Volume 52, Number 2 Summer 2010

Inside: The Status of Junonia evarete and J. genoveva The Biogeographical Case Against Butterfly Releases New Terminology for Describing Mate- Locating Behavior of Lepidoptera Proposed Constitutional Amendments Digital Collecting: The State of the Art Field Museum’s Castniidae Collection Now Online The John Burroughs Association Membership Update, Metamorphosis, Marketplace… …and more! Contents

The Identities of Papilio evarete Cramer and Papilio genoveva Volume 52, Number 2 Cramer (Nymphalidae), with Notes on the Occurrence of Junonia Summer 2010 evarete in Florida The Lepidopterists’ Society is a non-profit John V. Calhoun...... 47 educational and scientific organization. The Proposed Amendments to the Lepidopterists’ Society Constitution. 51 object of the Society, which was formed in Digital Collecting: The State of the Art May 1947 and formally constituted in De- David Horner...... 52 cember 1950, is “to promote internationally Conservation Matters: Under Their Own Steam: The the science of lepidopterology in all its Biogeographical Case Against Butterfly Releases branches; to further the scientifically sound Robert Michael Pyle...... 54 and progressive study of Lepidoptera, to is- New Terminology for Describing Mate-Locating Behavior of Butterflies sue periodicals and other publications on (and Moths), with Examples in Colorado Lepidoptera; to facilitate the exchange of James A. Scott...... 58 specimens and ideas by both the professional Flaiting Behavior on Hilltops in Day-Flying Alypia species worker and the amateur in the field; to com- pile and distribute information to other or- (Noctuidae, Agaristinae) that form a Mimicry Complex with ganizations and individuals for purposes of Anania funebris (Pyralidae) and Bumblebees education and conservation and appreciation James A. Scott...... 63 of Lepidoptera; and to secure cooperation in Membership Update and Metamorphosis all measures” directed towards these aims. Julian Donahue ...... 65 (Article II, Constitution of The Lepidopter- New Membership Directory Notice ists’ Society.) Julian Donahue ...... 65 The News of the Lepidopterists’ Society The Marketplace...... 66 (ISSN 0091-1348) is published quarterly by Less Common Butterflies of the Rocky Mountains The Lepidopterists’ Society, c/o Los Angeles George Krizek ...... 69 County Museum of Natural History, 900 Ex- The Mailbag...... 69 position Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057, John Burroughs Association USA., and includes one or two supplements Gary Noel Ross...... 70 each year. The Season Summary is pub- Parasitic Mite Larvae (Acari) on an Adult Strymon acis bartrami lished every year as Supplement S1 and is (Lycaenidae) mailed with issue 1 of the News. In even num- Mark H. Salvato and Holly L. Salvato...... 71 bered years a complete Membership Direc- tory is published as Supplement S2 and is Computerization of the Field Museum of Natural History Giant mailed with issue 4 of that volume of the Butterfly Moth Collection (Castniidae) News. Please see the inside back cover for in- James H. Boone, Jorge M. Gonzalez, Gracen M. Brilmyer structions regarding subscriptions, submis- and Daniel Le...... 72 sions to, and deadline dates for, the News. Executive Council/Season Summary Zone Coordinators...... 74, 75 Periodicals Postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and at additional mailing office (Lawrence, Issue Date: May 30, 2010 ISSN 0091-1348 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 Bramble Hairstreak (Callophrys dumetorum), Charlton Flats, Angeles National Society does not warrant or endorse prod- Forest, Los Angeles County, CA, April 1, 2007. Photo by David Horner. ucts or services of advertisers. Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society The Identities of Papilio evarete Cramer and Papilio genoveva Cramer (Nymphalidae), with Notes on the Occurrence of Junonia evarete in Florida John V. Calhoun 977 Wicks Drive, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 [email protected]

The true identities of Papilio evarete irregular. For his book on the basis of Cramer’s published and Papilio genoveva have long been butterflies of North America, Scott illustrations. Rendered by the Dutch disputed. Now placed in the genus (1986) elected to follow the artist Gerrit Wartenaar Lambertz Junonia Hübner, they were originally nomenclature of Clench & Bjorndal (1747-1803), these illustrations are described by the Dutch naturalist (1980), who applied these names to the generally more detailed than their Pieter Cramer (1721-1776) in his opposite species (J. Scott pers comm.). engraved counterparts. Although multivolume publication (completed by This enduring doubt caused some Turner & Parnell (1985) stated that Casper Stoll) on the butterflies of Asia, authors (e.g. Opler & Malikul 1992) to they consulted the “original drawings Africa, and America. Cramer’s type transpose facts about each species. of Cramer,” it does not appear that they specimens are lost, but he provided Based on an anticipated arrangement examined the drawings by Lambertz, hand-colored engraved illustrations of of Junonia by Lamas (2004), Opler and but rather used this phrase in reference each species (Pl. 203, figs. C & D and Warren (2002) also reversed the names to the published engravings. Neild Pl. 290, figs. E & F) (Cramer [1779], of these species relative to Turner & (2008) also argued that several [1780]). These names were sub- Parnell (1985). This nomenclature was characters used to separate these sequently used to recognize seasonal adopted for other publications, species in Jamaica are “of limited or no forms and subspecies. They were even including the popular field guide by value for specific distinction of the combined into the subspecies J. evarete Brock & Kaufman (2003). Despite this continental populations.” He found genoveva (see Schwartz 1989 for a trend, only anecdotal evidence that some of the characters used to review of their usage). Uncertainty also supported its validity and online identify these species in Jamaica apply plagued other aspects of their status. Lepidoptera talk groups continued to to the opposite species in the vicinity of Miller & Brown (1981) mentioned that debate the issue. These conflicting Suriname. Based on this evidence, the type locality of P. genoveva was “not interpretations left lepidopterists Neild (2008) designated neotypes, which stated” and “probably West Indian,” yet without a clear concept on which to objectively defined these nominal Cramer indicated that both species were base identifications of evarete and species as Papilio evarete=Tropical from “Suriname” (South America). genoveva. This changed in 2008 with Buckeye and Papilio genoveva The identities of these taxa are of the publication of the second volume of =Mangrove Buckeye. This action particular interest to those who study the comprehensive series of guide overturned the interpretation of Turner the butterflies of the southern United books, The Butterflies of Venezuela, by & Parnell (1985). Although many of States and Latin America. Andrew Neild. In fact, the nomen- Cramer’s references to “Suriname” are A key investigation by Turner & clature employed by Opler & Warren erroneous, the similarity of his Junonia Parnell (1985) confirmed that evarete (2002) and Lamas (2004) was based on illustrations to the butterflies of that and genoveva act as separate species in Neild’s unpublished research. region strongly supports Neild’s Jamaica, which corroborated the To better understand the status of J. conclusions. To help familiarize other observations of Clench & Bjorndal evarete and J. genoveva, Neild (2008) lepidopterists with his research, Andrew (1980) in the Bahamas. After “dedicated a disproportionate amount Neild kindly granted me permission to consulting Cramer’s illustrations, of time to Venezuelan and continental write this brief article and include Turner & Parnell concluded that J. Junonia in an attempt to unravel the relevant images in a comparative format evarete represented the species perceived enigma.” Because Cramer (Figs. 1-12). The original figures by commonly known as the Mangrove purportedly based his descriptions and Lambertz have not previously been Buckeye, while J. genoveva denoted the figures on specimens from “Suriname,” published. Tropical Buckeye. Most subsequent Neild compared numerous specimens Neild (2008) asserted that males of J. authors followed this usage, but the from that region of South America with evarete and J. genoveva can generally application of these names remained the original drawings that served as the be separated by the color of the ventral

Volume 52, Number 2 47 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2

11

2

1

4

B 4

3

2C

48 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society surface of the antennal club. In evarete through conventional taxonomic 1896). These specimens were mentioned it is usually pale and similar in color categories. Phylogenetic studies of the in the original description of zonalis by to the ventral shaft, while that of genus Junonia by Kodandaramaiah & Felder and Felder (1867). The first genoveva tends to be dark brown or Wahlberg (2007) support the separation author to document this butterfly was brownish-black, contrasting with the of evarete and genoveva (at least Sloane (1725), who figured a specimen color of the shaft. In female evarete the between some West Indian and from Jamaica (Figs. 13, 14). Sloane ventral club is variable in color, yet the Brazilian populations), but evidence used no name, but described the species extreme distal tip is usually pale. The suggests that additional subspecies and/ as “A small dark brown colour’d ventral club of female genoveva is or species await description within this Butterfly, with black spots like Eyes usually like that of the male. Turner group (Brévignon 2004, Lamas 2004, and some rusty marks.” He also & Parnell (1985) did not discuss the Neild 2008). Images of these species remarked, “’Tis to be met with genders1 of Cramer’s figured specimens. from various geographic locations are plentifully in the Savannas where it Pelham (2008) identified both as males, available on the valuable website, frisks up and down taking no long but Neild (2008) concluded that they Butterflies of America (Warren et al. Flight.” Butterflies recognized as J. were likely females, though the figures 2010). genoveva (Mangrove Buckeye) are of evarete possess some male Junonia evarete (Tropical2 Buckeye) found over a large portion of the characteristics. Despite this ranges throughout6 much of the Neotropics northward to Florida 7and assessment, a male specimen was Neotropics northward to the Texas. It occurs locally in Florida selected to serve as the neotype of southwestern United States and along the coast of the central 7and evarete, as Cramer’s written description Florida. Populations in southwestern southern peninsula in association with was based on both sexes and the ventral North America are extremely variable its hostplant, black mangrove antennal club of female evarete is and include the melanistic subspecies J. (Avicennia germinans (L.)L., occasionally darker, resembling that of e. nigrosuffusa Barnes & Avicenniaceae). Populations in Texas genoveva (A. Neild, pers. comm.). McDunnough, whose status remains are confined to the southern coast near Antennal coloration is seemingly unclear (it may involve multiple tracts of black mangroves, but these reliable in most areas, but this and species). Florida populations are butterflies are poorly understood and other diagnostic features reportedly considered to represent the subspecies often confused with phenotypes of J. break down in parts of Mexico (A. J. e. zonalis (C. Felder & R. Felder). evarete. Hybridization in this region Warren pers. comm.) and possibly Neild (2008) designated a male lectotype between these taxa and J. coenia elsewhere. Hafernik (1982) suspected of Junonia zonalis from among three complicates their identification. that these species are involved in a syntypes that were collected in Cuba Northern populations of J. genoveva complex pattern of interrelationships during the mid-19th century by are not taxonomically defined. 4 that may not easily be reconciled Johannes (Juan) Gundlach (1810- Andrew Neild has contributed much to

4 4

Junonia evarete and J. genoveva: Past and Present 1) dorsal engraving of Papilio evarete from Cramer ([1779]). 2) original dorsal drawing of P. evarete by G. W. Lambertz*. 3) male neotype of P. evarete (dorsal) from Suriname. 4) ventral engraving of P. evarete from Cramer ([1779]). 5) original ventral drawing of P. evarete by Lambertz*. 6) male neotype of P. evarete (ventral) from Suriname. 7) dorsal engraving of Papilio genoveva from Cramer ([1780]). 8) original dorsal drawing of P. genoveva by Lambertz*. 9) female neotype of P. genoveva (dorsal) from French Guiana. 10) ventral engraving of P. genoveva from Cramer ([1780]). 11) original ventral drawing of P. genoveva by Lambertz*. 12) female neotype of P. genoveva (ventral) from French Guiana. 13) dorsal engraving of J. evarete zonalis from Sloane (1725). 14) ventral engraving of J. e. zonalis from Sloane (1725). 15) earliest known specimen of J. evarete (dorsal) from Florida. (*© The Natural History Museum, London). 16-18) Junonia evarete zonalis, Miami-Dade Co., Florida: 16) dorsal male. 17) dorsal female. 18) ventral male.

Volume 52, Number 2 49 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 our basic understanding of J. evarete (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.)Vahl; Africa en America [Papillons exotique des and J. genoveva. Additional studies of Verbenaceae). Several locations in the trois parties du monde l’Asia, l’Afrique et l’Amerique]. Vol. III. S. J. Baalde; Utrecht, Neotropical Junonia will undoubtedly Keys where J. evarete occurred have Barthelemy Wild., Amsterdam. 1-128, pls. reveal more surprises. Visit been lost to development. This species 193-264. www.thebutterfliesofvenezuela.com for is now most frequent along the grassy ______. [1780]. De Uitlandsche kapellen more information about The Butterflies margins of drainage canals in western voorkomende in de drei waereld-deelen Asia, Africa en America [Papillons exotique des of Venezuela. A glowing review of the and southern Miami-Dade County. It trois parties du monde l’Asia, l’Afrique et second volume of this book was is multivoltine and adults can be found l’Amerique]. Vol. IV. S. J. Baalde; Utrecht, published recently by Penz (2010). throughout the year. They are mainly Barthelemy Wild., Amsterdam. 1-28, pls. 289- active during mid-afternoon, when they 304. Junonia evarete in Florida. During Felder, C. & R. Felder. 1867. Reise der November and December of 1981, J. perch and bask beside low levees that Österreichishischen Fregatte Novara um die evarete was found at several locations parallel the larger canals (Figs. 16-18). erde in den jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den befehlen des Commodore B. Von in the Florida Keys and in the vicinity Adults routinely settle on the ground, but are extremely wary and take flight Wüllerstorf-Urbair. Zoologischer theil. of Homestead on the Florida mainland Zweiter band. Zweite abtheilung: (Baggett 1982a, 1982b, pers. comm.). at the slightest provocation. The Lepidoptera. Rhopalocera. 3:379-536, pls. 48- This was thought to be first documented butterflies briefly visit flowers, 74. Hafernik, J. E., Jr. 1982. Phenetics and ecology occurrence of this species in Florida. especially beggerticks (Bidens alba (L.)DC). In late afternoon I have of hybridization in buckeye butterflies However, I discovered in the University (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Univ. Calif. of Michigan Museum of Zoology a single observed both sexes retreating to Publ. Entomol. 96:i-vii, 1-109. male of this species from Key Largo, brushier areas, presumably to rest for Kodandaramaiah, U. & N. Wahlberg. 2007. Out-of-Africa origin and dispersal-mediated collected on 16 August 1961 by Thomas the evening. The origin of Florida populations remains under diversification of the butterfly genus E. Pliske (Fig. 15). It is possible that Junonia (Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae). J. J. evarete has long occurred in Florida investigation (J. Marcus pers comm.). Evol. Biol. 20:2181-2191. as an irregular colonist, most likely Lamas, G. (ed.). 2004). Checklist: Part 4A: Acknowledgements Hesperioidea – Papilionoidea. In Heppner, J. from Cuba, but overlooked because of Thanks are extended to Andrew Neild for his B. (ed.), Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. its similarity to J. genoveva and meticulous research, as well as for generously Vol. 5A. Assoc. Tropical Lepid.; Sci. Publ., especially the abundant J. coenia. The sharing his evidence and supporting this article. Gainesville, Florida. 1961 specimen was found among a He also offered helpful comments on an early Marcus, J. M. 2007. A history of invasion and hybridization in the buckeye butterflies series of J. genoveva, thus other draft of the manuscript. Rienk de Jong granted permission to reproduce images of the P. evarete (genus Junonia) of Florida. Presentation Florida specimens of J. evarete may be neotype. Mark O’Brien photographed the 1961 abstract. Pp. 15, In Program of the 58th misidentified in collections. It is also Florida specimen of J. evarete and Thomas Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterists’ Society. conceivable that purported Florida Pliske recalled its capture. Linda Cooper Bakersfield, California. Miller, L. D. & F. M. Brown. 1981. A catalogue/ hybrids between J. coenia and J. provided the photos of living J. evarete. Nick Grishin, Jeffrey Marcus, Charlie Sassine, checklist of the butterflies of America north genoveva (Remington 1968, Scott 1986) James Scott, John Shuey, and Andy Warren of Mexico. Lepid. Soc. Mem. No. 2. vii+280 include specimens of J. evarete. The discussed their experiences with Junonia. pp. individual of J. evarete found in 1961 Beverly Pope and John Heppner assisted in Neild, A. F. E. 2008. The butterflies of Venezuela. Part 2: Nymphalidae II was thought to be such a hybrid (T. obtaining literature. Thanks also to Mark Salvato for directing me to areas in southern (Acraeinae, Libytheinae, Nymphalinae, Pliske, pers. comm.) and I initially Florida where J. evarete was recently observed. Ithomiinae, Morphinae). A comprehensive mistook individuals of this species to be guide to the identification of adult hybrids when I encountered them on Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Pieridae. Literature Cited Meridian Publ., London. 276 pp, 84 pl. Plantation Key in 1981. Rutkowski Baggett, H. D. 1982a. Report on the 1981 Opler , P. A. & V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to (1971) observed on Big Pine Key what Homestead meeting. So. Lepid. News 3:19- eastern butterflies. Houghton Mifflin, he believed were “copulating pairs 23. Boston, Massachusetts. xvii+396 pp. representing various intergradations” _____. 1982b. 1981 season summary: Florida. Opler, P. A. & A. D. Warren. 2002. Butterflies of North America. 2. Scientific names list between J. coenia and J. genoveva. News Lepid. Soc. No. 2 (Mar/Apr):26-27. Brévignon, C. 2004. Description de deux for butterfly species of North America, north Despite this potential confusion, nouvelles sous-espèces guadeloupéennes du of Mexico. Contrib. C. P. Gillette Mus. Arth. Marcus (2007) confirmed that the DNA genre Junonia Hübner, 1819 (Lepidoptera, Biodiv., Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins, of J. genoveva and J. evarete from Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae) Lambillionea Colorado. 79 pp. Pelham, J. P. 2008. A catalogue of the Florida show evidence of hybridization 104 (1): 72-80. Brock, J. P. & K. Kaufman. 2003. Butterflies butterflies of the United States and Canada, with J. coenia. of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New with a complete bibliography of the descriptive and systematic literature. J. Res. Junonia evarete remains restricted in York, New York. 383 pp. Clench, H. K. & K. A. Bjorndal. 1980. Lepid. 40:i-xiv, 1-652. Florida to the extreme southern Butterflies of Great and Little Inagua, Penz, C. 2010. Book review: the butterflies of peninsula and Keys, where it inhabits Bahamas. Ann. Carnegie Mus. 49:1-30. Venezuela, Part 2: Nymphalidae II weedy disturbed habitats in association Cramer, P. [1779]. De Uitlandsche kapellen (Acraeinae, Libytheinae, Nymphalinae, Ithomiinae, Morphinae), by Andrew F. E. with its hostplant, blue porterweed voorkomende in de drei waereld-deelen Asia,

50 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

Neild. J. Lepid. Soc. 64:51-51. Jamaica; with the natural history of the herbs Hispaniola. Univ. Florida Pr., Gainesville, Remington,Competitor C. L. 1968. Suture-zonesand mate of hybrid and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, Florida. xii+580 pp. signalinginteraction between in recentlysatyrines joined biotas. insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those Turner, T. W. & J. R. Parnell. 1985. The Evol. Biol. 2:321-428. islands. To which is prefix’d, an introduction, identification of two species of Junonia Rutkowski, F. 1971. Notes on some south wherein is an account of the inhabitants, air, Hübner (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): J. Florida Lepidoptera. J. Lepid. Soc. 25:137- waters, diseases, trade, &c. of that place; with evarete and J. genoveva in Jamaica. J. Res. 139. some relations concerning the neighbouring Lepid. 24:142-153. Scott, J. A. 1986. Butterflies of North America: continent, and islands of America. Illustrated Warren, A. D., K. J. Davis, N. V. Grishin, J. P. a natural history and field guide. Stanford with the figures of the things described, which Pelham, E. M. Stangeland. 2010. Butterflies Univ. Pr., Stanford, California. xv+583 pp., have not been heretofore engraved. In large of America. Interactive listing of American 64 pl. copper-plates as big as the life. Vol. II. Author, butterflies. Website: http:// Sloane, 1725. A voyage to the islands Madera, London, England. xviii+499 pp., pls. 157-274. www.butterfliesofamerica.com. Barbadoes, Nieves, St. Christophers, and Schwartz, A. 1989. The butterflies of Proposed Amendments to the Lepidopterists’ Society Constitution

The following three amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Lepidopterists’ Society have been proposed by the Executive Council. A complete copy of the Constitution and By-Laws can be found in the 2008 Membership Directory. If any member has questions or concerns about the proposed amendments they should direct them to the members of the Executive Council. Mailing and email addresses for the Executive Council can be found in this issue on page 75.

Proposed Amendment A Proposed Amendment C Add to Article III Section 7 at the end of the last sentence: Article VII of the Constitution shall be amended as follows. “, except that election of Charter Members, defined in Delete the current Section 2 and replace with the following: Section 3 of this Article, shall not be limited by this Section 2. The Executive Council may conduct business of maximum.” the Society between meetings. Actions and decisions of the Add to Article V Section 3 at the end of the last sentence: Executive Council shall be made available to the Society as “except that election of Charter Members may exceed the soon as practicable, but in no event later than the annual stated limit of two in one year.” meeting following the actions or decisions. Proposed Amendments B Section 3. A quorum of the Executive Council shall consist of a majority of the active members of the Executive Council. Article VII section 1 shall be amended as follows: In the first sentence delete: “in affiliation with the International Section 4. In addition to the annual meeting of the Executive Congress of Entomology or the annual meeting of the Council, meetings of the Executive Council may be held American Association for the Advancement of Science or remotely via conference calls in lieu of in-person meetings. at such other” and replace with “at such time and place as Between meetings, the Executive Council may take actions the Executive Council may determine.” or make decisions by mail or electronic means, provided: if any member of the Executive Council requests that the matter Article IX, Section 1 shall be amended to include the Web to be decided or acted upon be put over to a meeting of the Editor as part of the Editorial Board. Executive Council, it shall not be decided or acted upon until Article XI shall be amended to include the following new the next meeting of the Executive Council. sections: Section 5. Whenever a matter is to be decided or acted upon Section 3. The Archivist shall be appointed by the by the Executive Council between meetings, there shall be Executive Council. The Archivist shall serve for three years, seven days for discussion of the matter followed by seven days or until a successor shall have been appointed. for the votes of the members of Executive Council to be cast. If a member of the Executive Council does not cast a vote Section 4. the Archivist shall have charge of the archives during the seven day voting period, it shall be deemed an of Society and shall coordinate with the Librarian with abstention. respect thereto. All uses of masculine pronouns in the Constitution shall be amended to include the feminine as well, i.e. references X to “he” shall become “he or she,” references to “him” shall become “her or him,” etc.

Volume 52, Number 2 51 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 Digital Collecting: Butterfly Photography and the State of the Art David Horner 655 Copeland Ct. Apt. D, Santa Monica, CA 90405 [email protected]

Like many young boys I enjoyed techniques but my single most valuable alarms into the GPS. Now when I’m exploring the woods, ponds and gadget in the field is an angle finder. It’s traveling one of those long mountain meadows on the fringes of a growing a little inverted periscope that attaches roads where everything starts to look suburb, looking for any critters I could to the eyepiece and is responsible for the same, I’ll hear a beep and see get my hands on. I brought home more than half of my successful images. “Plebejus podarce cilla” flashing in garter snakes, salamanders and even It allows me to approach from the bright yellow as it counts down the some Monarch caterpillars that were ground up and work effectively mere yards. If you’ve ever lost track of a little successfully raised in a large glass jar inches above the earth and rocks where spot you visited some time ago you’ll in our backyard. But my interest in the most of my subjects live. Of course the love it as much as I do. Truth is I study of Lepidoptera came by accident first thing I bought after the angle- usually know where I’m going to stop decades later out of a simple but finder was a pair of knee-pads… Once before it beeps but I still think it’s cool pressing need to organize a rapidly you have this ability a whole new world when it does…and it’s saved me enough growing collection of digital opens up photographically but it’s a times to earn it’s keep. photographs. For years I carried a cruel place for grown-up knees. When In fact Geotagging is just one kind of camera and macro lens with me as I I’m shooting Metalmarks for example, metadata that makes digital collecting hiked the temperate rain forests of I shuffle through the hot gravel on my exciting. There are endless possibilities coastal British Columbia but I never pads while cradling the camera in my for encoding valuable information, and had a particular subject in mind. When hands, curled over the eyepiece. This with the right software tools you can I first explored Southern California I creates one solid mass moving slowly customize this to your needs. I’ve re- struggled to interpret this new towards the insect with no limbs or tasked some of the database cells environment through my lens before giant camera moving into their intended for press photographers to stumbling onto a large colony of airspace. This is about ten times more store common names, scientific names, Euphydryas chalcedona in the San effective than coming in from above and gender and plant names. Now I think Gabriel Mountains. Surrounded by stretching out my hand. If I can pull of it, I could make some to filter larvae hundreds of butterflies each intricately this off and move like the wind, I can and adults since they share the same patterned and coloured, I found my become a portrait photographer instead name… The point is, it’s up to me to inspiration and it quickly became the of a paparazzo. Since I won’t have the decide what’s important information primary subject of my photography. opportunity to view this specimen on a and how to organize, retrieve and Occasionally I find myself having to spreading board I want to record the collate the data. The current trend in explain why I drove hundreds of miles most detailed and complete view software design is so-called “Smart to find an insect the size of a postage possible. Filters” and I’m crazy about them. In stamp, and it’s in these moments I’m The angle finder lives on a strap around Adobe Lightroom I have smart glad I take pictures. Nothing explains my neck and makes me look like a film collections for each species by scientific an obsession with butterflies quite like director. However, as gadgets go, it’s not name. As soon as I label a group of a well-executed photograph. Its appeal exactly hi-tech. On the other hand, my photos they automatically populate is universal. GPS unit has no less than those collections. Since I’m mostly a The truth is butterfly photographers revolutionized my digital collection. It weekend warrior I have my butterfly have it rough. If you’re carrying a net hangs off my backpack and all I have photographs tagged with a weekly or binoculars, you’re up against a to do is turn it on, then connect it to number from 1 to 52. Before I head out whole lot less. If we want to come home my computer when I get home. Now I next Sunday I can see what’s been flying with decent photos we need to get up can click on an image I shot years ago this week in previous years along with close and personal with our subjects. I and within seconds I’m printing out the locations and species photographed. shoot butterflies with a Digital SLR directions in Google Maps. I’ve even With a couple mouse clicks I can bring and have adapted various tools and used this data to program proximity Continued on p. 71

52 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

1

4

2

5 1) Sierra Nevada Blue (Plebejus podarce cilla), Sherman Pass, CA, June 28, 2009; 2) White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata), Homewood Canyon, CA, April 13, 2009; 3) Dainty Sulpher (Nathalis iole), Little Hell Canyon, AZ, September 8, 2007; 4) Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia), Sherman Pass, CA, July 26, 2009; 5) Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo cythera) Grizzly Flat, Angeles National Forest, LA Co. CA, July 27, 2008. All photos: David Horner. See back cover for 3 more photos.

Volume 52, Number 2 53 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 Conservation Matters: Contributions from the Conservation Committee Under Their Own Steam: The Biogeographical Case Against Butterfly Releases

Robert Michael Pyle Swede Park, 369 Loop Road, Gray’s River, Washington 98621-9702 [email protected]

Who among us cannot recall a butterfly insect into a natural environment.” ipso facto, and irrefutable: when you encountered where we least expected to Never mind that the natural take a butterfly from point A and find it? A range extension, a county or environment might not be suitable for release it at point B, our perception of maybe even a state record, a species such releases. which butterflies normally occupy point found way outside our experience of its Butterfly releases have long been B is automatically skewed: this point habitat, elevational limits, or flight controversial and generally ill-received cannot logically be argued against: if period? Such anomalous findings are by both amateur and professional you want to know what flies where, you not only exciting, intriguing, and fun, students of Lepidoptera. In an early act don’t mess with it. they are the very stuff of biogeography: of resistance, the presidents of the This has nothing to do with any the science of what occurs where, and Lepidopterists’ Society, the Xerces moralistic view of “natural” vs. why, or if it doesn’t, why not. No Society, and the North American “unnatural” distribution. Everything branch of biology is more critical these Butterfly Association collaborated to humans do affects the existence of other days to conservation, interpretation of write a letter protesting this practice. organisms, and in one important sense, climate change and its impacts, and the Their letter was ultimately edited by if we consider ourselves part of the overall response of organisms to a NABA, posted on its website, and biological community, all we do is part dynamic world, than biogeography. augmented with additional discussion of natural history. That doesn’t mean And few activities are less helpful to (Glassberg et al, 2005). Subsequently, that everything we do is acceptable, by biogeographical studies than the Xerces Society staff members and this standards we establish for ourselves deliberate shifting of animals and writer studied the issue in detail and out of our sense of what is good for plants from hither to yon. promulgated a new policy on releases, society and its individuals, and what is We who study butterfly distribution which also summarizes the breeding not. My argument is that when we labor today under the thoroughly trade and the overall topic (Pyle et al, knowingly manipulate animals’ unhelpful and disruptive practice of 2010). While both of these statements whereabouts, we lose the opportunity commercial butterfly releases. In this refer to potential genetic, disease, to understand where they occur on their activity, mercantile breeders rear ethical, and other considerations own; and that this has potential livestock to sell for release by schools, pertaining to releases, the Xerces policy consequences worth considering (Pyle, at weddings, funerals, and other recognizes that the primary problem is 1998). ceremonies, and the like. Such releases biogeographical confusion. This essay USDA policy permits nine species are represented as educational and concerns only that aspect of the issue. (Agraulis vanillae, Danaus plexippus, “green”’ to unwitting customers. For Proponents of butterfly releases, chiefly Heliconius charitonius, Papilio example, Anderson (2008) quoted those engaged in the activity cresphontes, Papilio polyxenes, Esther Novis of The Young Scientists commercially, argue that their Nymphalis antiopa, Vanessa atalanta, Club, “a company that makes a variety opponents lack data to back up their V. cardui, V. virginiensis) to be released of nature kits,” as saying “Children complaints. They say there is no across state lines, according to a want to be more involved with ‘saving evidence to prove our contentions. In specified matrix that is supposed to keep their earth.’” In the same source, the case of genetic disruption or species within their native ranges Vanessa Toews, the suitably named diseases, such evidence would entail (Wehling, 2003). But some of the representative of Insect Lore, the major damage already done, so perhaps the permitted, so-called “native” territory shipper of painted lady butterflies, says: precautionary principle should apply. lies at or beyond the edge of normal “After the metamorphosis has occurred But when it comes to interference with distribution of the species involved, so inside the habitat (indoors) [sic], we our understanding of butterfly releases there may confuse strays, encourage our customers to release the distribution, the evidence is empirical, vagrants, and colonists with resident

54 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

“natives.” Furthermore, while a species overvaluing those fictive West Coast Salem. A vigorous program to restore may indeed have been historically release recoveries (Pyle, 1999). To this milkweed stands has been underway, at recorded from the release destination, day, certain of his former collaborators wineries and other open space reserves, that does not mean it occurs there at fail to grasp the straightforward fact to receive summer monarch the time of release: biogeography has a that a monarch taken from A, released immigrants. But how can those in temporal dimension as well as a spatial at B, and recovered at C, says nothing charge gain any clear idea of how their one, and this is often ignored or about what wild monarchs originating efforts are faring, when wedding forgotten. For example, several years at B might actually do, or where they monarchs are dumped into the environs ago a spate of very rare gulf fritillaries really go. of Eugene, Salem, and Portland? For (Agraulis vanillae) turned up in Ohio One of the sensible aspects of USDA all these reasons, it is my strong (J. Peacock,. pers. comm.), causing release policy disallows mixture of opinion that monarch transfer and great excitement among butterfly eastern and western monarchs, thanks release beyond their county of natural recorders. Did they get there on their to a paper by key monarch scientists origin should be illegal. own, or did they have help? The USDA (Brower et al, 1995). Some have tried So what about painted ladies? Many matrix permits gulf frit release in Ohio. to use my results to break down that people, even among those who despise It is easy to see how releases could smart legal barrier. But just because releases in general, see little harm in the perturb butterfly monitoring transects, some western monarchs go to Mexico industrial painted lady trade, since annual butterfly counts, our society’s does not mean that the entire East and “they occur everywhere.” But really, Season’s Summary, and many other West monarch kingdoms are panmictic! they don’t. Painted lady immigrations measures of presence and absence. Clearly, they maintain substantially (from a U.S./Canada standpoint, The breeders contend that the vast different evolutionary patterns, and to emigrations from a Mexican view) are proportion of their trade involves only mix them willy-nilly could be events of great subtlety and wild annual two species, the monarch (Danaus disastrous. At a time when the entire fluctuations. Most years, painted ladies plexippus) and the painted lady future of the North American migratory are absent to uncommon in most places, (Vanessa cardui). That fact fails to monarch phenomenon is more while other years they close freeways comfort me. Let’s look first at threatened than ever (lowest winter with their sheer numbers. I contend monarchs. In 1996, I showed that a numbers ever recorded in both Mexico that Vanessa cardui comprises one of certain proportion of monarchs found and California (Monarch Watch), illegal the great scientific mysteries in west of the Continental Divide actually logging in Mexico (Brower et al, many American biology, with a great deal still migrate into Mexico, against fifty-plus papers), Roundup-Ready soy and BT to be learned—except that the system years of received wisdom to the corn in the North, development and has been utterly compromised by the contrary (Pyle, 1999; Brower and Pyle, spraying of milkweed stands release of millions of ladies each year 2004). Subsequent studies with wild (Cherubini, pers. comm.), prolonged by schoolchildren. Eric Metzler (pers. monarchs have confirmed this (Chris drought, climate change, and on and comm.) informs me that in Kline, pers. comm.), showing that the on), it has become crucial for us to Alamogordo, NM, every year at the western monarch picture (and thus the understand their continental move- Earth Day celebration, hundreds (if overall monarch conservation picture) ments—under their own steam! not thousands) of painted ladies are is much more complex than long When celebrants are misled into released by the local schoolchildren, imagined: we must consider the entire thinking that they are doing something who reared them for the purpose. North American migratory monarch ecologically acceptable, even positive, Though on a lesser scale, this activity phenomenon as an integrated system. by tossing monarchs into the void at is mirrored across the country. This Where did that long-held yet erroneous their events, they are in fact party to remarkable migrant and scientifically shibboleth of the Continental Divide as scientific vandalism; rather than acting fecund organism has been reduced to an Berlin Wall for monarchs come from, “green,” they are helping to undermine industrial animal, like Bombyx mori or anyway? From releases! As shown in our ability to correctly interpret the Gallus gallus domesticus. Unlike silk Urquhart (1977), it was largely response of wild monarchs to all the moths or chickens, there are still wild California monarchs, transferred, challenges they face. This is painted ladies; but how to tell them in tagged, and released in British particularly true in the West, where the field from domestic stock, blithely Columbia, and recovered back in monarchs are fewer, more scattered, tossed around like so many beads at California, that gave rise to the notion and far less well understood in their Mardi Gras? We have, in effect, lost that all western monarchs winter on migration than in the Midwest and this animal to biogeographical science. the California coast. Urquhart, a great farther east. For just one example, But what I consider a loss to science, monarch pioneer, ignored other consider the Willamette Valley of others consider a gain in classroom recoveries of wild Idaho monarchs that Oregon. Showy milkweed (Asclepias terms. Do the educational benefits of pointed toward Mexico, while speciosa) is indigenous north to about industrial V. cardui make up for their

Volume 52, Number 2 55 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 sacrifice in the wild? The answer seems Wagner, F. Sperling pers. comm.). distribution” that can result from to lie in the eyes of the beholder. I have Maybe so. But would it not be possible releases, involving Dryas iulia in visited many second-grade classrooms to utilize them so, without releasing Florida. During a meeting in where children loved their painted them? Of course the act of release is Gainesville, he and Lee Miller observed ladies, and have seen their smiles for cathartic and sentimentally a Julia longwing feeding on flowers. As myself. But I have seen their tears, too, rewarding—I have experienced it the species is extremely rare in when disappointed by butterfly death myself, and I understand its appeal. For northern Florida, Calhoun captured it and morbidity from inbreeding some adults, rearing a butterfly with his hands. Later they saw depression and disease; and I’ve heard without release is tantamount to coitus another Julia flying around the present teachers tell of painted ladies thrashed interruptus. But for kids, keeping them site of the McGuire Center. Soon they back and forth on windshield wipers in indoors until they die naturally would discovered that someone had released March sleet after planned but be a far better lesson than releasing some butterflies prior to the meeting infelicitous release events. I also them into inhospitable conditions, or that “may have included some question the quality of the educational reinforcing that it’s OK to plunk julias.” Challenged on it, the person experience. Caterpillars arriving in a critters here and there—bullfrogs out argued that “the species occurred in box, feeding on agar, pupating indoors, of range, anyone? Should we release Florida, so he didn’t see why it was then released at a time and place they classroom koi and cichlids into local such a big deal.” As Calhoun wrote, may not belong—is this any optimal ponds? After all, if it is okay to release “Had we not been aware of this release, way to learn about leps? It strikes me ladies where we will, why not these specimens would surely be pinned as a sadly second-rate take on butterfly everything else? It seems to me that in the McGuire Center and considered lives, compared to local animals setting painted ladies free far from their to be valuable captures.” And what subsisting on real plants. point of origin just reinforces the idea about the cluster of queens that It is indeed harder for teachers to bring that animal chess is A-OK. Surely appeared at Tri-Cities, Washington, wild insects indoors than it used to be: children should learn to respect biotic along the Snake River, not long ago— habitats have retreated, administrators integrity as a matter of course. vanguards of expansion, or mere discourage field trips, their time is Another good reason to resist transfers releases? Such edge-of-range records, if taken with standard tests, and so on. of vanessids is that they may be highly genuine, may sign responses to And yet, as Richard Louv shows in Last instructive of climate change. One warming trends. They hold the Child in the Woods (1995), children’s recent, mild February, Thea Pyle found capacity to teach us a great deal about direct contact with the more-than- an American painted lady along the our shifting climate—unless well- human in the out-of-doors is Columbia River estuary in Washington, meaning but misguided people mangle dramatically declining, with baleful and Mike Patterson recorded a V. cardui the available data through releases. consequences (hence our society’s across the river in Oregon: the first One misconception often trotted out is Outernet Project). “No child left Northwest winter records for both. that the number of released individuals behind” should be no excuse to give up Overwintering red admirals are also likely to be recorded must be so low as on “no child left inside.” I know increasing in incidence. All three of to be statistically insignificant. Google teachers who learn the local fauna well these highly vagile species can be “butterfly releases,” then tell me enough to expose their pupils to all expected to advance to the north as whether you think the chances of stages of metamorphosis without winters ameliorate. But to what avail spotting one are “insignificant.” resorting to spending scarce district their monitoring for such change, in Regardless, this attitude belies an dollars on virtual lab clones masking view of releases? When I saw a painted ignorance of basic biogeographical as butterflies. It may be up to NABA lady in 2008 at Coldfoot, Alaska, on the practice: biological distribution is not chapters and Lep Soc volunteers, but way to the North Slope, did it get there a statistical condition. The basic unit we should not give up on wild, plant- on its own? (Ken Philip, pers. comm., of biogeography is the dot on the map. eating Lepidoptera in our classrooms has very few Alaskan records, and When the reliability of any one datum and schoolyards in place of commercial trusts none of them.) The painted lady is suspect, then no datum can be fully simulacra, whenever possible. Local may already be lost, and I am not naive trusted. Thus, every single instance of wooly bears work fine! enough to think the industry based on a released butterfly apprehended means In the meantime, industrial painted it will be constrained. I would like to “garbage in” to the data base. Ergo, ladies may be better than nothing, urge responsible teachers, however, not all releases potentially matter. especially in the city. Respected to release them, and to use that Jonathan Pelham, author of the Catalog lepidopterists who subscribe to most of decision as a teachable moment in their of the Butterflies of the United States the precepts in this piece believe that V. classrooms. and Canada and co-coordinator of the cardui kits furnish valuable exposure John Calhoun (pers. comm.) shared a Northwest Lepidoptera Survey, will no for students to butterfly life cycles (D. compelling example of the “falsified longer accept any records of monarchs

56 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society from Washington because of their In an editorial based largely (and Why this category is coming alive. edplay fundamental unreliability thanks to admittedly) on information furnished December, p. 16-18. Brower, L.P. and 14 co-authors. 1995. On the releases. That fact alone should make by commercial butterfly suppliers, the dangers of interpopulational transfers of the case. If not, consider the integrity prominent Australian insect monarch butterflies. Bioscience 45: 540-44. of our state butterfly surveys, which conservationist T. R. New (2008) wrote, Brower, Lincoln P. and Robert M. Pyle. 2004. serve as cornerstones of natural “there seems to be little confirmed The interchange of migratory monarchs between Mexico and the western United heritage programs and conservation conservation concern arising States, and the importance of floral corridors planning. The release of songbirds has from...ceremonial releases of to the autumn and spring migrations. In been illegal for decades; many feel it is butterflies.” I hope the present essay Conserving Migratory Pollinators and high time to accord equal regard for our suggests to my colleague, friend, and Nectar Corridors in Western North America. Edited by Gary Paul Nabhan, butterflies and their unmonkeyed sometime co-author that this statement Chapter 8, pp. 144-166. Tucson: University ranges. One breeder told me that since of his was off the mark. Applied of Arizona Press. plants are already so mixed up, why not biogeography is one of the greatest Glassberg, Jeffrey, Paul Opler, Robert M. Pyle, butterflies? Why not indeed? Do we tools of conservation, and as such, any Robert Robbins, and James Tuttle. There’s no need to release butterflies—they’re already really want our butterfly fauna to suffer activity that interferes with it, as free. http://www.naba.org/weddings.html the same tossed-salad treatment that releases do, is a serious concern. Louv, Richard. 1995. The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature our native flora has withstood? If so, I do not demonize the butterfly breeders release away. The plain fact is, we do Deficit Disorder. Chapel Hill: Algonquin and releasers, some of them admired Books. not respect and promote the friends. In fact, I am going willingly New, T. R. 2008. Are butterfly releases at understanding of our native fauna and into the lion’s maw this fall, during my weddings a conservation concern or opportunity? Journal of Insect Conservation flora by moving them about like pawns book tour for Mariposa Road, to speak on the landscape map. 12: 93-95. to the International Butterfly Breeders’ Pyle, Robert Michael. 1998. The Biogeography Of course, legitimate releases for Association on the subject of common of Hope: Why transporting butterflies is a conservation and reestablishment ground. As well as sharing with me bad idea. Monarch News 8 (6): 6-7. Pyle, Robert Michael. 1999. Chasing Monarchs: purposes do occur. These include some of the above viewpoints, the Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage. Oregon Zoo’s rearing program for the president of IBBA, Dale McClung (pers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin company. threatened Oregon silverspots, and comm.) has also indicated his and his Pyle, Robert M., Sarina J. Jepsen, Scott endangered mission blue reintro- colleagues’ willingness to discuss Hoffman Black and Mia Monroe. 2010. Xerces SocietyPolicy on Butterfly ductions in San Francisco. But such mutual concerns. Perhaps there are Releases. http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/ exercises will always be rare, well ways we can work together, by making uploads/2010/01/xerces-butterfly-release- planned, carefully controlled, and fully sure all their stock is raised from truly policy.pdf documented exercises, conducted with local, wild sources and not shipped Urquhart, F. A. and N. R. Urquhart. 1977. Overwintering areas and migratory routes full knowledge of the historical range outside the county of origin, as the of the monarch butterfly (Danaus p. of the species. John Calhoun (pers. Xerces policy suggests; or maintained plexippus, Lepidoptera: Danaidae) in North comm.) intercepted a nature center’s indoors in schools. While some America, with special reference to the western plans to “re”introduce Eumaeus atala breeders are merely in it for the money population. The Canadian entomologist 109: 1583-89. in a county where it had never actually and might as well be peddling widgets, Wehling, Wayne. 2003. USDA-APHIS-PPQ been known to occur. The project was I believe most of them really love Butterfly Environmental Release Decision aborted, but not without expense and butterflies, as we do. But most did not Chart.www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/ embarrassment for the planners More begin as collectors, and therefore lack butterflies/index.html than thirty years ago, the Joint our sense of excitement based on Committee for the Conservation of butterflies’ natural whereabouts. I British Insects adopted a policy against believe they simply fail to understand insect introductions, unless carefully the real concerns their activities raise. researched, planned, and recorded. It Speaking of Mariposa Road, when I is far past time to adopt a similar policy undertook the first Butterfly Big Year here; but so far, IBBA seems to have across the USA throughout 2008, it USDA’s ear more than NABA, Xerces, mattered very much to me whether each or the Lepidopterists’ Society. That butterfly I encountered could be trusted money talks should be no surprise, but to have landed where it was, under its that scientific opinion should be ignored own steam. I believe it should matter is unfortunate. At the very least, a to us all. vigorous and open-minded dialogue should ensue, and USDA policies be References cited: thoroughly revisited. Anderson, Kari. 2008. Insects, ants, and plants:

Volume 52, Number 2 57 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 New Terminology for Describing Mate- Locating Behavior of Butterflies (and Moths), with Examples in Colorado James A. Scott 60 Estes Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80226-1254 USA [email protected]

Mate-locating behavior is an important, flent to find the pheromone-emitting ambiguity that now plagues the but poorly-reported, subject. Effective males.) literature. mate-locating behavior allows butterfly These new names are based on simple But a complete description of the mate- species to exist at a low density that combinations of words (Rest to awAIT locating behavior of a species includes would lead them to extinction without females=RAIT; FLy to awAIT THREE parts: the method used to bring it. So it is key to the existence of most females=FLAIT; FLy to sEEK the sexes together described by the of the 17000 butterfly species on earth. females=FLEEK; FLy to locate the above words (do males rait, flait, fleek, Yet mate-locating behavior of most of female by scENT=FLENT). Each or flent?), where in the habitat they do those species is still unknown. name can be used as adjectives, nouns, it, and when they do it. Where do the Because of confusion in current names or verbs: one can discuss raiting species sexes come together?, on hilltops?, in for mate-locating behavior, new (or flaiting, fleeking, flenting species) gulches?, on top of the hostplant unambiguous, simple, and practical or raiting etc. behavior. Species doing bushes?, on rocks at the bottom of a names are required. The new names are that behavior are raiters (others are cliff?, for example. When do the sexes used here to describe new mate- flaiters, fleekers, flenters), or one can come together?, in early morning?, all locating-behavior for some Colorado say that those species or their males day?, or late afternoon-evening? To butterflies, and then are used to rait (while others flait, fleek, flent). determine these three parts, one must describe interesting new mate-locating Moths are important too!, as butterflies watch males, especially when the males behavior in some day-flying moths that are just day-flying Ditrysia moths. Most investigate or chase other butterflies or seem to be involved in mimicry. moths flent, as the female emits a scent other animals or objects, and note what Following are the new names for (pheromone), usually at night, when the male was doing before the describing mate-locating behavior, first the male flies around (across the wind investigation (resting or flying?) and proposed by Scott (2006). to first pick up the scent) to detect the where he did it and when. RAIT—males rest (land), wait, and scent, then he zigzags upwind through Why do we need new names? watch at a genetic mating site for the scent plume (using the “stereo” Existing names have problems. I females to arrive at that rendezvous scent-detection capability of his two published two papers in 1974 and 1975a site for mating, where males fly out to antennae) until he reaches the female, on mate-locating behavior of butterflies investigate passing individuals to see if whereupon he releases another that introduced names for mate- they are receptive females. aphrodisiac pheromone to convince the locating behaviors, and used those female of his conspecificity, and mating names on butterfly species mostly from FLAIT—males fly around a small ensues. Day-flying males like Colorado. Some other people used those genetic mating site (and may Hemileuca flent to locate females, and names in print. Unfortunately, I gave occasionally land), to wait for females can be lured to cages containing virgin names to the main behaviors— to arrive at that rendezvous site for females. “perching” and “patrolling”—that mating. These four new words cannot be proved unfortunate, because those FLEEK—males fly farther (a confused with other words because none names have other dictionary meanings, substantial portion of the habitat) to are in Webster’s unabridged english causing great confusion as many people search for receptive females for mating. dictionary, and none are in german or now use those names for different Males of both these types investigate french or spanish or latin dictionaries. behaviors. And those words are dull, individuals they see while flying. So these words are unambiguous, leading many lepidopterists to ignore those names and seek out and use more FLENT—males in most moths fly precise, simple, and practical, and will charismatic words taken from (often far) to find a scent (pheromone) provide a good system for describing the vertebrate behavior that are generally that the female emits to lure the male mate-locating behavior of butterflies inappropriate for insects (such as for mating. (In Hepialidae, the females and other insects, without the territoriality, leks, etc., see below).

58 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

The term “perching behavior” was patrolling were a failure, because they The distraction of “territoriality”. proposed in 1974 for male butterflies confusingly have multiple meanings, so The word territoriality has been a that wait at certain sites for females to they fail to unambiguously distraction that has prevented arrive, and fly out to investigate communicate the actual behavior, and lepidopterists from properly reporting passing butterflies to see if they are many people have looked elsewhere for butterfly mate-locating behavior. Back receptive females. But many people use words to describe what they see, in 1974-1975, I argued that butterflies the word “perching” for merely resting creating chaos. should not be called territorial, because (Webster’s Dictionary gives half a In my 1986 book (Scott 1986) I tried to they lack offensive weapons with which dozen meanings for “perch”, and fix the words, by phrasing them “perch to fight, and they are not “pugnacious” “vantage point” is only part of one of to await females” and “patrol to seek or “aggressive” as some people write. them), so they use the word “perch” for females” to explain them better, but And despite a hundred papers since then any insect that sits or rests on a that fix was not enough, as the that either claim butterflies are substrate. Or they use the word perch confusion continued unabated in the territorial or use the word to describe merely to describe the resting substrate literature. their behavior, I still object to the (such as a leaf), without intending any word’s use on butterflies. description of mate-locating behavior at Perching and patrolling words wrongly all. Considerable confusion has make it seem that only males are The basic job of a male butterfly is to resulted, as one does not know what involved in mate-locating. Raiting, approach other objects and determine people mean when they write the word flaiting, fleeking, and flenting correctly if they are a receptive female, and then “perch”. describe the entire process of locating mate with those females. The approach mates, which involves the males AND of the male toward a passing individual The term “patrolling behavior” was the females in a highly-evolved is basically an investigative maneuver proposed in 1974 for male butterflies choreographed procedure. In raiters to determine whether it is a receptive that continuously fly considerable and flaiters, females genetically fly to female or not (male butterflies need to distances to actively seek out receptive places where males mate-locate in order approach closely because their vision females. Again, many people use the to quickly mate so that they can get on for shapes is not great and they need word “patrolling” for merely flying with the time-consuming oviposition to get close to use odor especially for (Webster defines “patrol” mainly for a process. Whole species can be described identification). The male has no security guard’s route, such as a rifle- as raiters, flaiters, fleekers, or flenters. intention of being fierce, he just wants toting guard walking around his camp to mate. Obviously, butterflies are not Another problem with the words perimeter to repel vandals, or an army morphologically equipped for any kind perching and patrolling is that they are soldier traveling his route to eliminate of physical attack or defense, with their dull, so they don’t excite people into revolutionaries). Much confusion fragile wings, easily broken-off legs and studying or reporting mate-locating resulted, as many people consider palpi, long proboscis rather than jaws, behavior. People are naturally drawn patrolling to be merely flying, or they non-pinching claspers, weak antennae, to charismatic words, so many people could even use patrolling for a female etc. Of all the animals on earth, a ignore those words and prefer looking for flowers. butterfly is about the least-equipped to charismatic words such as fight. If the butterfly even brushes Also, those two terms failed to provide “territoriality” to describe butterflies, against a tough leaf or twig, scales fly a word for species whose males fly even though such words apply best to off and part of the wing breaks off, a leg continuously about a small area, where animals with actual fighting capability, pops off, or a labial palp breaks off. they wait for females to arrive (for as noted below. instance Papilio eurymedon, noted Butterflies have to avoid contact to keep below). One author of several books Unfortunately, most lepidopterists from falling apart. After flying for a few aggravatingly claims that males of completely ignore the study of mate- weeks the average butterfly is a wreck, many species patrol to find females, locating behavior, so a set of simple and if it lives for 3-4 weeks its wings are when the male was really just flying precise unambiguous interesting words battered stumps. In contrast, real about a tiny rendezvous site as does P. are needed to encourage its study. Mate- territorial vertebrates have lots of eurymedon, or he was just doing locating behavior has not been reported weapons for fighting, including beaks, raiting behavior to await females and in European butterfly books, evidently spurs, feet, big bodies, hard heads, then just flew around a bit before because the old perch and patrol words horns, claws, strong tails, trunks, settling down to await more passerbys. did not excite Europeans, and did not tusks, teeth, venom, poisonous spines, The new word flaiting provides a translate to their languages well. The loud noises, etc. new words—which should be used precise word for this behavior to avoid Any statement that mate-locating unaltered in other languages—will confusion with raiting and fleeking. behavior of butterflies (such as enable precise unambiguous reporting territoriality) is like that of vertebrates So those 1974 words perching and of mate-locating behavior worldwide.

Volume 52, Number 2 59 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 such as bull elephant seals is ungulates such as the African Kob, in seal, so the “territorial” word conveys ridiculous, because there are many which males pick an arena and fight to almost no useful information. differences. A 2000-pound bull elephant see who can be in the best central There is another problem with the word seal lumbering down the beach to position, where the females go to mate. territoriality in butterflies: The word intercept interloping males that try to I don’t see much similarity between territoriality is not practical for mate with females in his harem, and those animals and butterflies either. butterflies, because a laborious mark- viciously biting them, is obviously Those vertebrates are large so they recapture study is required to prove it. actively defending his territory and his watch each other easily and fight and It is not “operational”. A casual females that live there too. The male jockey for position, and the females can observer could call all the raiting species butterfly is waiting for his female and see all the males and compare them, in “territorial”, but mark-recapture study doesn’t have any females there. what amounts to a thinking game of shows that many of these are NOT Butterflies are small in size and have strategy. Vertebrates have long lives, territorial even with the most liberal weaker vision, and most of their mate- and are comparatively intelligent, so definition of the word. When I marked locating behavior serves to bring them they become involved in a game of and released butterflies of eleven raiting into areas of the habitat where mating strategy and intimidation and conquest “perching” species and fleeking success is better than random, which with others they can see and identify as “patrolling” species, I found that is actually a form of cooperation, unlike distinct individuals, who understand population movements of the raiting the vertebrate system of deliberate and play the same game. Butterflies species differed, and in some species interference and competition among can’t see others of their species too well were as great as some fleeking species large animals that can see and hear because they are small and their vision (Scott 1975b). Rutowski et al. (1988, where their competitors are and what for pattern and shapes is inferior to the 1991, 1997) found that the raiting they are doing. Scott (1974) showed vertebrate eye, and they have short butterfly Asterocampa leilia looks how the behaviors that have been lives and their brainpower is rather territorial at first glance but the males interpreted as territorial (pursuits, weak, so they do not recognize each stay at one spot only ~30 minutes. So vertical flights, raiting males returning other as distinctive individuals, they are to label a butterfly territorial, you must to the same spot after a chase, trying to minimize the time it takes to not only show that males rait or flait previously-present males remaining find a mate, they are not trying to win to await females, you must also do a longer than new males, etc.) have those vertebrate games. laborious mark-resighting study to simpler explanations in terms of mate- Anthropomorphism is a problem in actually prove that the males stay in locating behavior, such as desire to mate-locating behavior, as people who one spot. Mark-recapture studies were mate, flight inertia, genetic site choice, write about butterflies naturally assume popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but are predator-avoidance behavior, learned that butterflies have the same motives rarely done now. A very loose definition resting site, etc. Many papers claim as humans. That’s why we need names of territoriality would be required to that if a raiting male butterfly spends for mate-locating behavior that apply to label a male as “territorial”, when he more time interacting with another insects, and are not inappropriately then flies dozens or hundreds of meters male of his species than with another lifted from vertebrates. away and repeats the same “territorial” species, that means they are territorial; (Anthropomorphism plagues all aspects behavior there. but there are simpler explanations for of entomology, as insect conservation is In contrast, the words raiting, flaiting, that too. The literature lacks careful regulated by inappropriate deer laws study of the details of visual and odor fleeking, and flenting are practical and that misapply hunting limits to punish operational, as well as precise and communication when butterflies come collectors rather than provide the close to each other. For example, unambiguous, so are easily applied to insects with the land that they really butterflies with minimal fuss. One scientists who claimed Papilio require to survive.) machaon-group males are territorial must merely observe males in nature failed to identify and study the Of course, if someone’s definition of and watch them investigate/chase/ perfumelike male pheromone (which territoriality is so loose—permitting pursue others, and note whether the females presumably like, whereas a cooperative avoidance or slight time- male was resting or flying prior to the male that smelled that pheromone and-motion interference to substitute interaction, and note the location would not know whether if it was from for active fighting defense of a where they did that, and the time of day his own wings so could not use it to territory—then butterflies do qualify as when they did it. It doesn’t take weeks; distinguish male from female). being territorial under that loose it may take just a day or two if bugs are definition. However, readers of papers common and weather is good. The most Some people have even used the “lek” will not know what is meant by the difficult part of the complete description word on butterflies, which means that word “territorial” when the definition of a species’ mate-locating behavior is they think that butterfly behavior is of it varies so much from that weak determining the time of day of mate- similar to that of Prairie Chickens or butterfly extreme to the bull elephant locating behavior, because afternoons

60 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society might be cloudy or too hot to observe which speeds mate-location and avoids all day, whereas P. callidice occidentalis normal behavior for instance, so it may mating interference. Neominois fleeks on hilltops/ridgetops all day. take time to accumulate suitable ridingsii ridingsii males rait on small Nearly all blues (Polyommatini) fleek observations during all parts of the day. ridgetops in early morning, and I about the habitat near their hostplants. (Some butterflies such as Vanessa and recently named Neominois ridingsii However, Plebejus glandon rustica is Polygonia only mate-locate late in the wyomingo, which also raits in early rather uncommon in the foothills of the day and early evening, while others morning but does it in swales (these Front Range in Colorado, where at such as Neominois and Poladryas and butterflies overlap in range by 500 miles Tinytown males generally rait all day Notamblyscirtes only mate-locate in so are often considered species, though near the ground in slight depressions morning.) they fly two months apart so there is on the lower end of open slopes where There is another practical reason why no evidence of reproductive isolation). their host Androsace septentrionalis the use of the word “territorial” on Also, Oeneis chryxus recently proved to occurs. Similarly, Plebejus melissa and butterflies is objectionable. Many of the be two separate species: chryxus raits P. atrapraetextus sublivens often fleek people who use this word on butterflies on hilltops all day, and females oviposit about the host, but males often manage to describe in their publication on twigs above sedge turf beneath trees, (frequently in the latter) rait near the how males look for females (now termed whereas the new butterfly I recently ground in tiny gulches in valley raiting, flaiting, or fleeking), but they named altacordillera raits in swales all bottoms (sometimes on hillside trails) often fail to describe where in the day and females oviposit on meadow all day. And Leptotes marina males fleek habitat they do it, and they usually fail grasses/sedges; altacordillera ranges about their host in alfalfa fields etc., but to state the hours during the day when throughout the Rocky Mountains also rait on ~70 cm tall plants in a the butterflies mate-locate. These sympatrically with O. chryxus. These small valley bottom meadow all day in authors are so focused on proving the new taxa were discovered in no small Wheatridge Colorado (every year I can existence of territoriality, that they fail part because of their distinctive mate- find a male there, when no others can to give an adequate description of mate- locating behavior. be found). And Cupido “Everes” locating behavior. So the word Flaiting behavior has proven to be amyntula males fleek about their territoriality seems to be a definite typical of some species, proving that we habitat, but also rait near the ground distraction, an impediment to proper really do need this flait word. The in small depressions in valley bottoms, reporting. classic example in Colorado is Papilio all day. Thus the word territoriality as used in eurymedon, whose males flait in little In most fleeking species, males search vertebrates very doubtfully applies to forest lanes among trees on ridgetops throughout the habitat near the butterflies in an informative way, is and hilltops. The males fly all day hostplants. But many species fleek in totally impractical to use so can’t be approximately 2 m above ground, gulches, for example Papilio part of regular lepidopterological slowly, about little clearings among multicaudata and Anthocharis sara (& practice anyway, and frequently Ponderosa Pine/Douglasfir trees, and A. julia) fleek in gulches all day. Papilio distracts from the proper reporting of wait for females to arrive there for glaucus rutulus fleeks high about the mate-locating behavior. If you want to mating. Pyrgus communis often raits canopy of riverside Salix and Populus do a mark-recapture study to prove on low vegetation in low weedy spots host trees, and fleeks about north- what you consider to be territoriality, all day in Colorado, but most often facing slopes where Populus great. But don’t let it be just a seems to flait 5-15 cm above ground at tremuloides grows, but it then distraction; make sure that you report those spots, whereas in the Sacramento frequently arrives at the hilltop above, the basics of butterfly mate-locating Valley California, Shapiro (2007) and there it flies slowly in a small behavior: the method used (raiting, describes them as raiting well above wooded lane or along a line of trees for flaiting, or fleeking), where they do it, ground up to waist height; this a time before departing downslope and when they do it. difference is intriguing, in a confusing (fleeking behavior rather than flaiting species perhaps containing the as it soon departs)(P. glaucus glaucus Examples of these mate-locating uncertain-status taxon albescens has been reported to hilltop like this also behaviors in Colorado butterflies, (which Shapiro notes has non- in eastern U.S.); thus its behavior including new findings. Scott concordant mtDNA similar to Sierra shows hints of the behavior of both (1975a, 1986) reported mate-locating Nevada communis). Papilio eurymedon (which flaits in behavior for most Colorado species. Fleeking behavior is typical of many or ridgetop/hilltop forest clearings) and P. Interesting phenomena were found, for multicaudata. instance several dozen pairs of most butterflies. Most Pieridae fleek, sympatric species are known in which including Colias scudderii which fleeks Raiting (and flaiting) species generally one butterfly species mates on hilltops, rapidly about open valleys with shrub choose rather specific sites in the and the close relative mates in gulches, willows and Vaccinium all day, and habitat to mate-locate, because that Pontia beckeri which fleeks in gulches strategy genetically places males in

Volume 52, Number 2 61 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 those special sites and then sends virgin ~12:00-19:30, Erora laeta quaderna at revealed that males rait on short (10 females to the same spots to mate, least in afternoon, and Callophrys cm) vegetation at the gently-sloping increasing mate-location efficiency. The spinetorum all day. Tropical workers bases of hillsides covered with the host sites chosen may be hilltops, or complain that most hairstreaks there Andropogon gerardi, only in late gulches, or tall treetops, or special are rare; probably most of the males are afternoon (13:20-17:45) in cloudy nooks in vegetation or topography that raiting on top of the tallest nearby weather, when they vibrate their wings may be highly characteristic of the trees, frequently late in the day, and one to get warm and their investigative species yet difficult to describe in words. would need a giant crane to see them. flights are astonishingly fast (usually Hilltopping has gotten a lot of publicity Strymon melinus males rait on small too fast to follow with the eye). as a mating site, while other mating trees & shrubs especially on hilltops Literature Cited sites have been unfairly ignored. from 13:00 to dusk. Satyrium Rutowski, R. L., G. W. Gilchrist. 1988. Male Actually, for every butterfly mating on californica males rait on top of trees on hilltops from 14:00 to dusk, while its mate-locating behavior in the Desert hilltops there are others that mate in Hackberry Butterfly, Asterocampa leilia other sites such as gulches. For relative S. sylvinus males rait on low (Nymphalidae). J. Res. Lepid. 26:1-12. example Phyciodes pallida, Paratrytone plants near their hosts (and seldom Rutowski, R. L., J. L. Dickinson, B. Terkanian. 1991. Behavior of male Desert Hackberry snowi, Hesperia juba and H. viridis rait patrol about their hosts) in valley bottoms from 9:50-15:00. Other butterflies, Asterocampa leilia in gulches all day (the similar H. (Nymphalidae). J. Res. Lepid. 30:129-139. nevada and H. pahaska rait on hilltops) hairstreaks fleek: Hypaurotis crysalus Rutowski, R. L., B. Terkanian, O. Eitan. 1997. as do all the true Amblyscirtes (I males fleek over the canopy of their oak Male mate-locating behavior and yearly population cycles in the Snout Butterfly renamed “Amblyscirtes” simius as hostplants from 14:00-18:30, mostly in cloudy conditions, and look for the Libytheana bachmanii (Libytheidae). J. Notamblyscirtes, because it raits on Lepid. Soc. 51:197-207. hilltops from 7:40-10:50, and has many violet-ultraviolet color of basking Scott, J. A. 1974. Mate-locating behavior of other huge differences from real females. Phaeostrymon alcestis fleek butterflies. Amer. Midland Naturalist 91:103-117. Amblyscirtes). Epargyreus clarus males over the canopy of their host trees from about 14:00-18:00, mostly in sunnier Scott, J. A. 1975a. Mate-locating behavior of rait in gulches (and backyard clearings) western North American Butterflies. J. Res. from 7:30-13:15, then later in afternoon conditions, looking for their drab Lepid. 14:1-40. (Delete the sentence in they just hang from leaves of bushes to females. paragraph three “In patrolling species, interactions occurred predominantly when save energy. Hilltopping is an accepted The Papilio machaon group species resting males investigated moving objects.”) word, so analogous words such as (polyxenes, zelicaon, machaon bairdii, Scott, J. A. 1975b. Flight patterns among eleven “gulching” should be used also. etc.) rait and flait on hilltops all day; species of diurnal Lepidoptera. Ecology they usually flait if there are frequent 56:1367-1377. Hilltops are the preferred mating sites Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North for many butterfly species, especially disturbances/chases, when males are in America. A natural history and field guide. raiters, and for some flaiters and flight most of the time. Stanford Univ. Press., Stanford, Calif. 583 p. fleekers also. But a few of the raiters Nymphalis antiopa generally raits in Scott, J. A. 2006. A serious discussion of mate-locate not on the very top, but gulch (or backyard) clearings, from late territoriality in butterflies, and new mate- just off the top: Papilio indra males rait morning to late afternoon, but males locating terminology. Papilio (New Series) preferably on rocky places just below also rait in little clearings in woods just #14:70-74. Shapiro, A. M. 2007. Field guide to butterflies the hilltop or mesa top (frequently on N of a hilltop (maybe such sites of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento the side or below a cliff) all day. partially resemble a gulch on the hilltop Valley regions. California natural history Similarly, Aglais milberti raits usually side). guides. University of California Press, Berkeley. 346 p. on rocky places just below a hilltop, Apodemia nais males mate-locate from from late morning to 17:00 (if there are about 8:50 to 14:30, by raiting in small no rocky places both species will choose gulch mouths & hillside depressions, the middle of a clearing off the hilltop). and also fleek about the host Ceanothus Thorybes pylades raits all day among bushes. Erynnis pacuvius & E. shrubs or small trees typically a few martialis usually rait on hilltops all day, meters off the very top of the hill. but where hillside forest has burned and Stinga morrisoni males rait all day on host Ceanothus and butterflies are hilltops, but not on the very top, common, they fleek about the host. generally near the ground next to shrubs or trees near the hilltop. Finally, Atrytone arogos is a peculiar species, because it is nearly always Some hairstreaks rait on top of observed looking stupified clinging and prominent trees (on hilltops when sucking on flowers such as Asclepias available), such as Atlides halesus from and alfalfa. Many days of effort finally

62 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Flaiting Behavior on Hilltops in Day-Flying Alypia species (Noctuidae, Agaristinae) that form a Mimicry Complex with Anania funebris (Pyralidae) and Bumblebees

James A. Scott 60 Estes Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80226-1254 USA [email protected]

Abstract. Alypia langtoni & A. ridingsi standard time. Samples of these moths langtoni was seldom seen doing other males flait on hilltops in Colorado to were collected for identification and behavior. A male was observed on a await females, by flying slowly over deposited in the Gillette Museum of yellow Aletes acaulis flower on a bushes (mostly Juniperus) on the very Arthropod Diversity, Colorado State hilltop. A male was observed associated top of the hill, in late morning through University, Fort Collins, Colorado. with Parthenocissus inserta in Indian afternoon in A. langtoni; in early to late Alypia langtoni Couper is a small Gulch, perhaps a hostplant? (Vitis afternoon in A. ridingsi. In contrast, black moth with large spots, which are riparia also occurs in that gulch). A Alypia octomaculata males flait over yellowish on the forewing and whitish female was observed flying around a special bushes at the side of a gulch, or on the hindwing. Twenty-six A. Prunus virginiana bush in a gulch at fleek over the hostplant in valley langtoni were collected: May 15-July 22 Tinytown. Hostplants are Epilobium bottoms. These species seem to be (mostly in June) in Jefferson Co. Colo. (Covell, 1984). involved in a mimicry complex with bees (Mt. Lindo near Tinytown, Crawford One male tentatively identified as that have pollen baskets on their hind Gulch, Mt. Falcon, Indian Gulch, perhaps A. langtoni? was found flying legs, and with Anania funebris Eldorado Mtn.); Hideaway Park, Grand over a Juniperus bush in the town of (Pyralidae). Co. Colo., July 2, 1996; Rabbit Ears Boulder, Colo., May 3, 1993. During 50 years of observing butterflies, Pass, Routt Co. Colo. July 7, 1989 1f; Alypia octomaculata Fabricius is mostly in Colorado, I have studied Coffee Park, Sioux Co. Neb. June 25, very similar in appearance to A. dozens of butterfly species and a few 1994. About 50 or more A. langtoni langtoni, although the yellowish spots species of flies etc. that mate-locate on males were observed in flaiting are larger on the forewing, and the hilltops. But only a few moths were behavior in Jefferson Co. Colo. Males yellowish tegulae are larger. This observed to do so, specifically several flew over the canopy of bushes on the species has large orange leg segments small day-flying white-and-black top of hilltops, usually Juniperus that resemble the pollen basket of a bee Agaristinae. The behavior of these is scopulorum, but sometimes over or bumblebee, presumably in Batesian discussed here, along with their Juniperus communis, Quercus Mimicry to avoid being eaten. Males of possible participation in mimicry with gambelii, or a combined Q. gambelii/ this species were observed to flait over bees and a Pyralid moth. Prunus virginiana bush (growing special bushes in valley bottoms. At Improved mate-locating terminology is together), except three males flew near Indian Gulch, Jeff. Co., June 18, 1994, used (see the previous note, and Scott the ground on the hilltop, one of them numerous males were observed flaiting, 2006): raiting behavior involves males under a Pinus ponderosa tree. Like as they flew over the canopy of a small resting at characteristic sites and flying butterflies that choose small sites for flat-topped Celtis reticulata tree on the out at passing objects to see if they are mate-locating, the peculiar choice of S-facing side of the gulch bottom about females, while females fly to those preferred bushes seems to be a genetic 4 m from the gulch bottom, and chasing rendezvous sites to mate; flaiting characteristic of the species. For each other there, from 12:15 to 14:00. behavior involves males flying about instance the same Juniperus They seemed to like just this one tree small characteristic sites to see if they scopulorum bush was chosen over and I learned to place myself on the are females, while females fly to those many years on Mt. Lindo. The A. slope just above that tree in order to rendezvous sites to mate; fleeking langtoni males performed this flaiting finally catch a few for identification. At behavior involves males flying about a mate-locating behavior from late Wheatridge, Jeff. Co., I found several larger area to seek females for mating. morning through afternoon (recorded adults July 11-14, including one No matings were seen of these moths, times were 11:30, 11:32, 12:20-13:43, nectaring on a Cirsium arvense flower. but chases between males were observed 12:27, 12:31, 12:52, 13:00, 13:00-15:00, A hostplant, Vitis riparia, occurs at for all Alypia species. Times are 24-hour 13:43, 13:50, 14:13, 14:25, 14:47). A. both these sites. In a valley bottom E

Volume 52, Number 2 63 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 of Ralston Res., Jeff. Co., June 13, six males were seen to nectar on pink (Wlk.)(Pyralidae), which is fairly 1991, numerous adults of both sexes Ribes cereum flowers near a hilltop. common in the gulches of the Front were fleeking over a Vitis riparia plant Two females were found, one in a gulch Range in late May-June. It is black with growing on a fence, plus Humulus bottom, the other flying erratically in pale-yellowish-white spots, and looks lupulus and Clematis plants also a meadow. almost exactly like Alypia langtoni and growing on a fencerow. Similar Androloma maccullochii Kirby octomaculata, and even has white behavior was seen in Nebraska (I-80 SE (Agaristinae) is similar to A. ridingsi, tegulae and white hindlegs similar to Cozad, Dawson Co.), where males but the hindwing spots (as well as those the latter! This total wing & body fleeked over two Vitis riparia vines and on the forewing) are also crossed by similarity suggests some kind of an adjacent Salix exigua bush on a black veins. Six males were found (3 mimicry of Alypia and the bees. Anania fencerow at 15:30. (The word fleeking in a gulch at Tinytown in Jeff. Co. May has a fairly weak flight, and many of is used rather than flaiting, on the 11-26, 1984-89; 3 on a flat area E of the adults I have seen were found presumption that males fly on to other Buffalo Pass, Jackson Co. Colo., July sipping mud in gulch bottoms. 32 such hostplants in the habitat [though 12, 1996), but none were seen mate- adults were collected (at Tinytown & such movements have not been studied], locating. One was on a yellow Barbarea Mother Cabrini Shrine & Apex Gulch and the flaiting behavior noted above orthoceras flower at Tinytown. [seen] in Jefferson Co. Colo. from May was apparently a genetic site for mate- Hostplants are fireweed (now called 26-July 13 [mostly June], and Hayden, location and not a host.) Grapes (Vitis) Chamerion by some botanists) and other Routt Co. Colo. July 15, 1985). One and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are Epilobium (Covell, 1984). was found on a yellow Barbarea reported to be hosts (Covell, 1984), but orthoceras flower, and one on a pink I have never found it on the latter, Mimicry with Bees and the Pyralid Ribes inerme flower. Its hostplant is which is a common vine growing on Anania funebris. The legs of A. Solidago (Covell, 1984). octomaculata resemble the legs of fences and poles and bushes and This evident mimicry complex should be buildings in metropolitan Denver, Colo. bumblebees that have conspicuous pollen baskets on their hindlegs (the investigated, and possible poisonous Alypia ridingsi Grote looks roughly basket consists of several comblike rows compounds in the hostplants similar to A. octomaculata, but all the of setae into which the bees stuff pollen determined. But the close similarity of wing spots are whitish, and the three collected by their anterior legs, in order these moths and their apparent mimicry forewing spots are crossed by black to store it to transport it back to their with bees seems to represent good veins. Nearly 100 were seen mate- nest), which suggests that adults of circumstantial evidence that they form locating, and 35 were caught for these moths may be involved in some some kind of mimicry complex. identification (at Tinytown, Mt. Falcon, kind of Batesian mimicry complex with References and ridge E of Crawford Gulch, all pollen-collecting bees. All four of the Covell, C. V., Jr. 1984. A field guide to the Jefferson Co. Colo., from May 11-June Agaristinae species herein are similar 26 [mostly mid May-early June]; at moths of eastern North America. Peterson in wing appearance, but that might be Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., Jarre Can., Douglas Co. Colo. Apr. 30, due to close taxonomic relationship. Boston. 496 p. 1981; and Rush Creek, 4300’, Washoe Their wing pattern evidently serves as Holland, W. G. 1968 [original book 1903]. The Moth Book. A popular guide to a knowledge Co. Nev., May 25, 1974). Like A. camouflage in flight, because the wing langtoni, A. ridingsi males flaited over of the moths of North America. Dover Publ., beats of these moths are fairly rapid, N.Y. 479 p. the canopy of small trees on the top of which together with the black-and- Scott, J. A. 2006. A serious discussion of hilltops in Colo., usually over Juniperus white coloration seems to make these territoriality in butterflies, and new mate- scopulorum, but over Juniperus locating terminology. Papilio (New Series) moths fairly difficult to see when they #14:70-74. communis on Mt. Falcon, and over a are flying in tortuous paths just above Prunus virginiana bush just N of a the canopy of the trees and bushes. As hilltop cliff (next to the top) E of a result, they are not easy to catch with Crawford Gulch. The mate-locating a net. period of A. ridingsi is clearly shorter than A. langtoni, early to late afternoon I caught a dozen other species of small from 12:10-14:40 (based on 16 recorded partially-white moths in the foothills of times: 12:13-14:40, 12:10-14:40, 12:13, the Front Range during the daytime in 12:20-13:43, 12:14, 12:13, 14:19, 14:04, Colorado, but the appearance and size 12:48, 12:30-13:10, 13:54, 14:30, 13:02, and habitat of most of these is not 12:13, 14:36), except for one anomalous similar enough to the Agaristinae to record of a male flying over J. communis suggest there is any kind of mimicry. on Mt. Falcon at 10:15 (which perhaps However, one of the commonest of these was not mate-locating behavior). About moths is Anania funebris glomeralis

64 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Membership Update... Julian Donahue

This update includes all changes Maton, Ian: 90 Sierra Morena Close Lion Road, Columbia, MD 21045-3947. received by 27 May 2010. SW, Calgary, Alberta T3H 3G2, Canada. Address Changes Mihuc, Janet (Ph.D.): Paul Smith’s “Lost” Member (all U.S.A. unless noted otherwise) College, P.O. Box 265, Routes 30 & 86, (publications returned: “temporarily Paul Smiths, NY 12970-0265. Goodden, Robert Crane: Wordwide away,” “moved,” “left no address,” or Butterflies Ltd., Compton House, Over Paris, Thomson: 1559 SW 63rd “addressee unknown”): Compton, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4QN, Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608-5401. Yanek, The Ven. John, D.D. (Santa England. Silveira Prestes, Andersonn (Mr.): Barbara, California) LaBar, Caitlin (Ms): 2700 Allen Rua das Araras, 1411, Canoas, Rio Street, Apt. D103, Kelso, WA 98626- New and Reinstated Members: Grande do Sul 92320820, Brazil. 5489. members who have joined/renewed/ Strothkamp, Kenneth (Ph.D.): 5006 Lafontaine, J. Donald (Ph.D.): 89 been found/or rescinded their request to SW Julia Court, Portland, OR 97221- Burnbank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2G be omitted since publication of the 2008 2951. Membership Directory (not included in 0H5, Canada. Suman, Theodore W. (Dr.): [address the 2008 Membership Directory; all in Lawrie, David D. (Ph.D.): 10523 68 omitted on request] U.S.A. unless noted otherwise) Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2B5, Allen, Robert T. (Ph.D.): 417 East Old Trahan, Jeff (Ph.D.): 505 Americana Canada. Drive, Shreveport, LA 71105-4813. Shakopee Road, Apt. 107, Bloomington, Leski, Michael (Ph.D.): 301 North MN 55420-4955. Vaughn, Jack C. (Ph.D.): 10 Bull Run Riverwalk Drive, Apt. 606, Buffalo Ballenger, C.E., III (M.D.): 714 Drive, Oxford, OH 45056-2011. Grove, IL 60089-1895. Otrento Road, Trenton, NC 28585- Wallstrom, Gunnel K. (Ms.): Mazry Jacob, Pedro A. (Dr.): 6336. [address omitted on request] Independencia 571, Linares, Chile. Davis, Nicky: 601 Stokes Avenue, Watson, Adam: [address omitted on Shuey, John A.: The Nature Draper, UT 84020-9238. request] Conservancy, 620 East Ohio Street, Davis, Richard G.: 3928 Las Vegas Williams, Thomas S.: 1320 Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46202-3811. Drive, El Paso, TX 79902-1729. of the Arts, Apt. 205, Sarasota, FL 34236-4983. X Martineau, Jason: 752 Sumner Street, Sheridan, WY 82801-5150. Young, Orrey P. (Ph.D.): 9496 Good Metamorphosis... William D. Hartgroves, of Charles Town, West Virginia, from throat cancer at the age of 77, on 21 October 2009. Mr. Hartgroves had been a member of the Society since 1973. [info from Jean K. Hartgroves] NEW MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY NOTICE The Society publishes a new notify me soon, so that your entry in that I will be able to provide a Membership Directory every two the Membership Directory will be as screenshot in the future. Stay tuned. years. Production of the 2010 edition accurate as possible. Our present Julian P. Donahue, will begin (and end) in October 2010. membership software allows me to send [email protected] If your interests, address (including members a “screenshot” of their record e-mail address), or phone number for review; we hope to have new X have changed recently, don’t forget to software by October, and I’m not certain

Volume 52, Number 2 65 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 The Marketplace

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS: If the number following your advertisement is “521” then you must renew your advertisement before the next issue! Remember that all revisions are required in writing.

Books/Videos Libytheinae, Morphinae, and Mexico, for the states of Tamaulipas, Nymphalinae. 8 new species, 91 new Nuevo Leon and San Luis Potosi, New book on American butterflies: R.R. subspecies. Laminated hardback. Mexico. This includes over 600 species, Askew &P.A. v.B. Stafford: Butterflies Details/reviews, sample plates at: one third of the Mexican species. The of the Cayman Islands. Hardback, www.thebutterflies ofvenezuela.com cost is $30 plus shipping. 522 24x17cm., 172 pages incld. 6 color plates Price GBP £110 (+ p&p). Please Specimens and 119 color photos. Maps and other contact the author/publisher, Andrew figures. US $69.50. Also available: Neild: 8 Old Park Ridings, London N21 For Sale: Eggs: Saturnidae: Automeris Larsen: Butterflies of West Africa. 2EU, United Kingdom; tel: +44(0)20 amanda tucanmana, Copaxa flavolla, Hardback 28x21cm.865 pages in two 8882 8324; email: andrew.neild Syssphinx molina plus other Saturnids volumes. 125 color plates depicting @blueyonder.co.uk 522 from Argentina. Papered specimens of 1,400+specimens. US $276.00. butterflies (all families), Saturnidae or For Sale: Butterflies of Southern Monastyrskii: Butterflies of Vietnam, Sphingidae, alsom some beetles. For a Amazonia, a photographic checklist. A softcover, 21x15cm., Vol. 1: Satyrinae. list of all Argentina species, please write spiral bound book with 350 color 199 pages incl. 35 color plates, US or email to Nigel South, Mis Montanas, pages, 8 photos/page, of almost 1,350 $64.00. Many others available. Visit Los Robles 1818, Villa Los Altos, Rio species from southeast Peru and website: www.apollobooks.com or Ceballos 5111, Cordoba, Argentina. Also Rondonia and Mato Grosso, Brazil. contact Peder Skou, Apollo Books, collecting trips in Argentina from Mostly live photos but includes some Kirkeby Sand 19, DK-5771 Stenstrup, September to May. Contact Nigel South specimens too. $98 plus shipping $7.50 Denmark, or ask for a copy of our 2009- for further details. Email: butterfly in the US or $16 international. You can 10 catalogue. 514 [email protected] 514 order it with a credit card or by paypal For Sale: High quality critically at www.neotropicalbutterflies.com, or For Sale or Trade: Very rare aclaimed book, The Butterflies of contact Kim Garwood at Propomacrus davidi (China) Yoshiaki Venezuela, Pt. 2 (Pt. 1 also in stock). [email protected], or mail a US Furumi, 97-71 Komizo, Iwatsuki-Shi, 1451 photographic figs.(84 color plates) check to Kim Garwood, 721 N Bentsen Saitama-Ken, 339-0003 Japan 514 display all 196 species (355 subspecies) Palm Dr #40, Mission TX 78572. We Wanted: Want to purchase butterfly of Venezuelan Acraeinae, Ithomiinae, also have Butterflies of Northeastern collections U.S./non-U.S., common/

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.

66 Summer 2010 Summer 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 The Lep Course: A comprehensive OH 44720-8163. email: doc3girls Aluminum Vanes: 12 VDC or 120 VAC Introduction to Lepidoptera @aol.com 514 with 15 Black Light or the new 36 Watt Identification and Classification For Sale or Trade: Very rare Parnassius CF Twin Tube plasma UV. Rain Drain August 7 - 14, 2010. a. przewalskii, i. imperatrix, and Beetle Screens, Photoelectric Held at the SouthWest Research Propomacrus davidi (China). Yoshiaki Switch are optional. New Self Ballast Station in the Chirichahua Mountains Furumi, 97-71 komizo, Iwatsuki-Shi, Mercury Vapor Lights 250 Watt, 500 in SE Arizona (a 2 1/2 hour drive from Saitama-Ken, 339-0003 Japan 522 Watt and 750 Watt. New Tropics Bait Tucson), the focus of the lep course is Research Traps: 12 inch diameter 42 inches in to train graduate students, post-docs, height with a six inch cone top. faculty, and serious citizen-scientists in Material needed for research project on Mosquito netting in Forest Green, the classification and identification of geographic differences in Lophocampa Camouflage or White. A Plastic adult lepidoptera and their larvae. maculata. Eggs, larvae (all instars) or platform is suspended with plastic eye adults useful. Will pay for shipping. Topics to be covered include an bolts and S hooks. Available in Tropical extensive introduction into adult and Please contact Ken Strothkamp, style for butterflies and flat bottom style Chemistry Dept., Lewis & Clark larval morphology with a focus on for moths. Traps weigh less than 6 taxonomically-important traints, College at kgs.lclark.edu 514 ounces. Excellent for travel to the extensive field work on both adults and Seeking egg masses of the Catalpa tropics. For more information, visit our larvae, collecting and curatoral Sphinx, Ceratoma catalpa (Sphingidae) web site at: www.leptraps.com, or techniques, dissection and preparation, for research on the chemical ecology of contact Leroy C. Koehn, Leptraps LLC, larval classification, use (and abuse) of this species. Please contact Deane 3000 fairway Court, Georgetown, KY DNA bar coding, and general issues in Bowers at: [email protected] 40324-9454: Tel: 502-542-7091 522 lepidopteral systematics, ecology, and or (303) 492-5530. I am happy to Livestock evolution. Course is limited to 16 reimburse for express shipping. Send to: students. Tuition is $900 for students For Sale: Captive bred Philippine Deane Bowers, Dept. of Ecology and and $1,000 for non-students. For butterfly pupae, year round. Imogene Evolution, Ramaley N122, UCB 334, further details go to: Rillo, P. O. Box 2226 Manila 1099 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO www.lepcourse.org 80309. 514 Philippines email: [email protected] 522 The Ecoinformatics lab of Dr. Jeremy Announcement Kerr at the University of Ottawa is Announcement Lepidoptera of the Northeast: conducting an analysis of mobility for Taxonomy, Ecology, and The 6th International Conference butterflies in Canada. In the absence of Biomonitoring of Butterflies and on the Biology of Butterflies will be experimental mobility data for the vast Moths with Brian Scholtens majority of species, I will rely on the held at the University of Alberta, Descriptions of seminars may be found cumulative knowledge of Canada’s Edmonton, Canada from June 29 at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/ lepidopterists to construct a mobility through July 2, 2010. This meeting has nhs/nhs-calendar.shtml index. I am distributing a survey to been held at irregular intervals since people with field experience with 1981 and recognizes the role that the Information on lodging options, meals, butterflies and skippers of Canada. study of butterflies has played in our and costs may be found at http:// Surveys of lepidopterists in the UK and understanding of both evolutionary www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/ Finland have produced mobility biology and ecology. The meeting will application-info.shtml include Symposia, Contributed Papers, estimates remarkably similar to those There is an online application form at obtained from field experiments. If you Posters, Banquet and Field Trips. http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/ have field experience with Canadian For those wishing attend this meeting, general/application-web.shtml butterflies then I hope you will take the and anyone wishing to present a time to complete my survey. Visit: Contributed Paper or a Poster, please Syllabi are available for these and many www.science.uottawa.ca/~jfitz049/ view the Conference webpage at: other fine natural history training survey.html for more information on seminars on diverse topics. For more http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/ this project and to download the survey. information, please contact the biobutterfly2010 Email me: [email protected] with Humboldt Institute, PO Box 9, Steuben, any questions or comments you may ME 04680-0009. have. 514 Online general information may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us

Volume 52, Number 2 67 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2

12

34

5 6 Less Common Butterflies of the Rocky Mountains 1) Colias meadii, male, Wolfcreek Pass, Colorado; July 21, 2008. 2) C. meadii, same data as fig. 1. 3) Colias hecla, male, Denali National Park, Alaska; August 1, 1998. 4) Polygonia gracilis, Kebbler Pass, Crested Butte, Colorado; July 23, 2007. 5) Coenonympha haydenii, Jackson Hole, Curtis Canyon, Wyoming; July 21, 1996. 6) Erebia theano, Clay Butte, near Beartooth, Wyoming; July 22, 1996. (Images 7 - 10 on p. 73) 7) Limenitis weidemeyerii, without white dot on forewing, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, July 20, 2008. 8) L. weidemeyerii, with white dot on forewing, same data as fig. 7. 9) Erebia callias, dorsal view, Clay Butte, Beartooth area, Wyoming, July 22, 1996. 10) E. callias, ventral view. Same data as fig. 9. All photos: George Krizek.

68 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Less Common Butterflies of the Rocky Mountains George O. Krizek 2111 Bancroft Pl., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008

One of the “good prizes” for the hecla Lefebre. I took the shown smallest” of the Polygonias. Our exhausted photographer of live picture on 1 August, 1998 at the picture is from Kebbler Pass above butterflies, (who is exhausted due to the DeNali National Park, Alaska, on the Crested Butte, Colorado, taken on July hypoxia and High Mountain sickness) slopes of Mt. McKinley, on the shore 23, 2007. is without any doubt Colias meadii of a wild river. In those areas it is Finally, I would like to show some of the Edwards1 (Pieridae). It’s flight is lucky to meet both the butterfly and Satyrs from the high mountains. One “deceivingly fast, with quick wingbeats, the acceptable weather and not be is Coenonympha haydenii (Edwards), a making adults difficult to follow over the surprised by a snow storm. Colias small ringlet with a restricted area. steep terrain” (J. P. Brock and Kenn hecla most probably is hybridizing Typical are “bold marginal eyespots”2 on Kaufman). This glacial relict-needing with Colias nastes Boisduval. Both hindwings (J. P. Brock). This species is two years for its development due to cold are sympatric in much of the Arctic very close to palearctic Coenonympha temperature — erratic in its movements, Circle (C. hecla is the only Colias oedippus (Fabricius). only seldom lands on some flowers or living in Greenland). Colias boothii the ground. I succeeded, after almost Curtis may be the offspring of such From the genus Erebia we can giving up any hope of making a picture, hybridization. demonstrate Erebia theano (Tauscher). It is considered to be very local. The to photograph two individuals on July I would like to present two 21, 2008 at the “Lobo overlook” (elv. photo shows the underside of both wings “specimens” of Limenitis weidemeyerii is characteristic with submarginal rows 11,760’) above the Wolfcreek Pass in Edwards (Nymphalidae); both are southern Colorado. of ochraceous spots and was taken at involved in dorsal basking on the Clay Butte in the Beartooth area, Our first picture catches a male taking ground, in the area south of Pagosa Wyoming on 22 July, 1996. 4 nectar from Tetraneuris grandiflora Springs, Colorado. One has a tiny (Asteraceae), where the crypic underside white spot in the lateral part of the From the same locality is the Erebia helps it to blend with the blossom, while forewing cell, while the other one lacks callias Edwards, shown here with both the other male sits (lateral basking?) on this spot. The pictures were taken on the dorsal and lateral views. Palearctic the ground. This species lives above the 20 July, 2008. Erebia tyndarus (Esper) is practically timberline, and seldom descends lower. indistinguishable, but differ markedly in Another interesting Nymphalid is chromosome numbers (T. C. Emmel). Another jewel, this time of the Polygonia gracilis (Grote & Robinson). circumpolar arctic tundra, is Colias It is considered to be the “rarest and

Unfortunately, there was an editorial magazines. But because the word The Mailbag... glitch: The word “Popoluca” was Popoluca denotes both a unique culture Letters to the Editor: misspelled as “Populuca” in the five and language, what may seem like a 4 prominent title areas that required an trivial misspelling to most readers is Corrections, please! editor- composed heading: “Cover,” now a personal embarrassment as I Dale, I heartily thank you for the “Contents,” title of article, and the share extra issues of this NEWS with inclusion of my entire, lengthy two head captions for the photos on the John and Royce Lind family manuscript and for your splashy layout pages 41 and 44. (The word, however, (affiliates of the Summer Institute of of my photos in my recent article I titled IS spelled correctly throughout the Linguistics/Wycliffe Bible “Caterpillars, Ants and Popoluca article.) It is easy to imagine how such Translators, dedicated mentors to the Indians: An Adventure in Remote a transposition of similar vowels could Popoluca, my hosts during my research, Mexico” (NEWS, Spring 2010, Vol. 52, occur when an unfamiliar word is and my lifelong friends) and literate No. 1). I hope readers enjoyed my being retyped during the formatting of Popoluca acquaintances. making nostalgia and that fledgling a publication. Simple mistakes such as matters worse, the word Populuca lepidopterists were inspired to consider this occur all the time—not only in DOES exist. It is actually an Aztec/ fieldwork56 in relatively obscure areas scientific media but also in highly Nahuatl word that probably means (yes, there are still some such places). proofed commercial/popular Continued on p. 72

Volume 52, Number 2 69 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 John Burroughs Association

Gary Noel Ross 6095 Stratford Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 [email protected]

John Burroughs (1837-1921) occupies first Monday of April. A permanent As stewards of the environment, most a permanent place in American exhibit about John Burroughs is in the of us revel in the intellectual, personal,13 literature. Though he was a leading AMNH. The association keeps and unhurried style of storytelling that literary critic in his day, he was also a members informed through Wake- John Burroughs fathered. And in pioneer in the new school of nature Robin, a distinguished newsletter today’s dot com society, it is refreshing12 writing and the most popular writer of published three times each year and to know that there is an organization his period in the field he made his own. named after Burroughs’s first volume that still supports this nearly extinct Burroughs’s influence on our of nature essays (1871). genre. But JBA needs to increase its appreciation of nature is so pronounced Over the years many outstanding financial base to continue its programs; that he is often regarded as the “Father nature writers have been honored with hence, the organization is actively of Recreational Nature Study.” Unlike either a GOLD MEDAL (for a book) or soliciting new members. Contact many who are not appreciated during a CERTIFICATE FOR information is below. (It is worth noting their lifetime, John Burroughs was OUTSTANDING PUBLISHED that all personnel of the organization honored during his latter decades. NATURE ESSAY; in addition, the are non-salaried; ergo 100 percent of Included among the famous naturalist/ association acknowledges a LIST OF your contribution goes to the writer’s friends were President NATURE BOOKS FOR YOUNG association’s programs.) Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, Henry READERS. Winning writers have Yearly Membership, from April to April: David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Andrew included William Beebe, Paul Brooks, Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Student/Senior: $15.00 Archie Carr, Rachel Carson, John Annual: $25.00 and Harvey Firestone. On the day of his Daniel, Loren Eiseley, Joseph Wood death in 1921, the New York Senate Family: $35.00 Krutch, Aldo Leopold, Jeffrey Patron: $50.00 adjourned in Burroughs’s honor. After Lockwood, Peter Matthiessen, Roger his death, The John Burroughs Benefactor: $100.00 Tory Peterson, Michael Pollan, Robert Life: $500.00 Association (JBA) quickly formed. M. Pyle, Scott Russell Sanders, Ernest Headquartered in the American Thompson Seton, John Terres, Geerat Tax-deductible check or money order Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Vermeij, and Ann Zwinger. Two can be made payable to JBA. New York City, the association aims to lepidopterists—Robert M. Pyle and Send to: foster a love of nature as exemplified by yours truly—have been recipients. Secretary, The John Burroughs Burroughs’s life and work, and to Furthermore, I am a periodic Association, Inc. preserve the places associated with his contributor to Wake-Robin. life. To this end, the association owns 1513 West 77th Street and maintains SLABSIDES (John On April 5, 2010, the 2009 GOLD New York, New York 10024-5192 MEDAL AWARD went to Michael Burroughs’ log cabin in the Catskill e-mail: [email protected] Mountains of New York) as a National Welland for “Sand: The Never-Ending internet: http://research.amnh.org/ Historic Landmark and the adjoining Story”(University4 of California Press), burroughs John Burroughs Sanctuary near West and the OUTSTANDING PUBLISHED Park. Additionally, since 1926 JBA has NATURE ESSAY AWARD went to Scott been publicly recognizing exceptional Russell Sanders for his “Mind in the natural history publications by Forest” (Orion, Nov./Dec. 2009.) This X bestowing literary awards at a special is the second time Sanders has won 9the luncheon held in the AMNH after the essay award. association’s annual meeting on the

14

70 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Parasitic Mite Larvae (Acari) on an Adult Strymon acis bartrami (Lycaenidae)

Mark H. Salvato and Holly L. Salvato 1765 17th Ave SW, Vero Beach, Florida, 32962, USA, [email protected]

The Bartram’s hairstreak, Strymon these individuals appear to be parasitic non-target terrestrial arthropods in the acis bartrami (Huntington & mite larvae, most likely in the Family Florida Keys. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Univ. of Florida Cooperative Wildlife Comstock) (Lycaenidae), occurs locally Erythraeidae, a group known to Research Unit (Unpublished Final Report). within the pine rocklands of southern frequently attach to the wings of Gainesville, Florida. 76 pp. Florida and the lower Florida Keys butterflies. Treat (1975) reported Minno, M. C. & T. C. Emmel. 1993. Butterflies (Minno and Emmel 1993, Smith et. al parasitic mite larvae from several of the Florida Keys. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, Florida. 168 pp. 1994). Hennessey and Habeck (1991) lycaenid species as well as other Salvato, M.H. & M. K. Hennessey. 2004. Notes and Worth et al. (1996) described many Lepidoptera. However, to our on the status, natural history and fire-related aspects of S. a. bartrami natural knowledge this is the first observation ecology of Strymon acis bartrami. J. Lepid. history. Salvato and Hennessey (2004) of mite association with S. a. bartrami. Soc. 58: 223-227. Salvato, M. H. & H. L. Salvato. 2008. Notes and Salvato and Salvato (2008) also Further studies are required to verify on the feeding ecology of Strymon acis discussed S. a. bartrami ecology and which mite species are involved in the bartrami and Anaea troglodyta floridalis. provided a review of known predators natural history of S. a. bartrami. Fla. Scient. 71: 323-329. and parasites for the species. Smith, D. S., L. D. Miller & J. Y. Miller. 1994. Acknowledgements The Butterflies of the West Indies and South On 1 May 2010 we observed and Florida. Oxford University Press, New York. We thank Dr. Cal Welbourn (Florida 264 pp. 32 pl. photographed larval mites (n = 2) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Treat, A. E. 1975. Mites of Moths and attached to the outer forewing of an Services, Gainesville, Florida) for Butterflies. Cornell University Press. examining photos and proving information adult S. a. bartrami (Fig 1, p. 73) in the London. 362 pp. on parasitic mites. We also thank Dennis Long Pine Key region of Everglades Worth, R. A., K. A. Schwartz & T. C. Emmel. Olle for assistance in the field. 1996. Notes on the biology of Strymon acis National Park (Miami-Dade County, Literature Cited: Florida). We were unable to capture the bartrami and Anaea troglodyta floridalis in south Florida. Holarctic Lepid. 3:52-65. butterfly to obtain the mite specimens. Hennessey, M. K. & D. H. Habeck. 1991. Effects However, after examining the photos, of mosquito adulticides on populations of

are proving to have increased value and more that’s simply possible by Digital Collecting potential in the study of Lepidoptera as extrapolation: Start with the software Continued from p. 52 well as the dissemination of knowledge. used for fingerprint analysis or facial up all the females of a particular The simple reason is that we now have recognition. Add an image database of subspecies from Secret Canyon and if prolific tools for integrating high quality pinned specimens. Now throw in wing- they have two broods I can easily images into databases of all kinds from pattern analysis software developed by compare those too. The best part is I pure research to public education. The a grad student at your local university. can keep building this dataset, fine-tune images and data can come from Plug that into quantum computers on it as my needs and interests change and anywhere and anyone, but with loan from the government and teraflop adapt quickly to taxonomic qualified editors it’s exciting to think number-crunching for six straight days. realignments. If someone publishes a of the possibilities. Just imagine for a moment. As silly as paper and a butterfly gets moved to a I’ll admit I have a vivid imagination but it might seem now, I bet there’s new species or genus I can re-label all I’ve lived through two digital something useful in your life you take 100 images in about 5 seconds. Try that revolutions, one in my career as an for granted that’s the product of wilder with a dozen specimen drawers! audio engineer and later as a fantasies than this. In the meantime I While I tease my collector friends, I photographer. I can tell you no one had want to unchain myself from this have to admit that as photographers we any idea what was coming and when I computer and find a nice meadow, a have certain limits and photos will look back at what the technology has pond and some really amazing critters7 neverCallophrys compete with a pinned augustinus specimen. spawned and in how Floridalimitless it still feels, to bring home with me. Indeed some images can never be it stimulates that imagination. Consider X reliably identified. The point is that the technology that currently exists, photographs, or rather digital images, some that’s just around the corner and

Volume 52, Number 2 71 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2 Computerization of the Field Museum of Natural History Giant Butterfly Moth Collection (Castniidae)

James H. Boone1, Jorge M. González2, Gracen M. Brilmyer1 and Daniel Le3 1. Division of Insects, Zoology, Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496, USA. [email protected], [email protected] 2. Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology, College Station, Texas 77843-2475, USA. (Research associate, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity) [email protected] School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 7 West Madison, Chicago, Illinois 60602, USA. [email protected]

The Field Museum of Natural History subspecies (if applicable). Specimen To view the giant butterfly moth (FMNH) giant butterfly moth records include current taxonomic records, enter “Castniidae” in the (Lepidoptera: Castnioidea: Castniidae) classification and all data associated family field of the search form and, if collection is comprised of over 45 species with the specimens as well as desired, choose a region from the drop- and 118 specimens contained in eight zoogeographical region (Nearctic, down list. Once the list of records insect drawers. This pantropical family Neotropical, and Australian). appears click on any name to display is represented by species from the Highlights of the database are the high that individual record with thumbnail Neotropical and Australian Regions. resolution images of each specimen links to images of the specimen and its Most giant butterfly moths at the (dorsal and ventral habitus) and their labels (Fig. 1). Clicking on the FMNH originally belonged to the accompanying labels. thumbnail image displays a larger Hermann Strecker collection, though The FMNH database is available image of the specimen (Figs. 2 and 3) several were added after its acquisition through the Field Museum’s website at: and its labels (Fig. 4). Click on the in 1908 including specimens from http://emuweb.fieldmuseum.org/ image one more time and it will resize individual collections such as those of arthropod/Query.php. The Lepidoptera to fit your computer screen. Use your Adolf Mares and Borys Malkin. “Quick Browse” link to the right leads internet browser “back button” to As part of the ongoing FMNH to the Lepidoptera search page, which return to the list of records. Arthropod Collection databasing provides background information on Giant butterfly moths from the FMNH initiative, the giant butterfly moths the Lepidoptera collection and insect collection, like other Lepidoptera, were recently entered into the database associated data. are available for loan by contacting the according to genus, species and first author. The Mailbag Gary, I do apologize for this unfortunate they are seeing in the NEWS or on any and embarrassing error. My anxiety other topic as it relates to Lepidoptera. Continued from p. 69 level climbs whenever I ship off each Dale Clark, Editor “mumbler” or “foreigner” and therefore issue to the publisher, fearing that I’ve [email protected] a derogatory name. And to further done something just like this. While complicate matters, yet another close this is hardly my first mistake in the spelling, Popoloca, refers to an entirely nearly five years I’ve been editor, it different language group in the state of definitely ranks as the biggest blunder Puebla, Mexico.) Perhaps in the future, in my eyes. I like your suggestion of editorial policy could include an giving contributors a “final look” at author’s ”proof” of text that has to be their submissions before it goes to altered or created? I realize that this press, something that can easily be done would require extra lead time, but an with an emailed PDF file. author’s proofing could prevent another Not the circumstances that I wanted to such sensitive incident. Your thoughts? bring back The Mailbag, but hopefully Gary Noel Ross this will get other members to send in their comments and suggestions on what [email protected]

72 Summer 2010 Summer 2010 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

1

2

Two parasitic mite larvae (likely erythraeid mites) on the outer forewing of an adult Strymon acis bartrami in Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park on 1 May 2010 (Photo Credit: H. L. Salvato). See article on p. 71.

3

7 8

4 Images from the Field Museum’s giant butterfly moth database Fig. 1. Screen shot of catalog record FMNH- INS 41487, Castnia eudesmia Gray, 1838. Fig. 9 10 2. Dorsal habitus of C. eudesmia. Fig. 3. Ventral habitus of C. eudesmia. Fig. 4. Labels Less Common Butterflies of the Rocky Mountains associated with this C. eudesmia specimen. See article and photo data on p. 69.

Volume 52, Number 2 73 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2

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, 3 Autumn Aug. 15, 2010 [email protected] 4 Winter Nov. 15 2010 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]

74 Summer 2010 Summer 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) Jim Tuttle Charles Bordelon (317) 951-8818 [email protected] 57 Inkerman Street Texas Lepidoptera Survey, Past President Assistant Treasurer St Kilda 3182 8517 Burkhart Road, Victoria Australia 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

Volume 52, Number 2 75 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 52, Number 2

Top: Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara), Solstice Canyon, Malibu, CA, April 18, 2010. Bottom: Yucca Giant Skipper (Megathymus yuccae martini)Kelso Valley, CA, April 16, 2010. Photos: David Horner. See article on p. 52.

76 Summer 2010