Vol. Xxiv] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IO3 



on account of the differences in the genitalia differences which appear 

 to be constant. In argiades the aedoeagus is slender and of almost 

 uniform width till quite close to the extremity; in coretas it is quite 

 broad at the base, gradually tapering for two-thirds of its length, when 

 it suddenly narrows and is fairly even to the apex ; the clasps are 

 heavier made, the upper curved hook-like extremity being stouter, 

 shorter, and the curve much sharper in argiades than in coretas; the 

 tegumen also differs, in argiades the central point, though sharp, is not 

 elongate as in coretas, but more triangular, as it were, and from the 

 central point the sides of the tegumen gradually slope off evenly, but 

 in coretas they are quite distinctly shouldered, the latter species being 

 less copiously and more finely haired in this region than in argiades; 

 the fakes or hooks of this region are more slender than is the case in 

 the latter species (argiades). 



In comyntas all these points are strongly emphasized. The aedoeagus 

 is very decidedly stouter at the base, tapers more rapidly, but for a 

 shorter distance, being only for a little more than half the whole length. 

 The hooks of the clasp are longer and finer than even in coretas, whilst 

 the softer lower somewhat spatulate and folded extremity of the clasp 

 is proportionately longer than in coretas, but slenderer, thus in this one 

 particular being rather nearer argiades. The tegumen is even squarer 

 and more shouldered than in coretas and the falces are longer also ; the 

 fulcrum, or support for the aedoeagus, has a long stem and is placed 

 near the middle of the clasp in this genus, but in comyntas its bifid arms 

 are decidedly shorter than in either of the European species. 



I started this investigation under the impression that the 

 American species was argiades pure and simple. My final con- 

 clusion is that it is 1 now a distinct species from either coretas 

 or argiades, the markings and pattern are nearer the latter, but 

 the genitalia have developed in the direction of coretas and 

 have gone well beyond that species. 



(To be continued) 



Method of Breeding Lycaenidae (Lepid.) 



I have had great success this past season in breeding Lycaenidae. 

 By placing gravid females in glass-covered boxes, which were then 

 placed in the sunlight, I induced practically every female so exposed 

 to oviposit. Care should be taken that the sun's rays are not too in- 

 tense. In this way I obtained ova of Lycacna sonorensis, battoides, 

 acmon, polyphemus, exilis, Clirys. arota and Theda dumetorum 

 KARL R. COOLIDGE. 



