Volume 52, Number 3 Autumn 2010

Inside: Strymon serapio, new for the U.S. Conservation Matters: More on Butterfly Releases: Another View Theodore L. Mead’s Journal of 1871 Diurnal Gregarious Roosting of Smyrna blomfildia Flying High: An Adventure in the Alpine Tundra of Colorado Call for Season Summary Records Membership Update, Metamorphosis, Marketplace… …and more! Contents

Strymon serapio new for the U.S. (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) Volume 52, Number 3 Michael A. Rickard and Nick V. Grishin...... 79 Autumn 2010 The Discovery of Theodore L. Mead’s Journal of 1871 The Lepidopterists’ Society is a non-profit John V. Calhoun...... 85 educational and scientific organization. The Conservation Matters: More on Butterfly Releases object of the Society, which was formed in David Wagner, Felix Sperling and Bruce Walsh...... 87 May 1947 and formally constituted in De- Call for Season Summary Records cember 1950, is “to promote internationally Leroy C. Koehn...... 89 the science of lepidopterology in all its The Mailbag...... 89 branches; to further the scientifically sound Flying High: An Adventure in the Alpine Tundra of Colorado and progressive study of , to is- Gary Noel Ross...... 90 sue periodicals and other publications on Membership Update and Metamorphosis Lepidoptera; to facilitate the exchange of Julian Donahue ...... 93 specimens and ideas by both the professional The Marketplace...... 94 worker and the amateur in the field; to com- pile and distribute information to other or- Observations of Diurnal Gregarious Roosting in the Butterfly ganizations and individuals for purposes of Smyrna blomfildia Fabricius () in Western Mexico education and conservation and appreciation Gerald A. Einem and William Adkins ...... 96 of Lepidoptera; and to secure cooperation in Membership Information, Dues Rates, Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, all measures” directed towards these aims. Change of Address, Our Mailing List, Missed or Defective Issue, Book (Article II, Constitution of The Lepidopter- Reviews, Submission Guidelines for the News...... 102 ists’ Society.) Executive Council/Season Summary Zone Coordinators...... 103 The News of the Lepidopterists’ Society (ISSN 0091-1348) is published quarterly by Issue Date: October 31, 2010 ISSN 0091-1348 The Lepidopterists’ Society, c/o Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 900 Ex- position Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057, USA., and includes one or two supplements each year. The Season Summary is pub- lished every year as Supplement S1 and is mailed with issue 1 of the News. In even num- bered years a complete Membership Direc- tory is published as Supplement S2 and is mailed with issue 4 of that volume of the News. Please see the inside back cover for in- structions regarding subscriptions, submis- sions to, and deadline dates for, the News. Periodicals Postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office (Lawrence, KS). POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to News of the Lepidopterists’ Society, c/o Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057. Copyright © 2010 by The Lepidopteris ts’ Society. All rights reserved. The statements of contributors do not necessarily represent Front Cover: the views of the Society or the editor and the Society does not warrant or endorse prod- Strymon serapio, male, Texas: Hidalgo Co. Estero Llano Grande State Park, 19- ucts or services of advertisers. December-2008, first US record. Photo by Michael A. Rickard. Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Strymon serapio new for the U.S. (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) Michael A. Rickard1 and Nick V. Grishin2 411 Virgo Street, Mission, TX 78572 [email protected] Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9050 [email protected]

Larval feeding on the pineapple plant Blue Boneset (Eupatorium azureum of S. serapio and S. megarus (Plate 1, family (Bromeliaceae) is not very DC.). It was immediately clear that this Figs 1-12). In addition to various levels common among butterflies. However, was a probable new species for the US. of violet-blue overscaling on the dorsal there is one group that uses these plants After the group of 10-12 people had wing surface of males and Bromeliaceae exclusively (Robbins 2010). Species of photographed the butterfly extensively as caterpillar hosts, these hairstreaks the serapio group Robbins & Nicolay, for some 20 minutes, Rickard gently are unified by two cornuti in the penis 2002 from Strymon Hübner, 1818 prodded it with a stem and it flew to a tip, paired in S. serapio group species (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) have been leaf and proceeded to bask, allowing a (Plate 2, Fig. 1d) and unpaired in S. recorded only from Bromeliads (Robbins number of additional photographs of ziba (Plate 2, Fig. 3d) (Robbins & & Nicolay 2002). In addition, Strymon the upperside. Eventually, Nicolay, 2002). ziba (Hewitson, 1868), while being approximately half an hour after first The S. ziba group is very unusual, as polyphagous, utilizes Bromeliaceae as sighting, the flew up into trees it is the only Strymon that lacks major hosts (Harris 1927, Robbins & lining the walkway. Permit restrictions prominently developed anteriorly Aiello 1982). Both S. serapio and S. prohibit collecting in the butterfly directed teeth on the posterior dorsal ziba group species (Robbins & Nicolay gardens (especially during a butterfly surface of male genitalic valvae (Plate 2002) are at times serious commercial walk), and senior staff was unavailable 2, Figs. 1-3), a character used to define pineapple pests (Harris 1927, Carter to grant an override. Thus the Strymon by Robbins & Nicolay (2002). 1934, Silva et al. 1967-1968, butterfly could not be collected, and Also, S. ziba females lack the sclerotized Beutelspacher 1972, Otero & Marigo subsequent visits by various observers loop (Plate 2, Fig. 4) on the ductus 1990). Sixteen species are recognized have failed to turn up additional bursae, but the posterior end of the by Robbins (2004) among Bromeliad- individuals. Initial identification was corpus bursae is expanded and feeding Strymon (serapio and ziba made by comparison with live S. serapio prominently sclerotized, forming a very species groups). This latest taxonomic photographs on the Internet. To date characteristic structure termed “hood” arrangement covers 58 names, 42 of no probable hostplant has been found by Johnson et al. (1990) (Plate 2, Fig. which are included as subspecies and in the immediate area where the 5). Nevertheless, wing pattern of S. synonyms. Bromeliad-feeding Strymon individual was seen, but areas that ziba is very similar to S. megarus (Plate are mostly South-American with just could contain 1-3 species of Spanish 1, compare Fig 7 with 9-12) and some three species on the Robbins list (2004) Mosses (Tillandsia L.) have yet to be specimens are very difficult to separate being recorded from northern Mexico, fully searched, along with nearby by superficial characters (Robbins e.g. all three are known from habitat containing exotic plants. 2010). The field-marks that we find Tamaulipas, south of Ciudad Victoria of the Bromeliad-feeding helpful (but possibly not absolute) are: (Plate 1). Strymon is not yet settled and is 1) S. ziba lacks dark or orange scales Here, we document the first occurrence expected to be quite complex. According on the underside at the distal end of the of Strymon serapio (Godman & Salvin, to Robbins (2004), 3 species recognized hindwing discal cell (Glassberg 2007). 1887) from the United States. A single from Northern Mexico are: Strymon The end of the cell is marked by white male individual was photographed by serapio, S. megarus (Godart, [1824]) scales that form a bar along the vein the senior author on December 19, 2008 and S. ziba. A S. megarus relative has (Plate 1, Fig 7v). S. megarus has gray, in the butterfly garden at Estero Llano been recorded from the Big Bend dark or orange scaling in the end-of-cell Grande State Park (USA: TEXAS: National Park area (USA: TEXAS: bar (Plate 1, Figs 9v-12v). This is the Hidalgo Co.). The senior author, a Brewster and Presidio Counties), listed most reliable mark, although more Texas Parks and Wildlife volunteer under “S. serapio” in Pelham (2008), research is necessary to find possible naturalist, was assisting with the species #493. Here, we illustrate male exceptions. regular Friday butterfly walk when he specimens of these species from North observed the individual nectaring on American countries, and primary types 2) Blue overscaling on the dorsal wing

Volume 52, Number 3 79 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3

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Volume 52, Number 3 81 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 surface is very limited in S. ziba, and red macules (Plate 1, Figs 7v 9v-12v). from three localities in two countries: is usually confined on the forewing to The presumed S. megarus type (Brazil), Mexico (Veracruz): Jalapa and Panama: the Cu2-2A cell [venation notations per currently in the Muséum national David and Chiriqui. A Panamian male Comstock (1918)], just by the Cu2 vein d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France from David was figured on Plate 58, near its origin at the discal cell and by (Plate 1, Fig. 9), exhibits a band of 6 Figs. 8, 9 (Godman & Salvin, 1887), and the 2A vein in the median section; and postbasal macules. Specimens from is curated in The Natural History on the hindwing in the posterior part Mexico to Panama (Plate 1, Figs. 10-12) Museum, London, UK as “Type”. This of the discal cell (Plate 1, Fig. 7d). Some vary in the expression level of orange specimen is illustrated here on Plate 1, exceptions from this trend are known, macules on the hindiwng, from rather Fig. 2. The Latin original description but S. ziba almost never has any small and narrow (Plate 1, Fig. 10) to of Thecla serapio, species number 200, significant number of blue scales in the almost as large as in the type (Plate 1, appearing on page 93 of volume 2 forewing cell 2A. Males of S. megarus Fig. 12), with the majority of specimens (Godman & Salvin, 1887) can be exhibit more prominent violet-blue showing intermediate tendencies (Plate translated as follows: overscaling in forewing Cu2-2A and 2A 1, Fig. 11). The US individual (Plate “Similar to T[hecla]. bebrycia, however cells and posterior portion of the 1, Figs. 1, 8) clearly lacks the postbasal dorsal fore[wing] has two blue lines hindwing. Blue scales in 2A forewing macules and in this feature agrees with parallel to the internal margin; discal cell are quite prominent in S. megarus S. serapio (Plate 1, Figs. 2-6). area on hind[wings] with blue males (Plate 1, Figs. 9-12). Additionally, the postmedian orange overscaling: below, discal line black, 3) Ventral hindwing in S. ziba is with band on ventral hindwing in S. somewhat separated [into spots], 2 or 3 prominent postbasal orange megarus and S. ziba is clearly separated submarginal line of dark spots bordered macules, as in S. megarus, but S. ziba into macules that are narrower near with white on both sides.” hindwing is narrower and more the veins. In particular, orange areas It is apparent (Plate 1, Figs. 2-6) that triangular. As a result, orange in Rs-M1, M1-M2 and M2-M3 cells form while Mexican (n=16) and Panamian postmedian band macules in cells M1- clearly separated macules. In S. (n=7) specimens share a number of M2 and M2-M3 are more aligned with serapio, the postmedian orange band is characters, such as 1) the absence of Rs-M1 macule in S. ziba, and more more continuous, and macules in Rs- postbasal orange macules and 2) bulged out distally in S. megarus. M1, M1-M2 and M2-M3 are aligned with narrow postmedian orange band poorly Again, this mark does not hold in all each other and are not obviously separated into spots on the ventral specimens. separated by veins, forming almost hindwing, 3) violet-blue streaks in 4) Ventral hindwing orange macule in continuous band (Plate 1, Figs 2v-6v). dorsal forewing Cu2-2A cell along Cu2 the anterior part of Cu2-2A cell is The same continuous band is apparent and 2A veins and 4) violet-blue directed proximally towards Cu2 vein in the US individual (Plate 1, Figs 1v, overscaling in the posterior half of in S. ziba, and this macule is almost 8). dorsal hindwing, they also show some parallel to the wing margin or directed Thus out of the three species known differences. The most prominent distally towards Cu2 vein in S. from northern Mexico among those difference is in stronger developed areas megarus. In some S. megarus the listed by Robbins (2004), the US of white scales distally from the macule may be somewhat proximally specimen may match only S. serapio. postmedian orange band on the ventral directed, almost as in S. ziba, and some Analysis of remaining 13 species from hindwing of Mexican specimens (Plate S. ziba, especially from South America the S. serapio group (data not shown) 1, Figs 3v, 4v). These white areas are may have this macule reduced or distally revealed that none agrees with the US reduced in examined specimens from directed. phenotype. Costa Rica (n=2, Plate 1, Fig. 5) and Although the sole Strymon serapio US Strymon serapio was described by Panama (Plate 1, Fig. 6) and are present individual was not captured to examine Godman & Salvin in 1887 under the as a narrow framing of the postmedian genitalia, from the ventral wing pattern name “Thecla serapio” in the book macules. Most Panamian specimens it is certain that it is not S. ziba or S. “Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. have postmedian macules more megarus, as the latter two species Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera”. The separated, narrower at the veins, and possess prominent postbasal orange- description was based on specimens the first macule (in Sc+R1-Rs cell) in

Plate 1, pp 80, 81. Males of described Bromeliad-feeding Strymon species recorded from Northern Mexico and Texas. Dorsal (d) and ventral (v) wing surfaces are shown for each specimen. Primary types are displayed in full expanse, with all the labels shown. Only a half for other specimens is illustrated. Species names and general location are indicated on the plate and detailed here. All pinned specimens are to scale; a scale is placed at the bottom left. Live individuals are scaled approximately to match corresponding species. 1. and 8. S. serapio, male, Texas: Hidalgo Co. Estero Llano Grande State Park, 19-December-2008, first US record, photographed in natural conditions, photographs by Michael A. Rickard. 2. S. serapio, syntype. Panama: Chiriquí, David, leg. Champion, Godman & Salvin collection 1912-1923. In BMNH collection, copyright Natural History Museum. 3. S. serapio, Mexico: Veracruz, Orizaba. Possibly Wm. Schaus collection. In USNM collection. 4. S. serapio, Mexico: Tamaulipas, Villa Gomez Farias, elevation 500m, 28-December-1972, leg. W.W. McGuire. In USNM collection. 5. S. serapio,

82 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Competitor and mate signaling in satyrines

Costa Rica: Cartago, Juan Vinas, November, Possibly Wm. Schaus collection. In USNM collection. 6. S. serapio, Panama: Chiriquí, Bugaba, July, Wm. Schaus collection. In USNM collection. 7. S. ziba, Mexico: Tamaulipas, Villa Gomez Farias, 14-July-1973, leg. W.W. McGuire. In USNM collection. 9. S. megarus, possible holotype. Possibly Brazil. Label “P. megarus, God” matches Godart’s handwriting. In MNHN collection, photograph by Rene Lahousse. 10. S. megarus, Mexico: Jalisco, Chamela, 29-March-1939. Fred. H. Rindge collection. In USNM collection. 11. S. megarus, Mexico: Tamaulipas, Road to Ocampo (Hwy A70) ca 16km W of Hwy 85, 5-January-1974, leg. Roy O. Kendall & C.A. Kendall. In TAMU collection. 12. S. megarus, Panama: Canal Zone, Paraíso, 5-August-1977, leg. G.B. Small. In USNM collection. Abbreviations: BMNH – The Natural History Museum (London, England, UK); MNHN – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France); TAMU – Texas A&M University Collection (College Station, Texas, USA); USNM – The National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC, USA).

Plate 2, p 83. Genitalia of described Bromeliad-feeding Strymon species recorded from Northern Mexico. 1-3 males, 4-5 females; a and b denote left lateral and ventral views, c is a magnified lateral view of left valva tip, d is a magnified ventral view of the penis tip; in females, corpus bursae is not shown in a; all specimens are from Mexico: Tamaulipas, leg. Roy O. Kendall & C.A. Kendall (unless indiated otherwise) and are in Roy O. Kendall & C.A. Kendall collection (TAMU). 1. S. megarus, Road to Ocampo (Hwy A70) ca 16km W of Hwy 85, 5-January-1974, NVG #518. The specimen is shown on Plate 1, Fig. 11. 2. S. serapio, Tamaulipas?, ex larva 1977, Sue Gardner, larval food plant Tillandsia utriculata, NVG #517. 3. S. ziba, Taylor Ranch ca. 32 km NNW of Ciudad Mante, 5-January-1974, NVG #521. 4. S. megarus, Paso del Abra near El Abra, 18- December-1973, NVG #522. 5. S. ziba, Rancho Pico de Oro vic. of Los Kikos, 9-January-1974, NVG #521.

Volume 52, Number 3 83 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 distally offset. Mexican specimens utriculata L. by Sue Gardner in 1977, Harris, W. V. (1927) On a lycaenid butterfly exhibit more continuous postmedian and there is a S. serapio specimen of a attacking pineapples in Trinidad, B.W.I. Bull. Entomol. Res. 18:183-188. band with most macules not typical phenotype and genitalia in Johnson, K., Eisele, R. C. and MacPherson, B. significantly narrower at the veins, and TAMU collection to signify this N. (1990) The “hairstreak butterflies” Sc+R1-Rs macule is mostly aligned with observation. Spanish mosses (Lycaenidae, Theclinae) of northwestern the Rs-M1 macule. Genitalia of these (Tillandsia sp.) are known from the Argentina. II. Strymon, sensu stricto. Bulletin of the Allyn Museum, 130: 1-77. allopatric phenotypes are similar, and lower Rio Grande Valley and grow on Nicolay, S. S. and Robbins, R. K. (1999 (2005)). in males are characterized by the short trees in wetter lowland areas similar to Five new dry-area South American Strymon almost symmetric saccus with rounded those around the Estero Llano Grande species (Lycaenidae:Theclinae) and their tip, robust tegumen and wider, shorter State Park in Hidalgo and Cameron biogeographic significance. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera, 38: p. 35-49. penis compared to S. megarus. It is Counties (Poole et al. 2007, Richardson Otero, L. S. and Marigo, L. C. (1990) Butterflies: unclear whether the abovementioned 1995). It is likely that Spanish moss is beauty and behavior of Brazilian species. differences in wing pattern signify the host plant, and additional records Marigo Comunicacao Visual, Rio de Janeiro. taxonomic differences, but they likely for the S. serapio should be expected 128 pp. Pelham, J. P. (2008) Catalogue of the Butterflies represent geographic, rather than from these two counties. of the United States and Canada. Journal of seasonal or individual variation. Research on the Lepidoptera 40: xiv + 658 Acknowledgments pp. The sole US specimen agrees very well We are grateful to Edward G. Riley (Associate Poole, J. M., Carr, W .R. and Price, D. M. (2007) with the features of S. serapio from Curator, Texas A & M University insect Rare plants of Texas: a field guide. Texas Mexico in the hindwing pattern. collection), Donald J. Harvey (Museum A&M University Press, 640 pp. However, interesting differences were Specialist, US National Museum of Natural Richardson A. (1995) Plants of the Rio Grande Delta. University of Texas Press, 332 pp. observed in the extent of violet-blue History, Smithsonian Institution) and Robert K. Robbins (Curator of Lepidoptera, US Robbins, R. K. (2004) Lycaenidae. Theclinae. overscaling on the dorsal wing surface. National Museum of Natural History, Tribe Eumaeini, in Checklist: Part 4A. The US specimen shows significantly Smithsonian Institution) for the loan of Hesperioidea-Papilionoidea. G. Lamas, reduced blue overscaling compared to specimens, permission to photograph Editor., Association for Tropical Lepidoptera; Scientific Publishers: Gainesville. p. 118-137. the majority of examined S. serapio specimens under their care and fruitful discussions, Blanca Huertas (Curator of Robbins, R.K. (2010) The “upside down” specimens from many locations. We Lepidoptera, The Natural History Museum, systematics of hairstreak butterflies think that the expression of blue London, UK) and Rene Lahousse for (Lycaenidae) that eat pineapple and other overscaling may represent seasonal and photographs of Strymon serapio and S. Bromeliaceae. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 45(1), p. 65-75. individual variation, as 2 other megarus types. Robert K. Robbins made a number of very helpful comments on the Robbins, R. K., Aiello, A. (1982) Foodplant and specimens (from both Mexico and manuscript and we thank him for excellent oviposition records for Panamanian Panama) in the US National Museum suggestions. Lycaenidae and Riodinidae. Journal of the of Natural History, (Smithsonian Lepidopterists’ Society 36(2): 65-75 Robbins, R. K. and Nicolay, S. S. (2002) An Institution, Washington, DC) reveal Literature Cited overview of Strymon Hübner similarly reduced number of blue (Lycaenidae:Theclinae: Eumaeini). Journal scales. Beutelspacher, C. R. (1972) Some observations of the Lepidopterists’ Society, 55(3): 85-100. on the Lepidoptera of bromeliads. J. Lepid. Silva, A. G. D’A., Gonçalves, C. R., Galvão, D. As a summary, among all 58 described Soc. 26: 133-137. M., Gonçalves, A. J. L., Gomes, J., Silva, M. taxa of Bromeliad-feeding Strymon, the Carter, W. (1934) Notes on two pests of pineapple N., and Simoni, L. (1967-1968) Quarto not known in Hawaii. Proc. Haw. Entomol. wing pattern of the US specimen is Catálogo dos insetos que vivem nas plantas Soc. 8: 395-397. do Brasil, seus parasitos e predadores: consistent only with Strymon serapio, Comstock, J. H. (1918) The wings of . insetos, hospedeiros e inimigos naturais. and matches very well S. serapio The Comstock Publishing Company, Ithaca. Ministerio da Agricultura, Rio de Janeiro, specimens from Mexico: Tamaulipas to 430 pp. Part I, Vol. 1, 422 pp., Vol. 2, 906 pp., Part II, Glassberg J. (2007) A Swift Guide to the Vol. 1, 622 pp., Vol. 2, 265 pp. Veracruz. Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. Per the Kendall & Kendall collection Sunstreak Books, Inc., 266 pp. Godman, F. D. and Salvin O. (1887) in Biologia archive (Texas A&M University, College X Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Lepidoptera- Station, Texas, USA), S. serapio from Rhopalocera., Dulau & Co., Bernard Mexico was reared on Tillandsia Quaritch. London. Vol. 2, p. 93

84 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society The Discovery of Theodore L. Mead’s Journal of 1871

John V. Calhoun 977 Wicks Drive, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 [email protected]

Theodore L. Mead (1852-1936) (Fig. 1) The route that Mead traveled in Mead’s itinerary remained obscure. A is best known to lepidopterists for his Colorado was largely unknown until F. recent discovery promises to eliminate 1871 exploration of Colorado as part of Martin Brown extrapolated it from much of this uncertainty. the Wheeler Survey. Mead was only 19 remarks by Mead (1875) and references Several months after reading a two-year years old when he embarked on an to Mead’s specimens in various old Internet posting about a purported incredible adventure with his older publications by W. H. Edwards (Brown 1871 journal of T. L. Mead, an brother, Samuel. The journey began on 1934). Twenty years later, Brown incredibly fortunate chain of events led 17 May 1871. Reaching Denver by rail (1955) charted Mead’s presumed route me to acquire this important on 31 May, Mead explored Colorado and itinerary. Brown (1964 and later) manuscript from James W. Tillery and until 27 September. He then continued used this information to propose type Mary E. Vance of Lehigh Acres, Florida. on to California by rail, southward by localities for many of the taxa that They had found it amongst the steamer to Panama, then back to New remaining inventory of a defunct local York by steamer, stopping at Kingston, bookseller, who had stored it in a box Jamaica along the way. He returned to within a climate-controlled storage unit New York in December of 1871. for at least four years. Nothing more During the course of Mead’s survey of is known of its provenance. Colorado, all the butterflies that he In 1882, Mead (“Teddy” to his wife) collected were sent to William H. settled in central Florida, where he Edwards of Coalburg, West Virginia. spent the remainder of his life Edwards partially funded Mead’s researching and hybridizing various participation in the Wheeler Survey and types of plants. He probably brought his daughter, Edith, would marry Mead his 1871 journal to Florida, but it is a in 1882. Based on Mead’s specimens, mystery why it became separated from Edwards described many new butterfly his other manuscripts. He may have taxa. Upon Mead’s return, he and presented it to an acquaintance, such Edwards divided the Colorado as his good friend John H. Connery. specimens equally between them Before his death, Mead is known to (Edwards 1890). Mead spent most of have presented Connery his entire the following year processing his collection of rare plants and some glass specimens and writing his report for the photographic negatives. The plants Wheeler Survey, which was published were used by Connery to help establish Fig. 1. Theodore L. Mead at 22 years of age, in 1875. Most of Mead’s specimens are a botanical park in the city of Winter deposited in the Carnegie Museum of three years after returning from Colorado (from Brown 1996). Park, Florida, called Mead Garden, Natural History, Pittsburg, which was dedicated in 1940. The glass Edwards described from Mead’s Pennsylvania. William J. Holland, who negatives are preserved in the Winter specimens. In 1979, Brown examined in 1898 became the first Director of the Park (Florida) Public Library. Carnegie Museum, purchased Mead’s photocopies of numerous fair copy collection in 1877 and Edwards’ letters that Mead had sent to The 1871 journal is signed, “Theodore collection in 1886 (which was received correspondents during his time in L. Mead / 596 Madison Ae / next cor. in numerous shipments over several Colorado. These letters, preserved at [next to corner] 61st St. / New-York” years). Brief biographies of Mead were Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, (Fig. 2). This is known to have been published by Brown (1955) and Brown were transcribed and later published Mead’s address at that time. Mead (1996). Mead wrote a more lengthy after Brown’s death by his wife, Grace purchased a preprinted market diary autobiography the year before his death (Brown 1996). Despite this measuring 3 x 6 in (7.6 x 15.2 cm) with (Mead 1935). documentation, some portions of a leather binding that is now worn and

Volume 52, Number 3 85 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 crumbling. The letterpress title page references to such journals and none _____. 1955. Itineraries of the Wheeler Survey reads, “Patent Self Closing Diary for are listed among the contents of the naturalists 1871 – Theodore L. Mead. J. Lepid. Soc. 9:185-190. 1871 for the Trade.” Mead chronicled Mead manuscript collection at Rollins _____. 1964. The types of satyrid butterflies his daily activities throughout the year College. Various collections of Wheeler described by William Henry Edwards. Trans. using ink and graphite (Fig. 3). During Survey documents also lack listings for Amer. Entomol. Soc. 90:323-413. his extensive journey, Mead recorded Mead’s materials (see Dewing 1964). Brown, G. H. (ed.). 1996. Chasing butterflies in the Colorado Rockies with Theodore Mead modes of transportation, arrival and Mead apparently kept a separate in 1871, as told through his letters. departure times, and mileage between account of his collecting activities Annotated by F. Martin Brown. Bull. Pikes destinations. He provided a tabulation (Mead 1935). An entry about another Peak Res. Sta. 3:[4]+1-74. of all the letters sent/received during “journal” in Mead’s 1871 personal Dewing, C. E. 1964. The Wheeler Survey records: a study in archival anomaly. Amer. 1870 (207/262) and 1871 (163/252). journal may refer to this second Archivist 27:219-227. Mead made note of the people he manuscript, which was possibly lost or Edwards, W. H. 1890. On certain statements encountered and the goods he discarded many years ago with other in Scudder’s “Butterflies of New England.” purchased. He also mentioned some Wheeler Survey documents. Can. Entomol. 22:61-67. Mead, T. L. 1875. Chapter VIII. Report upon butterflies by their Latin names and It is my intention to transcribe all the collections of diurnal Lepidoptera made pressed a few plants between the entomologically relevant passages from in portions of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, journal’s pages. and Arizona, during the years 1871, 1872, his 1871 journal and publish this 1873, and 1874, with notes upon all species The condition of the journal is information as an addendum to the known to inhabit Colorado. Pp. 737-791, pl. remarkable, especially considering that work by F. Martin Brown. I also plan 35-40. In Wheeler, G. M. (and A. A. it was written by a 19 year old student to digitally photograph the entire Humphreys) (eds.), Report upon geographical and geological explorations and over the course of an entire year, and manuscript and provide printed surveys west of the one hundredth meridian. was transported over 12,000 miles on hardcopies to Rollins College and the Government Printing Office, Engineer every imaginable manner of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Dept., U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.. conveyance. It was later brought to _____. 1935. Theodore L. Mead – naturalist, A debt of gratitude is expressed to entomologist, and plantsman. An Florida from New York, where it passed Jimmy Tillery and Mary Vance for autobiography. Year book, Amer. Amaryllis through the hands of at least three realizing the importance of Mead’s Soc. 2:11-22. other owners during the ensuing 128 journal and ensuring its survival. years. Literature Cited A handwritten “1871” along the bottom X edge of the journal suggests that Mead Brown, F. M. 1934. The localities of T. L. Mead’s also kept records for other years. collection of butterflies from Colorado in 1871. J. New York Entomol. Soc. 42:155-162. However, there are no known published

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Fig. 2. Mead’s inscription on the first page of his journal. Fig. 3. Mead’s journal entries for June 15-16, 1871.

86 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Conservation Matters: Contributions from the Conservation Committee More on Butterfly Releases

Dave Wagner1, Felix Sperling2, and Bruce Walsh3 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut,Storrs, CT 06229-3043 [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada [email protected] 2365 East East Seneca Street, Tucson, Arizona 85719 [email protected]

In the previous Conservation Matters Dr. Pyle reasoned that butterfly To avoid releasing non-local butterflies, column Dr. Robert Pyle articulated his releases can compromise the Dr. Pyle advocated that teachers go out case against butterfly releases. But biogeographic data that we might collect and collect local caterpillars which like conservation issues outside of for a given species. We agree, but such could then be raised and released. Not lepidopterology, the conservation arguments carry less force for always easy: local hunts will be season- committee of the Lepidopterists’ cosmopolitan . For example, and weather-dependent. Many Society was not of one mind regarding the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa educators will not know what they are a position that would ban all (out-of- cardui) is a highly migratory species. collecting, and without a name teachers range and/or commercial) butterfly Moreover, it has been the subject of and students often will not know how releases. The essence of our opinion is worldwide releases spanning decades. to care for their caterpillars: flower that we believe there is room to allow Its genes are already mixed— moths are seed predators that die if fed some kinds of releases, and in particular biogeographic arguments no longer leaves; sallows straggle if offered only we hope that children, teachers, and apply, at least to North American older leaves; prominents will waste other educators will have the option to mainland populations. away if fed only new leaves. Some fully purchase and raise some species of While biogeographic non-interference fed caterpillars require peat for caterpillars, experience the wonder of should be a goal for many human pupation, others punky wood. metamorphosis, and then have the actions, this is not always possible or Other problems arise. Few wild- option to release the creatures. pragmatic. Humans have moved plants collected caterpillars will eclose within There are few educational experiences and animals for economic, recreational, two weeks of pupation. Moths often that rival that of observing a butterfly’s societal, political, scientific reasons, emerge under cover of darkness (and developmental transformations. The and at times even as a matter of public thus are not easily observable by mystery of metamorphosis is safety. We see no reason why students). Most will have to be compelling as an entry point into the educational purposes, such as affording overwintered for six months or longer life sciences. One could also scarcely a child exposure to metamorphosis, before they will eclose—a great many imagine a more powerful and healthy should not also count. Were arguments will die in the classroom and have long metaphor to a child’s own development. for biogeographic purity pushed to an lost the attentions of the students they Participating in a butterfly’s extreme, we could not have outdoor pets were intended to inspire. With painted metamorphosis can be a tangible, or plant our yards with native species, lady kits, children can watch one of the beautiful example of the Cinderella or because each time a pollen grain is set most spellbinding phenomena on our ugly duckling story, of rebirth and new adrift by wind or a seed carried off by a planet: metamorphosis. A “first beginnings. Children need this and bird, we could be contaminating gene eclosion” has been an epiphanous respond well to it. This argument alone pools, compromising biogeographic moment for many a young (knee-high- is enough for us to resist a blanket data, and altering organismal to-a-grasshopper) lepidopterist/ restriction on butterfly releases.1 phenologies. entomologist/ biologist/conservation

1 We would respectfully disagree with a suggestion that a painted lady once changed and sporting wings should then be held (until its death) to teach a lesson about biogeographic data. Raising a caterpillar is as much about care, responsibility, and attachment as it is about metamorphosis. Releasing the newly hatched adult, the metaphor of transformation and rebirth, is the expectation. Extinguishing this life in a freezer or waiting until it has shredded its wings and died in a cage is anticlimactic and more than a little antithetical—most teachers would soon abandon the exercise.

Volume 52, Number 3 87 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 biologist. We bolster our ranks and a While it is true that released butterflies treasures such tracts contain, and as a love for nature by exposing more people contaminate biogeographic and/or consequence there would be diminished to this and the phenomenon of phenology studies, we do not see this numbers of people who care about metamorphosis, not fewer. as an issue if very few species are them. We need more opportunities and A major advantage of the painted lady released. In using biogeographic/ experiences to connect people to nature, (over wild-collected caterpillars) is that phenological data to draw inferences on not fewer. Limited, carefully evaluated its development is brief and well- large-scale changes (i.e., proxies for butterfly releases expose many to a few studied—the class will know within a environmental change via climatic of the creatures that have become the day or two when eclosion will ensue. change or land use changes), the power objects of our attentions. Some of these There is considerable information on in such studies does not arise from people might one day be asked to vote the internet that teachers and students multiple observations on the same on a measure to protect (or not protect) can access, including curricular and co- species (in part, because species a butterfly. As with many 2 curricular activities for this familiar evolve ), but rather from the meta- environmental matters, there is great animal. There will be much less analysis of observations across a large complexity here. In the end, what will information for random caterpillars number of species. A few “outliers” in matter most, is to what degree future from a school yard. Finally, access to one or two species will have little effect generations will care about butterflies the world’s knowledge (e.g., through on a substantive analysis. and the natural world, as expressed Google) requires correct identification So while we support the position that through, for example, numbers of park of a given caterpillar, a task that ranges we limit the number of species that can visitors, those voting for environmental from not easy to very unlikely. be released, we do not support a ban on legislation or … joining societies such as ours. If only wild caterpillars can be collected all releases. Much would be lost, for and brought into the classroom we will little gain. There are more than 800 Postscript: With new genetic tools, it run the risk of excluding urban species of butterflies and upwards of will soon be possible to genetically tag children…precisely what we don’t want. 13,000 moths in North America that animals that are sold such that As of 2008, more than half of the can provide data on phenology, climate commercial butterflies could be world’s population resides in cities, change, and other biogeographic determined as being from non-wild where caterpillar hunts are much less phenomena. We no longer use the fruit stock. Likewise new (sterile) of an option. Looking ahead, it seems fly (Drosophila (Sophophora) phenotypes could be bred that would be certain that the proportion of humans melanogaster) for biogeography because immediately identifiable. Perhaps then living in urban centers will increase. scientists and students have many of the concerns expressed about inadvertently released so many. Science butterfly releases will be moot. We support efforts and curricula that and humanity have been well served by get kids outdoors. They are sorely allowing students and scientists to needed. We like Dr. Pyle’s idea of a work with this creature world-wide local caterpillar hunt—kids will love it, without undue restrictions (whose but this should be in addition to an escape/release is all but inevitable). option to raise a butterfly and let it go, Surely we can be egalitarian enough to rather than being a teacher’s sole make room for a few butterfly species option. to be used as lab/classroom organisms There are some who have opposed or for other types of releases. (Less butterfly releases because releases than one tenth of one percent of the might contaminate existing gene pools North American lepidopteran species with unfit genes. But the (population are approved for release.) genetic) expectation is that introduced Analogous problems to those raised in “deleterious” alleles would be removed our essays underlie debates over by selection and hence not spread. The whether to allow roads to be built into amount of “migration” (release) to national parks and forests. Most will swamp the effects of selection has to be agree that such wildlands should be left on the order of the selection coefficient, as humanly-unaltered as possible. But in other words, a significant fraction of if only foot access were to be permitted, the entire population. few people would know first hand what

2 Species evolve. With single species we do not know if a response, e.g., an Alaskan red admiral) is due to climate or a new genetic combination. Even as we look for more southern species to share our gardens as global climates warm, there will be taxa moving north and others moving south, expanding their ranges, as a consequence of adaption and natural selection and other evolutionary forces unrelated to climate change.

88 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Call for Season Summary Records

It is once again the time of year to start PC operating systems save dates based “Calculations”, and uncheck the 1904 preparing your submissions for the upon a 1900 format, whereas MAC box. Once the data is entered, save this annual Season Summary report. The operating systems save dates based file, and close. If supplemental data is annual report is sent as a hardcopy to upon a 1904 default format. The entered directly into this file by members each year, and each year’s Lepidopterists’ Society master database keypunching it in, there will not be any data is also incorporated into the on- is maintained in PC format. As a result, problems. However, do NOT paste in line database. Take the time to access if you submit your season summary MAC data from another file into your the Season Summary database through records on an Excel spreadsheet file without first ensuring that the 1904 The Lepidopterists’ Society home page generated on a MAC to a Zone box was unchecked in their file PRIOR (http://alpha.furman.edu/~snyder/ Coordinator who operates a PC system, to entering any of data. Unfortunately, snyder/lep/) and do a few searches. The without first disabling the default date once data has been entered in a file, it value of the on-line database increases setting, the dates will be off by 4 years does NOT do any good to retroactively as your data gets added each year. and 1 day. If you submit your season uncheck the date box!!! Please take the time to consider your summary records on an EXCEL By following these few steps, it is a field season and report range spreadsheet generated on a MAC to a simple matter to accommodate MAC extensions, seasonal flight shifts, and Zone Coordinator who operates a MAC records. However, you, as the original life history observations to the system, without first disabling the contributor, must ensure that those appropriate Zone Coordinator. Zone default date setting, the dates will steps are taken. Improperly dated Coordinators, their contact appear proper to the Zone Coordinator records will be rejected and your information, and the scope of their zone but the dates will be off by 4 years and important records will not get into the appears on the inside back cover of 1 day when they are incorporated into database. every issue of the “News”. the master data base. In some cases, As the new Season Summary Editor I There are a number of factors that make MAC system dates sent to a Zone Coordinator operating a MAC system will hold firmly to the dates. Although it necessary for the Zone Coordinators I am late this year, 2010, I have moved to meet a reporting deadline each year. are off 8 years and 2 days (we haven’t figured that one out). The following are the due dates out. Any records sent to As a result, you should have your data the Zone Coordinators after December to the Zone Coordinator(s) no later instructions so that this problem will never rear its ugly head again. 31, 2010 will not be published until the than December 31, 2010. In most of our 2011 Season Summary. Nearctic zones, you have long since put Instructions away your cameras, nets, bait traps, Leroy C. Koehn When a MAC user sits down to enter light traps and/or lighting equipment Season Summary Editor the very first record of the season, he/ by that time anyway. 3000 Fairway Court she must create a new Excel file. Before Georgetown, KY 40324-9454 Important reminder to contributors typing in any data, go to “Tools”, [email protected] using MAC computers to submit then “Options” or “Preferences” Season Summary records depending upon your version of Excel,

The I think that the Center for Biological Many biologists are in a position to help Diversity has the right idea with their decrease these shameful statistics. As Mailbag... Endangered Species Condoms. We need professors who have contact with to make the connection between loss of young people, you have an excellent Dear Editor: biological diversity and the growing opportunity to help shape attitudes. In Dr. Art Shapiro’s article “Are human population—and the need to addition to teaching about lepidoptera Butterflies in Trouble? If So, Why?” in prevent unplanned pregnancies. The you can teach about the birds and the the Spring, 2010, issue did an excellent problem is made worse in the United bees! job of documenting the loss of lep States by our outrageous consumption. Richard Grossman species. He attributes this trouble to Half of the pregnancies in this country [email protected] loss of habitat and to climate change— are unplanned, in part accounting for both caused by humans. Unfortunately our high abortion rate. We also have the X the article does not go on to say highest teen pregnancy rate of any rich anything about how to decrease the country—by far. trouble that butterflies are in.

Volume 52, Number 3 89 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 Flying High: An Adventure in the Alpine Tundra of Colorado Gary Noel Ross 6095 Stratford Ave., Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, [email protected]

The pursuit of butterflies not only Alpine Tundra—a high mountain, Horseshoe Mountain was a good hour- promises the prospect of observing, windswept ecosystem that begins above and-a-half away. Therefore, we departed photographing, drawing, or collecting the timberline of the evergreen the center about eight in the morning unfamiliar species, but also exposes us coniferous forest and extends to the after a hearty, western breakfast. Most to new habitats—and sometimes, a new permanent snow line on a number of of the journey was via paved road. First country and culture as well. As a high mountains mainly in the west but we traveled through tall, open nascent graduate student in Louisiana, also on a sparse number of peaks in the ponderosa pine forest—the Transition I was guided by H.B.D. Kettlewell’s northeast, for example, Mt. Life Zone of C. Hart Merriam. As we 1963 presidential address to The Washington, New Hampshire (6,288 gained elevation, the pines gave way to Lepidopterists’ Society. There he feet), Mt. Katahdin, Maine (5,268), and dark green, needle-leaved, fir and proclaimed: Mt. Albert, Quebec, Canada (3,786 feet). spruce trees characteristic of the “Heaven help the scientist who, using [A related ecosystem, called Arctic subalpine zones termed Canadian and butterflies for science alone, fails to Tundra, is found in the far north— Hudsonian (I whimsically call this the appreciate their beauty and to take usually above the Arctic Circle—where “Land of the Christmas Trees.”). advantage of the wonderful places into the boreal coniferous forest reaches its Eventually, we veered off onto a dusty which they lead us.” northern growth limit. Because Arctic dirt road. Now the forest began to thin Tundra is determined by latitude, the and we emerged into a rather open area Reflecting on my past globe-trotting, I ecosystem occupies much more land area studded with krummholz, those can state unequivocally that each of my than its montane counterpart. Lands dwarfed, twisted trees whose limbs adventures has provided unique and are flat, water-logged, and snowbound appear flag-like due to strong, profound experiences. Having said that, most of the year. It, too, is not very directional winds. Krummholz I would like to share the highlights of accessible except via air. Both Arctic delineates the boundary between forest a trip whose destination was not some and Alpine Tundra are inarguably and barrens. A mile or so farther and exotic land but a venue here in these fragile ecosystems primarily because of we had officially entered the Alpine United States. their short summer growing season.] Tundra Life Zone. A first for me! It was the first week in July 1990. I had Although Alpine Tundra remains a At an elevation of 11,200 feet we entered signed up for a week-long workshop place apart, the ever increasing habitat the Leavick Valley, named after an old titled “The Biology of Butterflies” harbors many specialized plants and silver-gold-zinc mining town near by. As conducted by Drs. Boyce Drummond animals—including butterflies. Since we traveled up this narrow valley, thick and Thomas Emmel. The event was July is prime time for butterfly activity low clouds settled in and engulfed and hosted at The Nature Place, a in the central Rockies, I was inspired dampened everything. Unfortunately, comfortable and upbeat private to visit The Nature Place. we could see nothing but a few feet of educational facility nestled on 6,000 The workshop consisted of 27 the road ahead. Finally, our leaders acres of ponderosa pine—those majestic participants, including several young pulled into a graveled parking spot. trees with cinnamon-colored bark made folks. Days were comfortable but nights There we parked and were instructed famous by the vintage TV series were definitely chilly—our modern to begin readying our gear. Now at an “Bonanza.” The center is situated at cabins were equipped with fireplaces elevation of 12,200 feet, temperature 8,600 feet in the Front Range of the and stacks of wood for igniting before was in the low 40s, chilling us to the Rocky Mountains of Teller County in retiring. During daytime we attended bone. Of course, the pea-soup clouds central Colorado. Iconic Pikes Peak lectures, workshops, and field trips. For still prevented us from seeing any looms on the horizon. Today, the facility me the most unforgettable outing was landmarks. But in no less than ten is designated by the National Park to Horseshoe Mountain (el. 13,898 minutes, the ambient light brightened. Service as a National Environmental feet), ranked among the 100 highest Perhaps the clouds were thinning? We Study Center. It is easily accessible from peaks in Colorado. The peak is located crossed our fingers. the communities of Colorado Springs in the Mosquito Range and the Pike and Florissant. Sure enough, within minutes we could National Forest, east-southeast of see cameos of clear sky. Moments later Up to this point I had never experienced Leadville in Park County. and all remaining wisps of clouds

90 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society vaporized. And there we were, standing sized butterflies—basically white but ground. But this time the outcome was beneath a domed, clear sky pierced by with small patches of black and a pair different: the specimen was in the net. a blazing sun whose rays felt like a heat of red and black ocelli on each My relentlessness had paid off. Now a lamp. Immediately, the thin air warmed, hindwing—telltale markings of robust applause erupted from the and the wind subsided. More parnassians, aka apollos (primitive spectators who had continued to watch importantly, however, we now had an relatives of swallowtails). These to see how my “cat and mouse” antics unobstructed view of the landscape. butterflies, though, fluttered near would play out. (Let’s face it, for most The parking area gave access to a ground level in search of their stunted lepidopterists, scratch the label and rolling, treeless, and rock-strewn host plants, stonecrop (Sedum), which what lies underneath is a kid at heart.) meadow whose backdrop was one of the were fairly common around rocks. At Our group fanned out across the polka- world’s classic cirques. (A cirque is a any given moment I could have counted dot meadow. Two small tarns (alpine high-altitude, three-sided, steep-walled between 30-40 individual butterflies on clear, meltwater pools) added to the basin carved by the scouring action of the wing. postcard quality of the view. With my a previous glacier. Indeed, the perfect This was “Theater in the Wild.” The “How Not To Catch A Butterfly In U-shape of the cirque inspired the name butterflies were ubiquitous throughout High Altitudes” lesson well learned, we “Horseshoe Mountain.”) The meadow the meadow. In my wildest dreams, collectors wrangled only those was stippled with dwarf wildflowers and never would I have imagined that so butterflies that could be netted with a considerable number of snowpacks many individual butterflies could ease, all the while keeping in mind the that had yet to melt. inhabit such a restricted habitat at policies on conservation and collecting Our leaders cautioned that although the such an altitude. Not wishing to waste as outlined by The Lepidopterists’ scene was photogenic, we should not one precious moment, I reflexively Society. Those folks not interested in tarry. Dr. Emmel: “In this high country sprinted off in pursuit of a sulphur that collecting busied themselves with hail, sleet, and even snow are possible had glazed my head. Mistake! Having photography; one pre-teenager on any given day and with little resided at sea level most of my life I was interested in art, opted to sketch the warning.” With that in mind, we were unaccustomed to the thin mountain air; cirque. advised to remove our outer layer of therefore, I quickly found myself As temperatures continued to warm winter clothing, cover all exposed skin terribly short-winded. My two sprints into the low 60s, insect activity with sunscreen, and then hike the followed by a swing of the net sent me increased. But then, a small, billowy meadow in search of butterflies to my knees exhausted, debilitated. white cloud with a dark center “Butterflies?” I quipped: “Where Having missed the butterfly, I rested for materialized overhead. It floated slowly should we look?” For certain, there a few moments but than staggered to across the sky, plunging the meadow were lots of diminutive plants bearing my feet to again give chase to a nearby into shadow. Within seconds of the yellow and white flowers growing butterfly. Another swing, another miss, shade, all the butterflies that were amongst the granite rocks and and—you guessed it—another crumple flying plummeted to the ground boulders. But the flower display de- to the damp ground. virtually en masse as if they were lead finitely lacked the luster of those storied Lying there with my heart pounding, weights! Not a single individual lupine-filled meadows in the Cascade my chest heaving, my head throbbing, remained airborne. Mountains of Washington and Oregon, and beads of perspiration rolling down We were captivated, entranced. After no Furthermore, the cold temperatures my face, I noticed that my classmates more than five minutes, however, the seemed anathema to any insect were still in the parking area, standing sun returned. And as if by magic, the attempting to fly. I was rueful, confused. and starring in my direction. vanished butterflies re-materialized and And then it happened. As if some silent Undoubtedly, bemused by the comedy continued with “business as usual.” command had been uttered by the unfolding before them, they burst forth This synchronized “up and down” proverbial “Keeper of the Butterflies,” in waves of laughter as I waved in behavior continued for nearly two there was an explosion of dozens of embarrassment. One male participant hours. [During our workshop we yellow and orange butterflies—no shouted “Go tiger, go!”—referring to hypothesized that the ability of these doubt sulphurs (pierids)—from the my alma mater, Louisiana State butterflies to access ground protection greenery. As the butterflies gained University. I, also, began to chuckle. quickly was probably a survival altitude, they began wheeling and Realizing I had to try to redeem myself, adaptation to an ecosystem where reeling about, animating and pixelating I shed my jacket and wobbled to an erect sunlight can be short lived and a the azure sky. Some individuals stature. With so many butterflies on the shadow can portend freezing descended to ground level to nectar on wing, I had no problem in selecting precipitation and severe wind, both wildflowers. The sulphur vanguards another quarry close at hand. Off I potentially fatal. In addition, we were quickly joined by other medium- went! Two quick sprints, a swing, and concluded that the dark coloration of another intimate contact with the

Volume 52, Number 3 91 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 many of the butterflies—particularly butterflies. As we held firm to our lepidopterist with an opportunity to near the body—coupled with long hair- positions in fear of accident, other experience species and behavior that like wing scales near the abdomen were similar butterflies made their cannot be encountered elsewhere. And also adaptations for absorbing and appearance. although I have concentrated most of trapping heat from fickle sunlight in a We were taunted but needed a plan. my life with the study of tropical cold environment.] Perhaps cooperation might work? We habitats, I must admit, that my visit to The rank and file species we collected decided to station ourselves about 15- the treeless high country of Colorado and photographed in this microcosm 20 feet apart so that we could command has woven itself tightly into my memory were: Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur coverage of just about the entire area of wonders. (Colias alexandra alexandra), being traversed by the passing References Scudder’s Sulphur (Colias scudderii), butterflies. The simple scheme worked Brock, J.P. and K. Kaufman. 2003. Kaufman Pink Edged Sulphur (Colias interior), better than we had anticipated. Within Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. Mead’s Sulphur (Colias meadii), ‘Rocky the hour, we each had secured Houghton Mifflin Co., N.Y. 392 pp. Mountain’ Parnassian (Parnassius specimens of both the “copper” and the Emmel, T.C., M.C. Minno and B.A. Drummond. phoebus smintheus), Melissa Arctic “alpine.” (The dark Uhler’s Arctics 1992. Florissant Butterflies: A Guide to the Fossil and Present-Day Species of Central (Oeneis melissa) and Chryxus Arctic were usually stationary, content to Colorado. Stanford Univ. Press, (Oeneis chryxus). The parnassians were bask in the strong sunlight. A quick Stanford, Calif. 118 pp. particularly easy to net because they plunge of the net and they were ours.) Ferris, C.D. and F. M. Brown. 1981. Butterflies flew close to the ground in search of of the Rocky Mountain States. Univ. of While on the talus, we were rewarded Oklahoma Press, Norman, Ok. 442 pp. their host plant: stonecrop (Sedum), a with a bit of non-butterfly lagniappe: a Glassberg, J. 2001. Butterflies through succulent that grew in the protection pika or cony (Ochotona princeps), aka, Binoculars: The West. Oxford Univ. Press, New York, N.Y. 374 pp. of rocks. By contrast, the dark-colored “haymaker.” This is a small mammal arctics were sedentary, usually perched _____. 2010. Butterflies of North America. related to rabbits. Pikas are buff/gray Fall River Press, New York, N.Y. 202 pp. on lichen-encrusted rocks. While in color, sport short ears, and have no Kettlewell, H.B.D. 1963. Presidential address basking they usually held their wings visible tail. On sunny days they often to the thirteenth annual meeting of The Lepidopterists’ Society: Lepidoptera as closed but angled their bodies to the left perch on rocks and voice short squeaks or right for maximum sun exposure. scientific tools. J. Lepid. Soc. 17(3):173-177. that carry considerable distances in the Merriam, C. H. and Steineger, L. 1890. Results (Some arctics would be so tilted that thin air. They are commonly called of a biological survey of the San Francisco they were almost horizontal.) In such “haymakers” because they clip grass mountain region and the desert of the Little Colorado, Arizona. North American Fauna a position the darkish, mottled growing amongst the talus debris, set coloration of the butterflies blended Report 3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, the greenery to dry in the sun, and then Division of Ornithology and Mammalia, almost perfectly with the grainy granite store the cured “hay” within their rock Washington, D.C., 136 pp. rocks and the blotchy crustose lichens. cavities for the long winter months NABA. 2001. North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Checklist & English With the sunny weather still holding (these mammals don’t hibernate and so Names of North American Butterflies. and our psyches and bodies still pulsing have to feed periodically even during Second Edition. North American Butterfly with energy, we decided to investigate the winter). For me, the sighting of a Association, Morristown, N.J. 60 pp. a nearby talus outcrop (talus is an pika was a life-long wish-come-true. Opler, P.A. and V. Malikul. 1998. A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies. The Peterson Field accumulation of rock debris fallen from With such inimitable activity, the hours Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., New the wall of a cliff—in essence, a huge raced by. About one o’clock in the York, N.Y. 488 pp. _____. 1999. A Field Guide to Western jumble of rocks) for three specialized afternoon we decided to return to the butterflies: ‘Snow’s’ Lustrous Copper Butterflies. The Peterson Field Guide Series. parking area for our box lunches. Just Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, N.Y. 544 (Lycaena cupreus snowi), Magdalena in time, too. A bank of dark stratus pp. Alpine ( magdalena), and Uhler’s clouds began to sweep in from the Pyle, R.M. 1981. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred Arctic (Oeneis uhleri). Picking our way southern horizon. Within 30 minutes, on the loose rocks was treacherous. A. Knopf, New York. N.Y. 917 pp. the entire sky was a marbled gray, _____. 2002. The Butterflies of Cascadia: A Indeed, most of us had one or two temperatures dropped dramatically, and Field Guide to All the Species of mishaps. But despite the danger, our a stiff, cold wind began to blow. By the Washington, Oregon, and Surrounding Territories. Seattle Audubon Society, efforts were quickly rewarded when a time we had redressed for winter, small, brilliant coppery red butterfly— Seattle, Wash. 420 pp. packed our equipment, and boarded the Scott, J.A. 1986. The Butterflies of North ‘Snow’s’ Lustrus Copper—darted past vans, a few large snow flakes began to America: A Natural History and Field Guide. just above the rocks. A larger solid fall. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 black species—the Magdalena Alpine— pp. followed close behind. Of course, with All in all, a trip to the high country of Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field the Rockies (or some other Alpine Guide to Western Butterflies. The Peterson our mobility severely limited, no one Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin succeeded in netting either of the Tundra ecosystem) affords a Company, Boston, Mass. 370 pp.

92 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Membership Update... Julian Donahue

This update includes all changes Garrett, Paula Jacoby (Mrs.) Belmont, Robert A. received by October 18, 2010. Harke, Vince L. Collins, Michael M. (Ph.D.) New and Reinstated Members: Holer, Nicholas R. (Ph.D.) Dowell, Robert V. members who have joined/renewed/ Honda, Jeff (Ph.D.) Ebner, Jim been found/or rescinded their request to Lynch, Louise I. Kawahara, Akito (Ph.D.) be omitted since publication of the 2008 Membership Directory (not included in Malcolm, Stephen B. (Ph.D.) Ludtke, Alvin F. the 2008 Membership Directory; all in Matheson, Sarah M. (Mrs.) Mazry Jacob, Pedro A. (Dr.) U.S.A. unless noted otherwise). Listed McKown, Shannon K. (Ms.) Mery, Benoit by name only; complete information will be found in the 2010 Membership Morantes, Andres (Mr.) Moore, Rex E. Directory being mailed with this issue Pinheiro, Lívia R. (Ms.) Murphy, Shannon (Ph.D.) of the News. Plotkin, David Nazari, Vazrick (Ph.D.) Beatty, Craig R Raugh, Stan Oemick, Donald A. Benton, Michael R. Reynolds, Bryan E. Philip, Kenelm W. (Dr.) Bettman, David J. Robinson, Martha W. (Ms.) Priestaf, Richard Carl Bura, Veronica (Ms.) Scott, Jaclyn L. (Mrs.) Redman, John F. (M.D.) Carter, Jack. Taron, Douglas (Ph.D.) Rota, Jadranka (Ph.D.) Cox, Leven (Mr.) Tilby, Roger Sabourin, Michael Crnic, Ivan, Jr. Zaleski, Philip Warren, Andrew D. (Dr.) Ebsen, Maxwell Address Changes White, Raymond R. (Dr.) Fisher, John F. (all U.S.A. unless noted otherwise): Wienberg, Ronald D. Fleischer, Richard S. (M.D.) listed by name only; complete Wolfe, Kirby Fowler, Karen (Mrs.) information in the 2010 Membership Yanek, The Ven. John, D.D. Garrett, John Directory being mailed with this issue Young, James John of the News. Metamorphosis... Freeman, Erna Louise Morris Freeman, passed away May 27, 2010. After graduating high school she met Hugh Avery Freeman, who had moved to Lancaster to accept a teaching position, and they married May 6, 1939. Avery’s teaching career took them to White Deer and Pharr during the early and mid- ’40s before they settled down in Garland, Texas in 1948 to raise their family while Avery taught at Southern Methodist University, then Forest Avenue High School, then finally Hillcrest High School. Between Avery’s career and his passion for lepidoptery, the couple traveled widely throughout the United States and Mexico. Louise loved people and spoke often about the fun they had and the people they met along the way before Avery’s death in 2002. Seaborg, Norman G., of Lockport, Illinois, USA, the summer of 2010. Mr. Seaborg, interested in Lycaenidae and Coleoptera, had been a member of the Society since 1965.

Volume 52, Number 3 93 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 The Marketplace

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS: If the number following your advertisement is “522” then you must renew your advertisement before the next issue! Remember that all revisions are required in writing.

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The aim of the Marketplace in the News of Note: All advertisements must be Disputes arising from such notices must be the Lepidopterists’ Society is to be consist- renewed before the deadline of resolved by the parties involved, outside of the ent with the goals of the Society: “to promote structure of The Lepidopterists’ Society. Ag- the science of lepidopterology...to facilitate the the third issue following initial grieved members may request information exchange of specimens and ideas by both the placement to remain in place. from the Secretary regarding steps which they professional worker and the amateur in the may take in the event of alleged unsatisfac- field,...” Therefore, the Editor will print no- All ads contain a code in the lower right corner tory business transactions. A member may be tices which are deemed to meet the above cri- (eg. 481, 483) which denote the volume and expelled from the Society, given adequate teria, without quoting prices, except for those number of the News in which the ad. first indication of dishonest activity. of publications or lists. appeared. Renew it Now! Buyers, sellers, and traders are advised to con- No mention may be made in any advertise- Advertisements must be under 100 words in tact your state department of agriculture and/ ment in the News of any species on any fed- length, or they will be returned for editing. or PPQAPHIS, Hyattsville, Maryland, regarding eral threatened or endangered species list. For Ads for Lepidoptera or plants must include full US Department of Agriculture or other per- species listed under CITES, advertisers must pro- latin binomials for all taxa listed in your mits required for transport of live insects or vide a copy of the export permit from the coun- advertisement. plants. Buyers are responsible for being aware try of origin to buyers. Buyers must beware that many countries have laws restricting the and be aware. Send all advertisements to the possession, collection, import, and export of some insect and plant species. Plant Traders: Only members in good standing may place Editor of the News! Check with USDA and local agencies for per- ads. All advertisements are accepted, in The Lepidopterists’ Society and the Editor take mits to transport plants. Shipping of agricul- writing, for two (2) issues unless a single no responsibility whatsoever for the integrity tural weeds across borders is often restricted. issue is specifically requested. and legality of any advertiser or advertisement.

94 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society rare. Contact: Brad Black, 2777 Equipment Announcement Carrington Street NW, North Canton, A new Light Trap with Plastic or OH 44720-8163. email: doc3girls Lepidopterists’ Society Aluminum Vanes: 12 VDC or 120 VAC @aol.com 514 with 15 Black Light or the new 36 Watt T-Shirts For Sale or Trade: Very rare Parnassius CF Twin Tube plasma UV. Rain Drain A new supply of Lepidopterists’ Society a. przewalskii, i. imperatrix, and Beetle Screens, Photoelectric t-shirts are now available and with this Propomacrus davidi (China). Yoshiaki Switch are optional. New Self Ballast new supply comes a new price: $12.00 Furumi, 97-71 komizo, Iwatsuki-Shi, Mercury Vapor Lights 250 Watt, 500 each. Shipping remains unchanged at Saitama-Ken, 339-0003 Japan 522 Watt and 750 Watt. For more $5.00 for the first shirt, $2.00 for each additional shirt (U.S. and Canada; Research information, visit our web site at: www.leptraps.com, or contact Leroy C. inquire for shipping charges to other Material needed for research project on Koehn, Leptraps LLC, 3000 Fairway countries). There is also a new size geographic differences in Lophocampa Court, Georgetown, KY 40324-9454: available: XXL, in both colores (navy maculata. Eggs, larvae (all instars) or Tel: 502-542-7091 blue or yellow). adults useful. Will pay for shipping. The t-shirts are high quality, 100% Please contact Ken Strothkamp, New Tropics Bait Traps: 12 inch cotton, preshrunk and proudly display Chemistry Dept., Lewis & Clark diameter 42 inches in height with a six inch cone top. Mosquito netting in a 7-inch diameter Lepidopteristsí College at kgs.lclark.edu 522 Forest Green, Camouflage or White. A Society logo on the front. For ordering Seeking egg masses of the Catalpa Plastic platform is suspended with form please see the mailing insert that Sphinx, Ceratoma catalpa (Sphingidae) plastic eye bolts and S hooks. Available came with this issue, or indicate for research on the chemical ecology of in Tropical style for butterflies and flat quantity, color and size desired and this species. Please contact Deane bottom style for moths. Traps weigh send along with a checkto Kelly Bowers at: [email protected] less than 6 ounces. Excellent for travel Richers, Treasurer, The Lepidopteristsí or (303) 492-5530. I am happy to to the tropics. For more information, Society 9417 Carvalho Court, reimburse for express shipping. Send to: visit our web site at: www.leptraps.com, Bakersfield, CA. 93311-1846. Deane Bowers, Dept. of Ecology and or contact Leroy C. Koehn, Leptraps Evolution, Ramaley N122, UCB 334, LLC, 3000 fairway Court, Georgetown, X University of Colorado, Boulder, CO KY 40324-9454: Tel: 502-542-7091 80309. 522 Livestock The Ecoinformatics lab of Dr. Jeremy Announcement Looking to buy both live and dead Kerr at the University of Ottawa is Lepidoptera of the Northeast: Lacrymosa specimens. Contact: conducting an analysis of mobility for Taxonomy, Ecology, and Matthew Gowan email: butterflies in Canada. In the absence of Biomonitoring of Butterflies and [email protected] experimental mobility data for the vast Moths with Brian Scholtens majority of species, I will rely on the For Sale: Captive bred Philippine Descriptions of seminars may be found cumulative knowledge of Canada’s butterfly pupae, year round. Imogene at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/ lepidopterists to construct a mobility Rillo, P. O. Box 2226 Manila 1099 nhs/nhs-calendar.shtml index. I am distributing a survey to Philippines email: people with field experience with [email protected] 524 Information on lodging options, meals, butterflies and skippers of Canada. and costs may be found at http:// Surveys of lepidopterists in the UK and www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/ Finland have produced mobility application-info.shtml estimates remarkably similar to those There is an online application form at obtained from field experiments. If you have field experience with Canadian http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/ butterflies then I hope you will take the general/application-web.shtml time to complete my survey. Visit: Syllabi are available for these and many www.science.uottawa.ca/~jfitz049/ other fine natural history training survey.html for more information on seminars on diverse topics. For more this project and to download the survey. information, please contact the Email me: [email protected] with Humboldt Institute, PO Box 9, Steuben, any questions or comments you may ME 04680-0009. have. 522 Online general information may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us

Volume 52, Number 3 95 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3 Observations of Diurnal Gregarious Roosting in the Butterfly Smyrna blomfildia Fabricius (: Nymphalinae) in Western Mexico

Gerald E. Einem1 and William Adkins2 180 Vasco de Gama, La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit, 63726, Mexico, [email protected] 206 Dellview Drive North, Tallahassee, FL 32303, [email protected]

Keywords: gregarious roosting Thomason, 1975) and the nymphaline observations suggest that this species behavior, reproductive diapause, Marpesia berania (Benson & Emmel, exhibits a seasonal diapause roosting seasonality, synchronous activity, 1973); and (3) Diapause roosting — with nearly synchronous arrival at Mexico seasonal congregations of individuals dawn and departure at dusk, Most species of butterflies roost singly in reproductive diapause that may leave abandoning the roost at night. (I.e., but some roost gregariously (or the roost or return, throughout the day. “diurnal gregarious roosting.”) communally). At night, on cloudy days, Diapause roosting is well documented Similarities and differences between S. or during cool weather butterflies perch from observations of the winter roosts blomfildia and S. karwinskii roosting at roosting sites, often with their wings of D. plexippus in Mexico and California behavior are compared and the possible closed. Species that hibernate or (Brower et al., 1977) and to a lesser adaptive advantages of such gregarious aestivate as adults may roost all day for extent from observation of roosts of roosting are discussed. months at a time (Opler & Krizek, 1984; Karwinski’s Beauty (Smyrna Roost Location and Habitat Scott, 1986). When roosting, butterflies karwinskii Hüber) in El Salvador often assume a particular posture and (Muyshondt & Muyshondt, 1974) and Observations of gregariously roosting orientation; and some, such as the Chiapas, Mexico (Warren & Luis- adult S. blomfildia were made in the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa Martinez, 2007) and of Blomfild’s state of Nayarit, Mexico. Data was L.), and other Nymphalis and some Beauty (Smyrna blomfildia F.) as gathered during two consecutive Polygonia species, roost while in a state described in this report. winter-spring, dry seasons. At the larger of two roosts the butterflies of torpor (Einem, 2003). Moreover, Smyrna blomfildia (Fig. 1, p. 98) is a aggregated on a house near the top of butterflies frequently roost at a sexually dimorphic species occurring a hill (39 m elevation) about 1 km from characteristic roosting site. For from south Texas to Brazil (Neck 1996). Jaltemba Bay on the Pacific Ocean. example, the Black Swallowtail (Papilio The adult is similar in appearance to its Here the butterflies (N=20 or fewer) polyxenes F.) roosts singly at locations sympatric congener S. karwinskii clustered at a single site on the where it can bask in the sun as long as known for its gregarious roosting underside of a brick-and-mortar roof possible before it assumes a roosting habits in the mountains of El Salvador overhang 3.3 m above ground level. The posture for the night (Rawlings & and Mexico (Muyshondt & Muyshondt, overhang, 1.15 m in depth, surrounded Lederhouse, 1978). 1974; Warren & Luid-Martinez, 2007). the house on four sides but S. Although both species have a black spot In most families of butterflies some type blomfildia only aggregated in one small on the outer (anal) angle of the ventral of gregarious roosting is known. area about 40x40 cm on the southeast hindwing, S. blomfildia has two black DeVries et al. (1987) have described corner of the house. three major patterns of gregarious spots, one on the outer angle and a roosting as follows: (1) Faculative second distinguishing spot on an The roost at the house overlooked a roosting — ephemeral (usually 24 h) adjacent toothed projection garden with a large avocado tree congregations formed during migration (Muyshondt & Muyshondt, 1978). (Persea americana), a jackfruit tree as in the Monarch (Danaus plexippus When S. blomfildia roost or feed (wings (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and two L.); (2) Circadian roosting — closed) the pair of spots is easily seen Cecropia trees. Symrna blomfildia nocturnal aggregations at the same site with close-focus binoculars. larval host plants are nettles (Urticaceae) which grew in nearby each day as in the Zebra Longwing This is the first account of S. blomfildia vacant lots. A feeding station, supplied (Heliconius charithonia L.) (Young & roosting gregariously; furthermore, our daily with bananas, was located 10 m

96 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society each season from the roost. During individual-specific identified) using an subapical spots visible. Most butterflies each of two seasons, the presence of S. artist’s, fine-tipped watercolor brush faced away from the wall of the house, blomfildia at the roost site (well before with a dab of pink latex paint on the facing the open space of the garden and, banana feeding began) suggests that the ventral hindwing (Fig. 2). Marked when gregarious, usually clustered exact location of the roost (under the butterflies were released at the feeding with two or more centimeters between eave) had some attraction other than station. Thereafter marked individuals adjacent individuals (Fig. 3). The the nearby bananas. In fact, there were were examined with close-focus proboscis was never extended while other parts of the eave nearer the binoculars and, when possible, roosting. Also, S. blomfildia were never banana feeding station where the individually identified by the pink spot seen roosting on the white vertical wall butterflies did not roost gregariously. and unique wing damage. of the house below the eave. A second communal roosting site, a Arrival Behavior at the Roost Roosting Behavior and Feeding small natural cavity in a tree occupied Each day S. blomfildia arrived at the Shortly after morning arrival, all of the by four S. blomfildia, was discovered at roost at dawn, well before sunrise. The butterflies at the communal roost were 09:00 h on 21 March 2010 about 0.3 km butterflies, flying rapidly, approached motionless; some remained quiescent from1 the roost at the house. (N.B.: This the roost from treetop and housetop until dusk, when they departed for the roost was not studied further during level, usually landing a few centimeters night. However others, as temperatures this investigation. And no attempt was from butterflies that had preceded them. and light levels increased, were seen2 made to find other roosts.) Occasionally a butterfly would circle leaving or less often joining the roost Methods and Materials beneath the eave one or more times throughout the daylight hours. By dusk The S. blomfildia communal roost site before landing, or land about 0.5 m the number of individuals at the at the hillside house was discovered on beyond those already roosting in a roosting site was often fewer than the 11 January 2008 and thereafter visited cluster and immediately fly again to join numbers that arrived at dawn that same one or more times each day through 27 the group. After landing, a few day. Individual butterflies (identified by March 2009 and then again at the same individuals walked about 1-2 cm, unique wing damage and pink location from 4 December 2009 through apparently to get a better grip on the marking), that had left the roost, fed on 6 April 2010. Butterflies occupied the brick and mortar substrate. bananas at the feeding station or roosting site every day within this The period of time between the first and roosted singly, widely scattered under period of time. During many of the last butterfly arriving at the roost site the eave of the house well away (2-104 visits to the roost, the time of morning during morning twilight was brief and m) from the congregation of butterflies arrival or evening departure, the occurred at about the same time each at the communal roost. location and number of individuals on day. For example, during eight days in Throughout the months of observation the roost and the ambient temperature February 2009, the mean arrival time S. blomfildia were never seen in copula, were recorded. To observe morning of the first of five butterflies that and three females dissected on 17 arrival or evening departure, the senior arrived each day was 06:23 h (range January 2010 lacked mature eggs. author arrived at the roost one hour 06:16 - 06:28 h). The last butterfly Both sexes were seen at the communal before dawn or sunset. Visits to the arrived on average 4.5 min. after the roost and the feeding station. roost were also made after dark to mean arrival time of the first Evening Departure determine if the roost was occupied at individuals. The mean temperature night. Moreover, the number of S. during arrival was 19.9º C. During the At dusk S. blomfildia still remaining at blomfildia feeding on bananas and dawn flight to the roost they were the roost departed over a short period roosting singly in the garden was also certainly crepuscular, and perhaps even of time. For example, on six days recorded.4 nocturnal, leaving the nighttime between 29 December 2009 and 7 February 2010, an average of 7.5 To follow the movements of and location before first light each day; butterflies were clustered at the roost determine longevity, on 21 January moreover, on some days they arrived just before departures began. The mean 2010, S. blomfildia were captured, with ambient temperatures as low as departure time of the first individual marked and immediately released. 17º C. or in rainy weather. leaving the roost was 17:40 h (range Since S. karwinskii will abandon a roost While roosting, S. blomfildia perched 17:30 - 17:45 h); the last butterfly if captured or disturbed (Muyshondt & upside down with wings closed and departed from the roost on average 7.5 Muyshondt, 1974), marking of antennae held forward, nearly parallel min after the first departure. S. butterflies taken from the roost was to one another, often touching. blomfildia did not return to the roost not attempted. Instead S. blomfildia (Feeding individuals hold the antennae until dawn the following day. (N=7) were captured with a butterfly forward in a V-shape.) The forewings (Nocturnal activity was not observed net while feeding on bananas at the were retracted behind the hindwings 56except for two observations of feeding station and marked (not with only the ventral forewing apex and

Volume 52, Number 3 97 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3

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Fig. 1. Dorsal (ABOVE) and Ventral (BELOW) images of a male (LEFT) and female (RIGHT) specimens of S. blomfildia. The dorsal surface of the wings was seldom seen, except when the butterfly was in flight. (Photographs provided by Jacqueline Miller, Curator of Lepidoptera, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.)

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Fig. 2. A male Smyrna blomfildia roosting singly, showing typical roosting posture and orientation: roosting upside down (i.e., “dorsal side down”) and at right angle to roof surface, with wings closed and antennae directed forward, nearly touching. Note pink latex marking Fig. 3. S. blomfildia (N=9) roosting gregariously under the eave of spot painted on hindwing. (Photo by G. E. Einem) the house. Typically the butterflies face in one direction, towards open space, away from the wall of the house (not seen here, on Gregarious Roosting in Smyrna right). Butterflies arrive at14 the roost site at dawn and depart at dusk. This roost site is unoccupied at night. Note: some individuals are blomfildia in Western Mexico marked with a pink spot. (Photo by G. E. Einem)

98 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society butterflies attracted to an outdoor S. karwiniskii observed in El Salvador elevations during the dry season (pers. floodlight.) (Muyshondt & Muyshondt, 1974) have obs., GEE), and is rarely found below During dusk departure from the a number of adult communal roosting about 1000 m in Nayarit (Llorente et communal roost, other butterflies characteristics in common. Consistent al. 2004). (marked and unmarked) that had left with the Muyshondts’ observations, our Five mountaintop roosts (2000 m) in El the roost earlier that day and did not observations are that both species roost Salvador contained from 10 to more return, were often feeding on bananas gregariously from at least December to than 100 (and in Chiapas, Mexico, over at the feeding station or roosting singly April under a roof or in a natural cavity 300) S. karwinskii butterflies as under the eave of the house 2-10 m from away from direct sunlight. During compared to the two much smaller those clustered at the communal roost. these months, neither of these species roosts of S. blomfildia with a maximum These butterflies, feeding or roosting show sexual activity and, when of 4 and 20 butterflies as observed in this singly, departed at dusk nearly in examined, mature eggs are not found in study. This suggests that the large S. synchrony with those roosting the abdomen. In both species karwinskii roosts may result from a gregariously under the eave of the aggregations of butterflies occupy the large population of butterflies that bred house. roost site every day during the roosting at lower elevations migrating to a season; however, individuals will During both winter-spring dry seasons relatively smaller geographic area on a frequently and spontaneously depart mountain top. The S. blomfildia roosts in which this study was conducted, the from the roost to feed, and sporadically number of roosting S. blomfildia in the lowlands may have fewer individuals will join the group. Initial butterflies from local populations. counted at the roost steadily decreased studies of the satyrine butterfly from seven individuals in mid-January Manataria maculata (Hopffer) in Costa The arrangement of the two species of 2008 to one by late-March 2009 and the Rica have found some roosting patterns Smyrna, perched gregariously under a following season from twenty in mid- similar to those of Smyrna (Nathan et roof, is noticeably different. In El December 2009 to as few as five in early- al.). This species roosts in groups Salvador and Chiapas, Mexico, S. April 2010. during the day, occasionally leaving the karwinskii were arranged in very Longevity, Fidelity and roost to forage. At night they roost densely packed arcs or circles around singly in the forest canopy. a central cluster of butterflies, all with Seasonality heads directed inward. The roosting S. Differences between the seasonal At the one roosting site studied, one blomfildia that we observed in Mexico gregarious roosting of S. karwinskii unmarked S. blomfildia and all seven were less densely perched with one or and S. blomfildia concern the of the butterflies marked and released more centimeters between individuals geographic location of the roosts and at the banana feeding station on 21 and with all or most of the butterflies the number and arrangement of January 2010 were seen, during the oriented in one direction, away from the butterflies in the aggregations. In next census four days later, roosting wall of the house. Mexico (Beutelspacher, 1975; Warren & gregariously at the roosting site under Luis-Martinez, 2007) and El Salvador The timing of S. blomfildia arrival and the eave of the house. Thereafter on 20 (Muyshondt & Muyshondt, 1974), S. departure from the roost site each day census days, including the last census karwinskii roost gregariously, is synchronized, showing circadian on 6 April 2010, one or more marked principally on mountain tops (1900- behavior. Similarly, the Costa Rican butterflies were observed at the 2000 m elevation) during the dry skipper butterfly Celaenorrhinus communal roost. On the last day of the season, but are rarely seen there during fritzgaertneri (Bailey), which roosts census, three of the marked butterflies the wet season. In El Salvador, S. gregariously in caves, exhibits a were present at the roost site, 74 days blomfildia is seldom seen on the synchronous pattern of arrival and after they were marked with the pink mountain tops year-round. However, departure (DeVries et al., 1987); latex spot on 21 January. S. blomfildia both species breed at lower elevations however, unlike S. blomfildia, they are butterflies were observed roosting in the same habitat during the wet quiescent during the day and are active gregariously under the eave of the season. In our study S. blomfildia at night. Synchronous arrival and house from December to April; roosts were found during the dry departure from a roost site has not been nevertheless, the site was unoccupied season near sea level (39 m), and the reported for S. karwinskii. from May through August. (No presence of nearby Urticaceae host The question remains, why do S. observations were made in September, plants suggests that oviposition and blomfildia adults aggregate? First, we October and November.) larval development also occur at low suggest that a cluster of butterflies DiscussionCallophrys augustinuselevations. Inin Costa Florida Rica, S. blomfildia might confuse a predator’s visual search7 occurs from sea level to 1,200 m The S. blomfildia butterflies, observed image. To humans at least, at a (DeVries, 1987). In Nayarit, Mexico, S. in this study, and its sympatric relative distance, the aggregate looks like dead karwinskii was not seen at low leaves or a patch of fungus, not

Volume 52, Number 3 99 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 3

individual butterflies. However, this L. Matthews for photos (Fig. 1) and Martin karwinskii adults in El Salvador begs the question, why do individual Lara Aguirre for field assistance. (Nymphalidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 28: 224-229. butterflies frequently leave the Literature Cited Muyshondt, A. Jr. & A. Muyshondt. 1978. Notes communal roost and roost singly not far on the life cycle and natural history of away from the apparent safety of the Benson, W. W. & T. C. Emmel. 1973. butterflies of El Salvador. II C. Smyrna group? Secondly, as suggested by the Demography of gregarious roosting blomfildia and S. karwinskii (Nymphalidae: populations of the Nymphaline butterfly Coloburini). Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Muyshondts (1974), a roost containing Marpesia berania in Costa Rica. Ecology 54: Society 32(3): 160-174. male and female butterflies may 326-335. Nathan, M. H., A. M. Citro, P. M. Collins, T. expedite the sexes finding one another Beutelspacher, C. R. 1975. Notas sobre el Harrison & B. A. Jones. [Unknown Date] for courting and mating at the end of suborden Rhopalocera (Lepidoptera) de las Roosting behavior of the Exploding Butterfly, Veracrus. Rev. Soc. Mex. Lep. A. C. 1(1): 11- Manataria maculata. Faculty Editor: the dry season. In California Monarch 20. Rebecca E. Irwin. http://www.dartmouth.edu/ butterflies within colonies mate Brower, L. P., W. H. Calvert, L. E. Hedrick & J. ~biofsp/pdf07/04_SIFP2_Nathan sporadically in mid-January and in Christian. 1977. Biological observations on %20et%20al_exploding%20butterfly.pdf large numbers in mid-February (Hill et an overwintering colony of monarch Neck, R. W. 1996. A field guide to the butterflies butterflies (Danaus plexippus, Danaide) in of Texas. Gulf Publishing Company, al., 1976). In this study, however, S. Mexico. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society Houston. 64 pl., 323 pp. blomfildia was never seen in copula at 31(4): 232-242. Opler, P. A. & G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies the roost or elsewhere. Finally, on one DeVries, P. J. 1987. The butterflies of Costa east of the Great Plains. Johns Hopkins occasion, I (GEE) observed an Rica and their natural history. Princeton University Press, Baltimore. 54 pl., 294 pp. University Press, Princeton, NJ. 50 pl., 327 Rawlings, J. E. & R. C. Lederhouse. 1978. The aggregate of S. blomfildia react to a pp. influence of environmental factors on small green fly (order Diptera) which DeVries, P. J., J. Schull & N. Greig. 1987. roosting in the black swallowtail, Papilio circled under the roost. The butterflies Synchronous nocturnal activity and polyzenes asterius Stoll (Papilionidae). reacted in unison, rapidly opening and gregarious roosting in the neotropical skipper Journal of the Lepidospterists’ Society 32(3): butterfly Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri 145-159. immediately closing their wings, only (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Zoological Scott, J.A. 1986. The butterflies of North one time. The intruding insect Journal of the Linnean Society 89: 89-103. America. A natural history and field guide. immediately flew off and did not return. Einem, G. E. 2003. Roosting and torpor in Stanford University Press, Stanford, We wonder, do S. blomfildia that roost anglewing and tortoiseshell butterflies California. 64 pl., 583 pp. (Nymphalidae). News of the Lepidopterists’ Warren, A.D. & A. Luis-Martinez. 2007. A gregariously obtain benefits from such Society 45(4): 112-115. Communal Roost of adult Smyrna a group display or mimetic resemblance Hill, F. H., Jr., A. M. Wenner & P. H. Wells. 1976. karwinskii in Chiapas, Mexico (Lepidoptera: to an inedible object, not obtained when Reproductive behavior in an overwintering Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae: Nymphalini). they roost singly? aggregation of Monarch butterflies. News of the Lepidopterists’ Society 49(4): American Midland Naturalist 95: 10-19. 131-133. Acknowledgments Llorente, J. E., A. M. Luis, I. F. Vargas & A. D. Young, A. M. & J. H. Thomason. 1975. Notes Warren. 2004. Butterflies of the state of on communal roosting of Heliconius We thank Jacqueline Miller and Andrew D. Narayit, Mexico. Journal of the charitonia (Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica. Warren (McGuire Center, Gainesville) for Lepidopterists’ Society 58 (4): 203-222. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 29: 221- reviewing the manuscript and providing Muyshondt, A. & A. Muyshondt, Jr. 1974. 226. valuable suggestions. Also we thank Deborah Gregarious seasonal roosting of Smyrna Monographs Published by The Society

Memoir No. 5: Basic Techniques Memoir No. 3: Supplement to A All of the above prices include postage. for Observing and Studying Moths Catalogue / Checklist of Butterflies To order on the Web using either Visa and Butterflies. William D. Winter, of America North of Mexico. Edited or MasterCard, go to www.Lepsoc.org. Jr., 2000. Paper. (ISBN 0-930282-07-8) by Clifford D. Ferris, 1989. Paper. To order by postal mail, contact: 444 pages including 15 appendices. (ISBN 0-930282-04-3) Members $8 Price postpaid. Members of the (Non-members $12); Canada add $4; Kenneth Bliss Lepidopterists’ Society $29 other countries add $9. 28 DuPont Ave. Piscataway, NJ 08854-2435 USA (nonmembers $44); Canada add $10; Commemorative Volume, 1947- other countries add $23. 1972 (with cumulative JOURNAL e-mail: [email protected] Memoir No. 4: Foodplants of World index, history of the Society, Saturniidae. Stephen E. Stone, 1991. biographical sketches). 1977. (ISBN 0- Paper.(ISBN 0-930282-05-1) Members 930282-01-9) Cloth bound. $5 (members X $9 (Non-members $14); Canada add $7; and non-members); Canada add $7; other countries add $16. other countries add $16.

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2

1 Anisota are among the smallest Saturniidae in the world, and pinned specimens are not usually very showy. However, like most Lepidoptera, when the living Anisota are photographed close-up with good lighting, their beautiful patterns and colors come into view. Here are three pairs that were reared from eggs in 2009 and 2010 and photographed by Richard S. Peigler. 1) Anisota discolor from Walker County, Texas; 2) Anisota finlaysoni from Hastings County, Ontario; 3) Anisota peigleri from Troup County, 3 Georgia, shown on a Cherokee basket Pink-striped oakworms (Anisota virginiensis) and orange-striped oakworms (Anisota senatoria) are both common species in southeastern Canada and northeastern USA. So why hasn’t anyone ever crossed the two species in captivity? Here is a photo of a mature larva that is a hybrid between other members of the pink-striped and orange-striped groups. It is a cross between A. discolor male from East Texas and A. finlaysoni female from Ontario, reared in 2010. Mature larvae of the parental species are colored quite differently, and this hybrid is remark- And now, some Anisota... ably intermediate. Photo by Ric Peigler.

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Membership Our Mailing List? Submission Guidelines The Lepidopterists’ Society is open to Contact Julian Donahue for informa- for the News membership from anyone interested in tion on mailing list rental. Submissions are always welcome! any aspect of lepidopterology. The only Preference is given to articles written criterion for membership is that you ap- Missed or Defective for a non-technical but knowledgable preciate butterflies or moths! To become Issue? audience, illustrated and succinct a member, please send full dues for the (under 1,000 words). Please submit Requests for missed or defective issues current year, together with your cur- in one of the following formats (in should be directed to: Ron Leuschner rent mailing address and a note about order of preference): your particular areas of interest in Lepi- (1900 John Street, Manhattan Beach, doptera, to: CA 90266-2608, (310) 545-9415, ron 1. Electronically transmitted file and [email protected]). Please be certain graphics—in some acceptable format Kelly Richers, that you’ve really missed an issue by —via e-mail. Assistant Treasurer, waiting for a subsequent issue to arrive. The Lepidopterists’ Society 2. Article (and graphics) on diskette, 9417 Carvalho Court Memoirs CD or Zip disk in any of the popular Bakersfield, CA 93311 formats/platforms. Indicate what Requests for Memoirs of the Society format(s) your disk/article/graphics Dues Rate should be sent to Publications Mana- are in, and call or email if in doubt. ger, Ken Bliss (address opposite). Include printed hardcopies of both Active (regular) $ 45.00 articles and graphics, a copy of the Affiliate (same address) 10.00 Submissions of potential new article file in ASCII or RTF (just in Student 20.00 Memoirs should be sent to: case), and alternate graphics formats. Sustaining 60.00 Lawrence E. Gall Media will be returned on request. Contributor 100.00 Computer Systems Office, Peabody 3. Color and B+W graphics should be Institutional Subscription 60.00 Museum of Natural History, P. O. Box good quality photos or slides suitable Air Mail Postage for News 15.00 208118, Yale University, New Haven, for scanning or—preferably—elec- Students must send proof of enrollment. CT 06520-8118 tronic files in TIFF or JPEG format Please add $ 5.00 to your Student or [email protected] at least 1200 x 1500 pixels for interior Active dues if you live outside of the use, 1800 x 2100 for covers. Photos U.S. to cover additional mailing costs. Journal of the or slides will be returned. Remittances must be in U.S. dollars, Lepidopterists’ Society payable to “The Lepidopterists’ Soci- 4. Typed copy, double-spaced suitable ety”. All members receive the Journal Send inquiries to: for scanning aand optical character and the News (each published quar- Brian G. Scholtens recognition. Original artwork/maps terly). Supplements included in the (see address opposite) should be line drawings in pen and News are the Membership Directory, [email protected] ink or good, clean photocopies. Color published in even-numbered years, and originals are preferred. the Season Summary, published annu- Book Reviews ally. Additional information on member- Send book reviews or new book releases Submission Deadlines ship and other aspects of the Society for the Journal to: Material for Volume 52 must reach can be obtained from the Secretary (see P. J. DeVries, the Editor by the following dates: address inside back cover). Dept. Biological Sciences, University of Issue Date Due Change of Address? New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, 4 Winter Nov. 30, 2010 [email protected] Please send permanent changes of ad- Reports for Supplement S1, the Sea- dress, telephone numbers, areas of in- Send book reviews or new book releases son Summary, must reach the respec- terest, or e-mail addresses to: for the News to the News Editor. tive Zone Coordinator (see most re- Julian P. Donahue, Assistant Secretary, cent Season Summary for your Zone) The Lepidopterists’ Society, WebMaster by Dec. 15. See inside back cover for Natural History Museum of Los Ange- John A. Snyder Zone Coordinator information. les County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Dept. of Biology, Furman University, Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057. Greenville, SC 29613-0001, (864) 294- [email protected] 3248, [email protected]

102 Autumn 2010 Autumn 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

Executive Council Season Summary Zone Coordinators President Treasurer Refer to Season Summary for Zone coverage details. John Shuey Kelly M. Richers 1505 N. Delaware St., Suite 200 9417 Carvalho Court, Chief Season Summary Indianapolis, IN 46202-2418 Bakersfield CA 93311, Coordinator And Editor Zone 6, Texas: [email protected] (661) 665-1993 (home) Leroy C. Koehn Charles Bordelon (317) 951-8818 [email protected] 3000 Fairway Court Texas Lepidoptera Survey, Past President Assistant Treasurer Georgetown, KY 40324 8517 Burkhart Road, (502) 370-4259 Houston, TX 77055 John Acorn Ron Leuschner [email protected] [email protected] 132 Walsh Crescent, Edmonton, 1900 John Street, Alberta T5T 5L7 Canada Manhattan Beach, CA Zone 1, The Far North: Zone 7, Ontario And [email protected] 90266-2608, (310) 545-9415 Kenelm W. Philip Quebec: (403) 489-0423 ron [email protected] Institute of Arctic Biology Jeff Crolla Vice Presidents University of Alaska 413 Jones Ave., Publications Manager P.O. Box 75700 David Lohman Toronto, Ontario Kenneth R. Bliss Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7000 Dept. of Biological Sciences, Canada M4J 3G5 28 DuPont Avenue (907) 479-2689 National University of (416) 778-4162 Piscataway, NJ 08854-435 [email protected] Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4 [email protected] (732)968-1079 117543, Singapore [email protected] Zone 2, The Pacific Zone 8, The Midwest: [email protected] Northwest: Editor, News of the Leslie A. Ferge 7119 Hubbard Avenue Jeffrey Marcus Lepidopterists’ Society Jon H. Shepard Dept. of Biology, Western R.R. #2, S.22, C.44 Middleton, Wisconsin 53562-3231 Kentucky University Dale Clark Nelson, British Columbia (608) 836-9438 1906 College Heights Blvd., 1732 South Hampton Rd., V1L 5P5 Canada [email protected] #11080, Bowling Green, Glenn Heights, TX 75154- (250) 352-3028 Zone 9, The Southeast: Kentucky 42101-1080 8530, (972) 274-0890 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Brian G. Scholtens Zone 3, The Southwest: Biology Department Olaf Mielke Editor, Journal of the Ken Davenport College of Charleston Dept. of Zoologia, Ciencias Lepidopterists’ Society 8417 Rosewood Avenue Charleston SC 29424-0001 (803) 856-0186 Biologicas, Universidade Brian G. Scholtens Bakersfield, CA 93306 [email protected] Federal do Parana, Caixa Biology Department (661) 366-3074 (home) Postal 19020, 81531-980 College of Charleston [email protected] Zone 10, The Northeast: Curitibia, Parana, Brazil 66 College Street Zone 4, The Rocky Mark J. Mello Charleston, SC 29424-0001 c/o Lloyd Center, Secretary (803)856-0186 Mountains: 430 Potomska Rd [email protected] Michael Toliver Chuck Harp Dartsmouth, MA 02748 Division of Math and Science Editor, Memoirs of the 8834 W. Quarto Ave. [email protected] Eureka College, 300 E. College Littleton, CO 80128-4269 Avenue, Eureka, Illinois Lepidopterists’ Society (720) 981-5946 Zone 11, Mexico & the 61530-1500 Lawrence F. Gall [email protected] Caribbean: [email protected] (see Memoirs opposite) Zone 5, The Plains: Isabel Vargas Fernandez Assistant Secretary WebMaster Ronald Alan Royer Museo de Zoologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Julian P. Donahue Division of Science, John A. Snyder Univ. Nacional Autonoma, Mexico, Natural History Museum, 900 Minot State University. (see WebMaster opposite) Apartado Postal 70-399, Exposition Boulevard, Los Minot, North Dakota 58707-0001, Mexico 04510 D.F., Mexico Angeles, CA 90007-4057, Members-At-Large Office: (701)858-3209, [email protected] (213) 763-3363 (office), (213) FAX: (701)839-6933, Stephanie Shank, Charles Harp, 746-2999 (fax) [email protected] Todd Stout, Richard Brown, [email protected] Charles V. Covell, Jr., Dan Rubinoff, Todd Gilligan, Peter X Jump, Bruce Walsh. M

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Horseshoe Mountain (elevation 13,898 feet) in central Colorado. The name is based on a glacier-carved cirque that opens onto a treeless alpine meadow located at 12,200 feet. Snowfields are still evident in early July even though wildflowers are blooming in the snow-free areas.

Wildflowers in the alpine meadow at the upper end of Leavick Valley on Horseshoe Mountain. The meadow is at the base of a nearly perfect glacial cirque. Early to mid July is prime time for flowering and butterfly activity even though snow can occur on any given day throughout the year.

Dr. Boyce Drummond, co-leader of The Nature Place’s 1990 workshop Class members carefully negotiate a snowfield in order to reach alpine on “The Biology of Butterflies,” exams a ‘Snow’s’ Lustrus Copper, a talus to search for butterfly specialists. Pockets of snow often remain bright coppery red butterfly that is a specialist on talus and difficult in protected areas throughout the entire summer months at these to net because of the loose rocks underfoot. high altitudes above the treeline. An Adventure in the Alpine Tundra of Colorado (see article p. 90)

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