204-205), Glaucopsyche lygdamus couperi Grote (Neil, 1983, J. Lepid. Soc. 37:258), Euphilotes rita rita (Barnes & McDunnough), Icaricia acmon texana Goodpasture (Holland 1980, J. Res. Lepid. 19: 88-95) and Icaricia acmon lutzi (dos Passos) (Cannon, J. Lepid. Soc. 39:329-330). The similarity of the two aberrant acmon specimens is striking, especially since the acmon lutzi is from Idaho and the acmon texana is from New Mexico.
To this list of aberrant lycaenids, I now add Icaricia icarioides lycea (W. H. Edwards). Figure 1 shows an aberrant, an intermediate and a typical specimen. About 5% of 100 specimens were found to have noticeably enlarged postmedial spots. The two atypical examples illustrated here represent the most extreme.
I call attention to a well illustrated and useful article on the mechanics of color pattern formation and malformation in butterflies and moths (Nijhaut 1981, Sci. Am. 245(5): 140-151). This work seems not to have received the recognition it should among lepidopterists.
Richard Holland, 1625 Roma NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106.
Fig. 1. Icaricia icarioides lycea ventral surface. Left, aberrant male, Corral Tank, Canyon de Los Corrales, NE slope, Jemez Mts., Rio Arriba Co., NM, 27.V.84, 2,438 m; Middle, intermediate male, 1.6 km N of Poncha Pass, Chaffee Co., Colo., 5.VII.63, 2,743 m; Right, normal male, 20.9 km W of Espafiola on road to Santa Clara Peak, E slope, Jemez Mts., Rio Arriba Co., NM, 18.VI.83, 2,499 m; all leg. R. Holland.