Vol. Xxii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 359 



Early Stages of Lycaena lygdamus Doubleday (Lepid.). 

 By H. M. BOWER, Chicago. 



(Plate XII.) 



On May I4th while collecting at Palos Park, a small town 

 about twenty miles southwest of Chicago, it was my good for- 

 tune to observe a female lygdamus ovipositing on Lathyrus 

 ochroleucus Hook, and L. caroliniana Walt, which grew abun- 

 dantly on a particular knoll in that vicinity. Upon further 

 search many eggs were found and a few larvae. 



The eggs in most cases, were laid on the outside of the ten- 

 der leaf buds, though one was occasionally found on the under 

 side of the older leaves. Upon hatching the young larvae ate 

 small holes in the tender leaves and leaf buds. In the former 

 case they would sometimes bore through the leaf and remain 

 within the cylinder of the curled leaf. The buds were sim- 

 ply bored into until the third or fourth segment was out of 

 sight when the hole was abandoned and another started. 

 These tender leaves and the leaf buds were preferred through- 

 out the life of the larvae. 



Having occasion to visit this place later for food, I found 

 a number of the more mature larvae. These were in almost 

 every case attended by several ants which made the search 

 rather easy as the ants invariably led to the discovery of a 

 larva. 



Several cases of cannibalism were observed in raising the 

 larvae. Though supplied with abundant food some larvae 

 partially consumed others which were moulting. 



Before entering into the detailed description I wish to ex- 

 press my appreciation of the kindness of Mr. W. J. Gerhard, 

 of the Field Museum who, among other things, took me to 

 the haunts of lygdamns, which appears to be quite local. 



Egg. Length .70 mm. ; height, .30 mm. Turban-shaped with 

 micropyle slightly depressed. Color, when fresh, pale green, turn- 

 ing dull white before hatching. There is a raised white network 

 forming polygonal cells. At the angle of each cell there is a rounded 

 protuberance. The latter are largest at the edge of the egg and 

 yrow smaller at the base and around the micropyle. The cells formed 



