1897.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 211 



UTAH REVISITED-IDAHO AND WYOMING. 



By Prof. A. J. SXYDER. 



(Continued from p. 165, vol. viii.) 



During; our second week our headquarters were in Park City, 

 and the places mentioned in the account of the trip of 1893 were 

 revisited. Melitaa nubigcna was the most common species. Sev- 

 eral Lyctznas were abundant; Pscudohazis cglantcrina and var. 

 nnttallii had not emerged. 



The collector who wishes to have both sexes of the various 

 species of Lepidoptera well represented in his collection should 

 remember that the habits often vary greatly. Often the females 

 remain hidden in the grass or other vegetation and refuse to take 

 to flight even if the penalty is to be crushed under foot. In a 

 low meadow the females of certain Lyceznas were found clinging 

 to the grass near the earth and were taken by placing the bottle 

 over them without use of net. Usually, I think, the males are 

 more on the wing and fly higher, while the females flit close to 

 the ground and among the underbrush seeking the proper food- 

 plant for the larvae on or near which to deposit the eggs. 



When sexual differences in coloration exist it is my opinion 

 that the color of the female is better suited to escape observation. 

 Embryonic development may be more complex, and hence fewer 

 females reach maturity (this has been proven to be the case with 

 insects of other orders). 



These facts, with the additional one, that a single female often 

 produces an immense number of eggs may satisfactorily account 

 for the statement so common, especially concerning the Argyn- 

 nids, that twenty males are captured to one female. The- Ar- 

 gynnids were just beginning to fly when we left Park City, July 

 loth. On the way to and from Park City we revisited Red 

 Butte Canon just above Fort Douglass. Here Argynnis neva- 

 densis and meadii were again taken. 



Some have disputed the validity of the names given to these Ar- 

 gynnids and claim that nevadensis is not a native of Utah. In my 

 opinion the males are readily separated, meadii being smaller, 

 with more of the green on both surfaces and lacking the golden 

 brown above as seen in nevadcnsis. As to the females I fail to 

 draw the line unless those of lighter color are nevadcnsis, and 

 the darker ones meadii. I believe that iieradensis and 



