The Lepidopterists' News
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The Lepidopterists' News THE MONTHLY PERIOD IC A L OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY c/o Osborn Zoological Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven 11, Connecticut, U.S.A. Editor· C. L. REMINGTON • Assoc. Editor· J. E. REMINGTON Volume III January 1949 Number 1 THE LEPlOOPl'ERISTS' SOCIETY: 1948 With the present issue the ~. ~ begins its much improved by the addition of several cooperating third volume and the Lepidopterists' Society enters abstractors; eventually we hope that every country a new year. In order to refresh charter members will have one or more members abstracting its liter and inform new members on the aspirations and on ature and that world coverage will be virtually com the progress of the first two years a brief account plete. The series of reviews of important books on of Society activities is presented. Lepidoptera is continuing. At our request. papers have been written by members to give accounts of Le The Society was formed and is continuing for pidoptera collecting in various parts of the world, the purpose of advancing the knowledge of Lepidop in 1948 the Arctic, Hungary, Jamaica, and the Rocky tera by associating lepidopterists of all parts of Mts.; Dr. Wilcke's article in the current issue con the world and keeping them aware of each other's ac tinues the series. The first article has appeared tivities by means of a small, informal periodical. in what is planned to be a long series of summaries Some members are trained professional zoologists; of the important Lepidoptera collections around the many are well-informed amateurs interested in seri world. Several articles on nomenclature were given ous research; most are amateurs with varying de and are followed by Munroe's discussion in the pre grees of background who enjoy a lively interest in sent issue. There were numerous field notes and Lepidoptera but do not care to publish papers on technique suggestions. and we continue to solicit special research. The problem of cutting across significant notes of this sort. The series of re such a diversity of interests is difficult and has ports on war losses of lepidopterology is nearly com not yet been solved to our satisfaction. plete. The "Notices by Members" page was very active. While the total membership has been nearly dou The 1948 Field Season Summary for North America bled during the past year, the most significant de will be issued soon as a supplement to Volume II. velopment has been the extension of membership out side of North America. The total number of these The annual List of Members provided a directory members has risen from 12 to 88 and the total num of names. addresses, and special interests of all ber of nations from 9 to 30. Much of this interna members. The 1949 list will appear in the fall. tional development has been subsidized by gifte of Society memberships from American members to lepid The Society's Board of Specialists is a perman opterists in "soft currency" countries, and there ent establishment. Its present composition will be is every reason to believe that these members will found on page 2 of this issue. wish to continue their membership when the dollar balance has been restored. As in the past. no new taxonomic material (new species, new descriptions, etc.) will be accepted. Thus tar the time has not seemed propitious for It is felt that these should go to the multitude of forming the sOciety into an organization having research periodicals. Usually only solicited arti elected officers and meetings. but this development cles are desired for the ~. ~; it is intended is kept constantly in view. Constructive ideas for that these be chiefly of a review nature. the best steps in this direction are invited. Volume 3 will be issued monthly. but will again Much of the IIlB.teri&l in the ~. ~ has been be discontinued during July, August, and September. planned specifically for News readers. and there are several series of related~icles. Prof. Forbes' An important incipient Society project,"The But "Questions and Answers" column has become an estab terflies North of Mexico", was outlined by F.M.Brown, lished feature of the News. The series of brief bi its Coordinating Editor. It is planned as an ex ographies has continued with its original purpose haustive treatment in several volumes of the system of acquainting lepidopterists with the history of atics and biology of North American Rhopalocera. their science; biographies of great European workers are planned for this year. A series of discussions on an elementary level of procedures and techniques Subscri bers to the 1!!E. News (including all mem of taxonomy has been presented and will be contin bers) are guaranteed the delivery of every issue. ued in response to many requests for such introduc Please check your file of the News to be sure you re tory discussions. The section giving abstracts and ceived the nine issues of Vol.~ We will forward. comments on current papers relating to Lepidoptera at no cost, all numbers not receiveQ if you request from the world literature has been continued and them before 1 May 1949. ~ 1 2 II)ST PLANT IDENTIFICATION OOARD OF SPECIALISTS Vol. III , no.l An aspect of Lepidoptera biology of priJne iJnpor The purpose of the Board is to strive toward a tance for knowledge of taxonollG", phylogeny, ecology high standard of accuracy in published check-lists, and genetics, as well as for economic studies, is life histories, etc. by providing authoritative iden the exact identification of host plants on which tifications of specimens forming the basis of these the larvae feed. Accurate identifications are the published papers. The following rules concerning only useful ones. Consequently arrangements have the service were formulated by the Board: been made to provide host plant identifications for all North American workers. Probably members in 1. No specimens may be sent until the specialist has other parts of the world will find botanists of replied in writing that he is ready to receive them. their nations equally cooperative. North American 2. No specimens will be accepted unless full data plants will be identified as follows: (not key numbers) are on each specimen. 3. A series of each species must be spread, mounted GRASSES •••••••••••••••••••••••••• John R. Reeder on pins; the others may be in papers. Osborn Botanical Lab. 4. Wherever possible, at least 3 prs. should be sent Yale UniverSity tor determination. New Haven 11, Conn. 5. The specialist may, if he chooses, retain one-halt of the first 8 specimens of each species, but not OTHER PLANTS •••••••••••••••••• Ivan M. Johnston uniques unless by agreement. Arnold Arboretum 6. Return postage should be provided. Jamaica Plain 30, Mass. 7. SpeciJnens must be carefully packed. Dr. Reeder is a leading authority on grasses. Professor Johnston is not only an outstanding plant NORTH AMERICA: taxonomist, but also an enthusiastic lepidopterist. Please write them before ·sending material and please Pieridae & Boloria ("Brenthis") •••••• A.B. Klots mention your Lepidopterists' Society meabership. Dept. of Biology, College ot City ot N.Y. In order to insure ready identification it is New York 10, N.Y. essential in collecting the plants to take the fol Satyridae ••••••••••••••••••••••• C.F. doe Pas80s lowing steps: Washington Corners, Mendham, N.J. 1.) Preserve the specimen carefully. Flatten and dry it simultaneously either in a standard bot Spezeria ("Argynnia") ••••••••••••••••• L.P. Grey anical press or between sheets of newspaper placed Lincoln, Maine in a large book weighted by any heavy weight. Press it for at least one Week. The plant may be mailed Theclinae (Hairstreaks & allies) •••• H.K. Clench in folded newspaper, with the package braced against 1270 Sudbury, bendin, by strong cardboard backing on both sides. Willow Run Village, Mich. 2.) Preserve as many parts as possible. Leaves attached to a stalk or twig and the flower are es Plebejinae (Blues) ••••••••••••••••••• V. Nabokov sential for most plant species. The fruit is always Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. helpful, and in grasses the seeding stalk is neces sary. If it is small enough, press the whole plant. Hesperiidae (Skippers) ••••••••••••• A.W. Lindsey 3.) Include complete data: lOCality, date of Denison University, Granville, Ohio collection, habitat, and altitude if in mountains. 4' -dP 4' -dP Phalaenidae & Notodontidae ••••• J .G. Franclemont 5829 Little Falls Rd., Arlington, Va. IDENTIFICATION OF PARASITES Catocalinae & Aegeriidae •••••••••••• A.E. Brower We will be glad to publish in the !e£. !!2 re 5 Hospital St., cords of all accurately identified parasites whose Augusta, Maine host is known. Be sure to saTe carefully all para CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: sites you rear. The following authorities have kindly agreed to identify parasites. We do not yet Hesperiidae ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• E.L. Bell have a determiner for the minute Chalcid wasps, but 150-17 Roosevelt ATe., these should be saved. (See!e£. N)WS, vol.2: p.53 Flushing L.I., N.Y. for descriptions and illustrations. WEST INDIES: ICHNEUMON WASPS (Ichneumonidae) ••••• H.K. Townes Heeperiidae •••••••••••••••••••••••••• E.L. Bell North Carolina State College Raleigh, N.C. All other Rhopalocera •••••••••••• Eugene Munroe Institute ot Parasitology BRACONID WASPS (Braconidae) •••• C.F.W. Muesebeck Macdonald Oollege,P.Q.,Canada Div. of Insect Identification &reau of Entomology & Pl. ~ar. Washington 25, D.~ ~caenidae •••••••••••••••••••••••• H. Stemptfer Lab. dtEntomologie du Museum PARASITIC FLIES (Larvaevoridae ) ••• C.W. Sabrosky 45 bis, rue de Butfon, <)::" as Mr. Muesebeck) Paris (5e ), FRANCE Jan. 1949 THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' NEWS 3 SOME REMARKS ON THE GENUS CONCEPI' IN RHOPALOCERA by Eugene G. Munroe Institute of Parasitology Macdonald College, Quebec, Canada In the past few years there has been a strong ed by a fairly good chain of intermediates: E!Ehi!, tendency toward the subdivision by revisers of Bome laodice, ~, niobe, and aglaia, to name a few.