Part 69

VANESSA CARDUI, L.

(Vanessa cardui, L. Cynthia kershawii, McCoy, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. iv., vol. i. p. 76 (1868). Pyrameis cardui, var. P. kershawii, Butler, Erebus and Terror Lep., p. 29 (1874).)

(Plate XII., fig. 1, 2 under side.)

This elegant butterfly occurs throughout both islands, but is very irregular in its appearance. In some years it is quite abundant, whilst in others scarcely a specimen will be seen. During the summer of 1889-1890 it was extremely plentiful in the Wellington district, being at that time much commoner than Vanessa gonerilla, but its appearance in such large numbers as this was, I think, very exceptional.

The expansion of the wings varies from 2 to 2¼ inches. Above, all the wings are orange-red, spotted and mottled with black. The fore-wings are bronzy towards the base; in the black apex there are five white spots. Near the termen of the hind-wings three of the black spots have blue centres. On the under side of the fore-wings the markings are very similar to those on the upper side, except that there are several additional white blotches, and the orange-red ground colour has a rosy blush towards the base. The hind-wings are very beautifully mottled with an elaborate series of pale brown, purplish-grey, yellowish-brown, and white markings; three of the large spots near the termen have pale blue centres.

I have not yet met with the larva of this insect, neither can I find any record of its having been observed in New Zealand. The following description by Mr. Stainton is taken from a European specimen: "The spiny larva is brown with two dorsal and two lateral yellow lines; on the third, fourth, and twelfth segments there are four spines; on the fifth to eleventh segments seven spines, and on the thirteenth two spines; it feeds solitarily in rolled thistle-leaves."

The perfect insect appears in January, February, March and April, hibernated specimens occurring from August until December. It is a much more wary butterfly than either Vanessa gonerilla or V. itea, and can seldom be captured after it has once been {109}disturbed, although it will often return to the same spot several times in succession. In fact, owing to its extreme timidity, its capture is generally attended with some difficulty.

This insect is found almost throughout the entire world. In specimens from the Northern Hemisphere the black spots on the hind-wings have no blue centres, and the butterflies are a little larger than those found in the Southern Hemisphere, otherwise the two insects are exactly alike. The southern form has been called V. kershawii by several writers, but the differences do not appear to me to be sufficiently important to merit a distinct specific name, especially as both forms occur together in South Africa.

This insect has frequently been observed at various places on the European Continent migrating in vast swarms; and it seems probable that its strong migratory instinct may have led to its enormously wide range at the present time.

Genus 3.--JUNONIA.

"Eyes glabrous. Club of antennæ abrupt. Fore-wings, with vein 10 separate. Hind-wings with transverse vein, absent between veins 4 and 5." (Meyrick.)

We have one species in New Zealand.

JUNONIA VELLEDA.

(Plate XI., fig. 16, fig. 17 under side.)

This butterfly was very common in the neighbourhood of Wellington during the summer of 1886-87. To the best of my knowledge the insect had not previously been observed in New Zealand, but I understand from Mr. R. Holloway that he has since met with it on the sea-coast near New Plymouth, in 1893, and at Motueka in 1898.

The expansion of the wings is nearly 2 inches. On the upper side all the wings are dull blackish-brown, with greenish or bronzy reflections. The fore-wings have two broad orange-brown stripes on the costa, and a very large patch of the same colour along the termen, containing a large black spot with a bluish-white centre; there are three irregular whitish marks near the apex of the wing, and a minute blue-centred ocellus. The hind-wings have two very large orange-brown spots almost touching each other near the termen; each of these contains a large blue-centred ocellus in the middle; there are also two terminal rows of brown crescent-shaped markings. Underneath, the markings of the fore-wings resemble those of the upper side, but they are very much paler, and the ground colour is light brown. The hind-wings are pale brown, with a wavy black line across the middle, followed by a brown shading towards the termen; there are also four small round black spots and a series of irregular black dots near the termen.

The perfect insect occurred very plentifully in December, January and February, and was fond of settling on barren, stony places in the hot sunshine. It was very timid and difficult to catch, darting off with great rapidity when approached. During the season I managed to secure about nine specimens, some of them in very good condition. I am unable to explain the sudden appearance of this butterfly in New Zealand during the above-mentioned year. The large numbers, which were observed over extended areas, almost seem to forbid its accidental importation from Australia, whilst the distance of New Zealand from that continent would render immigration a most unlikely circumstance. On the other hand, if the insect is a regular inhabitant of this country, it is strange that it had never before been observed. When on the wing, its superficial resemblance to Vanessa cardui may have led to its having been overlooked, and hence it is very desirable that entomologists should use every effort to detect it in the future.

According to Mr. Olliff, this butterfly has a very wide geographical range, being {110}found in Java, Sumatra, Tasmania and all parts of the Australian Continent. About the year 1830 it was described by Stephens, in his 'British Entomology,' under the name of Cynthia hampstediensis, on account of its having been taken at Hampstead, the well-known suburb of London. Subsequently it transpired that the specimen in question was no doubt of foreign origin, its "appearance" having been due to a practical joke perpetrated on the British Lepidopterists of the day.

Family 2.--SATYRIDÆ.

"Characters of Nymphalidæ, but fore-wings with vein 12 greatly dilated towards base." (Plate I., figs. 25, 26, and 27, neuration of Erebia pluto.)

"A large group of very general distribution. The species are usually of moderate size, generally dark coloured with light bands or spots, and with several round, black, white-centred spots on lower surface. Some of them are more fond of shady places than is customary in this group.

"Ovum spherical-ovate, surface reticulated and often ribbed. Larva more or less tapering towards extremities, with short hairs; segment 13 ending in two points; feeding on grass. Pupa suspended by the tail or unattached, sometimes subterranean."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate III., figs. 4 and 5 larvæ, 28 and 29 pupæ.)

Of this family we have three genera represented in New Zealand:--

1. ARGYROPHENGA. 2. DODONIDIA. 3. EREBIA.

Genus 1.--ARGYROPHENGA.

Eyes glabrous. Club of antennæ somewhat abrupt. Fore-wings with lower margin of cell greatly dilated towards base; veins 8, 9, 10, and 11 out of 7; vein 12 greatly dilated towards base.

Of this genus there is one species in New Zealand.

ARGYROPHENGA ANTIPODUM, Doubleday.