lATAKNINAK: 0V.\^•11!1^ I'SI-IDAIK ;i()|,lIS, 939 



As soon as li.ilrlieil, llio yoiin^ liirvii cuts a miiuite liolc, the diameter of its head, 

 Into the lower part of tlie unopened bud, just above tlie calyx, and feeds upon the 

 fllanients of the stamens. ... As the larva feeds the [first tlioracic] segment Is pressed 

 hard aijaiust the bud, so as to permit tlie utmost cl<in'j;ation of the neck. Thus it is 

 enabled to eat out the contents of the bud, and only desists when tliore remains but the 

 empty shell. Wlieu so engaged the anterior sen;nicnts are curled uj) and the otliers 

 rest on the stalk of the plant; but very small larvae rest wholly on tlie bud, curvin-^ 

 around it. . . . .Vfter its first moult, it bores into the si<les of tlie calyx, to get at tlic 

 ovules; but as the flowers mature and the ovary hardens, tlie boring is from the top, 

 inside the tube of the calyx, and follows the stalk of the pistil to the ovule. Finally, 

 belated larvae are compelled to gnaw the seed vessel after it has become woody, and 

 in several instances have been found eating the stem below the flower. It is not un- 

 usual for tlie larvae in confinement to eat of the white involucre of the flower, but 1 

 have never observed them eat of the leaves, even wlien no otlier food has beeu given 

 them. 



l)r. Dimmock, hoivevcr, found tiiat tlie larvae wliicli he bred oia Vac- 

 ciniiun ate away the surface of the leaf while young, but later ate the leaf 

 entirely through ; and the youug larvae which I persuaded to eat buckthorn 

 ate circular holes .25 mm. in diameter, in the upper surface of the leaf. 



The behavior of the larvae in the presence of ants has for no species of 

 Lycaeninae becti so well and fully described as for this species by the 

 same indefatigable observer, and the following account is accordingly ex- 

 tracted bodily from his different writings : — 



I very soon noticed that ants also frequented the spikes, and supposed that the 

 honey-sweet flowers drew them, but presently saw an ant running up and down tiie 

 back of one of the larvae, drumming and gesticulating with its antennae, and was 

 surprised to find tliat the larva, though feeding, did not seem in the least disturbed at 

 the treatment, neitlier witiidrawiiig its head from tlie bud nor wincing in the body. 

 It evidently knew well wlio was treating it so familiarly. . . . The first d,ay I had seen 

 two species of ants eng.iged, eacli of medium size, but now I found a third and very 

 small species operating in the same manner, and in one case sis of these were busy 

 over one larva. But the movements of all the species were similar. . . . They run over 

 the body, caressing incessantly with the antennae, and undoubtedly with the object 

 of persuading the larva to emit the fluid. . . . Much of the caressing is done about the 

 anterior segments, and while the ants are . . . absent from the last segments, the tubes 

 . . . are almost constantly exposed to full extent, and so remain, without contracting, 

 until the ants come tumbling along in great excitement, and put citlier foot or anten- 

 na directly upon or close by tlie tubes, when these are instantly withdrawn. The 

 ants pay no heed to the tubes, so far as toucliing them with intention, but at once turn 

 to [the median gland], caress the back of that segment, put their mouths to the ori- 

 fice, and show every sign of eager expectancy. . . . [With a lens] a movement will 

 speedily be apparent, and there will protrude a dark green maminiloid membrane, 

 from the top of which exudes a tiny drop of clear green fluid. This the ants drink 

 greedily, two or three of them i)erhaps standing guard over it. The demonstrations 

 of the ants are of the most gentle nature, caressing, entreating, and as the little 

 creatures drink in the fluid, lifting their lieads as if to prolong the swallowing, tliere 

 is a manifest satisfaction and delectation that is amusing to see. They lick away the 

 last trace and stroke the back of the segment, and wait to see if their coaxing avails 

 anything. If not, they run about, . . . but presently all return, and the caressings go 

 on as before. The intervals between the appearance of the globule vary with the 

 conditions of the larva. If exhausted by yielding to the frequent solicitations, sonic 

 minutes may elapse, and the tubes meanwhile will remain concealed ; but a fresh 

 larva requires little urging, and the mere intimation of the presence of an ant in the 



