INSECTS 



DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA. 



By W. H. Edwards. 



Family, PAPILIOlSriD^. 



Sub-family, Papilionin-^. 



Genus, Colias, Fabricius. 



1. C. Hecla, Lefebvre. 



One female was taken at Quickstep Harbor, Gulf of Cumberland, lati- 

 tude GGo. This species inhabits Southern Greenland and regions to the 

 westward. It has been attributed to Iceland, but, as is now supposed^ 

 erroneously. It also inhabits Southern Lapland. 



Mr. M'Lachlan, in his Eeport on the butterflies collected by the recent 

 British Arctic Expedition, states that C. Hecla was taken as far north as 

 latitude 81° 45', at Hayes Sound ; and he gives information obtained 

 from Captain Feilden, E. N., attached to the Alert as naturalist, on the 

 habits of Lepidoptera in these high latitudes. '' During the short period 

 when there is practically no night, butterflies are continuously on the 

 wing, supposing the sun's surface not to be obscured by clouds or pass- 

 ing snow showers. That about one month in each year is the longest 

 period in which it is iDOSsible for these insects to appear in the perfect 

 state, and that about six weeks is the limit of time allowed to plant- 

 feeding larvce, during all the rest of the year the land being under snow 

 and ice." Mr. M'Lachlan doubts if there is sufficient time in each year 

 for the preparatory stages of the butterfly, — egg, larva, and chrysalis, — 

 and is disposed to think that more than one year is necessary. In the 

 northern United States, the larvoB of Colias frequently pass the winter 

 when half- grown, or even younger, and I think it probable this is the habit 

 of Hecla. From two to three weeks at the end of the short Arctic summer, 

 and less time at the beginning in the following year, would seem to suf- 

 fice for the whole round of transformations. 



In Dr. Staudinger's Catalogue, Colias Boothii, Curtis, is put down as 

 a synonym of Hecla; but, in the oi)iniou of Mr. M'Lachlan, the two 

 are distinct species. 



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