Notes on the Life History of February Highflyer Hydriomena Nubilofasciata Pack
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L:'> TOMOLOGIC,\L Soc. OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. (1950), VOL. 47, J UL Y 15 . 195 1 25 NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF FEBRUARY HIGHFLYER HYDRIOMENA NUBILOFASCIATA PACK. F. VULNERATA SWETT (Lepidoptera: Geometridae> GEORGE A. HARDY Provinci.,! Museum. Victoria. B. C. The species of the genus Hydriomena smooth, shining. Colour white, turning are very variable yet difficult to separate to a light cinnamon towards hatching and since any facts concerning the life time. histories may be useful in determining The eggs were laid indiscriminately their true status, the following notes on on the sides of the jar or over oak twigs H ydriomena nubilofasciata Pack. f. uul inserted for the purpose. One female nerala Swett. are presented. taken under natural conditions had The February highflyer is quite com packed her eggs into the dried and empty mon and in some years very abundant capsule of a garden linaria, far removed about trees of the Garry oak, Quercus from any oak twigs. The number of garryana Doug., in the vicinity of Vic eggs obtained from each of several fe toria, B. C. During the flight period, males was IOta 18. These were laid February and March, the moth is read between March 5 and 26. il y attracted to artificial light. By day Larva. April 17: emerged from egg. it rests on tree trunks, the underside of 1 st instar, length I mm. Head black, branches, copings, or any place that will body dull green, smooth. The larva provide seclusion away from direct sun does not eat the egg shell, but immedi light. It is very alert and is not easy to ately seeks a bud that is just breaking approach when at rest, for it takes flight and burrows into the centre where it re quickly and usually before it can be seen mains concealed in a little cell hollowed b y a would-be captor. out by eating into the substance of the As the intention was to in vestigate bud. the details of its life-history, females April 26: Length 4 mm. Head black, were particular! y sought in order to ob body drab fuscous brown, smooth, shin tain a supply of eggs. It was found ing. The only external evidence of life that those individuals that came to light, in the bud is the accumulation of frass especiall y during the ear! y part of the between the incipient leaves. Judging season , were males; females w ere taken by the size of the larvae this may be the more commonly towards the end of the 2nd or 3rd instar. Some larvae were flight period, although by that time just undergoing a moult. most of them had already deposited their April 29: Moult completed. Length eggs. After a few futile attempts to now 6 mm. Colour and appearan(:e as o btain gravid females it was discovered before. Some of the larvae show signs that the best method was to search the of leaving the bud which is rapidly bushes and adjacen t herbage or low opening into leaf. hanging branches of the oaks, with a torch or lantern, when it was possible May 1: Evidently another and unob to find an occasional specimen either in served moult has been ellected. Length copulation or quieti y resting. now 8 mm. Head brown with black The following observations were flecks, body dull black w ith three in made during the spring of 1949. Partly definite longitudinal dorsal lines of d ue to the elusive habits of the larvae small beige-coloured spots. Ninth ab the exact sequence of the moults was not dominal segment pale beige. The larvae precisely ascertained, h ence a more or are still feeding concealed betwee n base less chronological account has been of leaves of the young shoot. adopted. May 2: Length 12 mm. Head brown Ovum. Laid on March 26. 1949. with black flecks, body black with four Length 1 mm. , width .05 mm. Elon milky-white interrupted lines on dor gate oval, slightly flattened at one end, sum and similar lateral lines, ventral surface minutely pitted or recticulated, surface lighter in colour. 26 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOc. OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. (1950), VOL. 47, JULY 15, 195 1 May 4: As the leaves grow the larvae Imago. Emerged January 19,26 and resort to folding over the leaf tip or hid February 8, 1950. Two males and ont' ing between two leaves where they lie female. The first recorded emergenn concealed, usually curled up, They feed under natural conditions was February on the parenchyma, leaving the upper 18. surface of the leaves intact. When dis Remarks. There are several interest turbed they snap the fore part of body ing features in the life-history of this back and forth. spec ies. First, the larva is completely a May 6: Evidently the 4th or 5th in bud feeder in the early stages, complet star. Length 15 mm. Head light brown ing its growth concealed in folded as before, body creamy green with inter leaves. Second, the change of colour rupted dorsal and lateral lines dusky. from black to green may be significant Spiracles black. The larvae continue to as the colour matches the green leaves feed under cover of folded leaves. If on which growth is completed, thus violently disturbed they escape from the rendering the larvae less conspicuous. leaves and suspend themselves by a Third. from the unusual length of the silken threa d. pupal period. it might be expected that May 8: Length 20 mm. Colour and a second brood would intervene between markings as before but more decided in the spring of one year and that of the tone. next. but the newly opened bud seems to be an essential requiremen t for the May 11: Length 24 mm. This may young larvae. be the 5th or 6th instar. Colour as Summary. The February highfiyer. before but richer and markings more H ydriomena m,bilofasciata f. uulnerata pronounced. The larvae consistently feeds in the larval stage on Garry oak seek cover between folded portions of Quercus garryana. The adult is on the the leaves. wing in the months of February and Pupa. Pupation May 21 in fold of March. The eggs are assumed to be laid leaf or in a light silken cocoon spun in on or near the buds, in which the larvae the sand at bottom of cage. Particles of feed. The larvae change colour from sand adhered to the cocoon rendering it black to green as the leaves develop. almost invisible. Length II mm., The pupal stage which is passed in the width '3 mm. Colour light brown ground lasts for about nine months or turning to dark brown in 24 hours, until the opening buds are ready for the smooth. shining. Cremaster with two newly hatched larvae. The life cycle as long hooked setae and several very short here observed is divided between the ones at base. The pupae were kept stages as follows. ova-22 days. larvae throughout the summer at average room - 34 days. pupae-243 days. imagines temperature. - over a period of 60 days. A FURTHER NOTE ON BREEDING LAM BDINA FISCELLARIA SOMNIARIA HIST. SUPlJlcmelltal'Y to my pre\'ioll~ C'x periment with the rudimeniar,v ('()('OOIlS in <l dormant "tatC'. Tl: :'y wcr(' larvae of Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria Hist., reported tr;IlH.. f l'rred to a ten inc h ftO\\'er-pot. ill \v lli c'l; .";t)lH ( ' soi l in the Pro(;('eding:" of the EntoHl olo h.-j(,;ll Soc iety of lIad been plac('d alld 011 wh ich <l gellf'ro u ~ iaycr of m o:-:s British Columbia, Yolume 45, page G, tlli~ note is now \Ya s s pread. The pupae, after )"('nlo\'al from tl leir submitted. coroons. t. ogether \yith the three "r e~tin g" ]nryae wilic'lI On June 2, ] !).tH. while "heating" Garry o<1k . Quercus wer~ left in their flim sy COC'OOIlS, were placed Oil the garryana ])oughLs. in the Uplands Dis trict of Victoria , moss, 11. C. , 21 y('ry small lanae of this s pel'ies were ohtaill('fl, Sixteen itn:.l!;i IH'S were obtaillC'd het ween .\IJ..g" u::- t. :~ On .Tune 2(i . when about. half un inch in length. the and October 3, 194 9. The imagines we re- .)f '!lolTna] laryae v.ere ~ l ecye d Oil western Il r mlork, Tsuga hete size a nd in colouring were n~ l ')' ~imil a r to typi('a! rophylla. The small larnte readily accepted this food somniaria, though possibly a trine greyer than i ...; geneI" allfl t.hri ved alld hy .\ U ~'"1.lst 22. l H of them had pupated ally the ease when the larvae ha\'e fed exclus i ..'eh· 0 11 ill til(' fol{ls of the sict" 'e, Three lanac were ill th r ir Garry oak.-.J. R ..J. Lle ,,-'ellYll . J oll e~. Couhlc Hi ll , k C. .