HABITS OF THE LARVA OF BELLURA MELANOPYGA 

 GROTE (LEPIDOPTERA). 1 



PAUL S. WELCH. 



Of the great host of Lepidoptera, only a few species have in- 

 vaded the water and acquired aquatic stages in the life history. 

 These few species have solved the problems of maintenance of 

 aquatic life in exceedingly interesting ways, all presenting unique 

 adaptations. The species on which this paper is based is aquatic 

 in the larval stage and rivals the other species of similar habit 

 in the character of its peculiar adaptations. 



In 1881 Comstock ('81, pp. 147-149) published a short paper 

 which included Grote's description of a new species, Arzama 

 melanopyga (now Bellura melanopyga), and a very brief account 

 of. the larva of the same, presenting data on its unique habits and 

 adaptations. This seems to be the only published account, the 

 writer having searched in vain for other papers dealing with the 

 habits of this larva. Comstock later ('88, p. 468) made mention 

 of it and Grote ('89, p. 226) called attention to its habits and 

 structures but in neither case were new data presented. The 

 larval habits of a closely allied form, Spliida obliqua Wlk., which 

 feeds on Typha, are better known and in a few respects resemble 

 those of Bellura melanopyga. The following paper includes new 

 data on the unusual habits of the larva and presents the detail 

 of features merely mentioned by Comstock. Bellura melanopyga 

 Grt. has been considered by some writers as a synonym of Bellura 

 gortynoides Wlk. but the writer follows Hampson ('10, p. 260), 

 who considers melanopyga a valid species. 



The observations which form the basis of this paper were made 

 by the writer while a member of the staff of instruction at the 

 University of Michigan Biological Station at Douglas Lake, 

 Michigan, during the three sessions of 1911-1913. The abun- 

 dance of material and the opportunity to make observations at 

 corresponding times during successive seasons made it possible 



1 Contributions from the University of Michigan Biological Station No. 22. 



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