I. — Noise -producing Lepidoptera 



Par F. P. DODD. 



Wlien having pupae of certain Lycaenidae in my possession, I observed that those which 

 were ant- associating species usually gave out various sounds, especially those of thc gcncra 

 Arhopala, Ogyris, Milelits, Hypolycœna and Pseudodipsas. AU thèse, in their larval and pupal 

 stages, are attended by ants almost continuously, but Nacadiibas and others which are not 

 attended so closely, and do not seem to pupate in or near ants nests, do not émit sounds, nor 

 does Liphyra brassolis. The large caterpiUars hâve the power also whcn bunchcd up for moul- 

 ting, but seem to losc it after, and again when undergoing pupation — even in their soft state 

 preceding it and immediately after. 



I cannot give any information as to how thèse sounds are made. When in the mood for 

 producing same there is no way of stopping them, pupae may be held by the head, middle, or 

 tail, or by head and tail, still they are not quietcned. The sounds are usually in the nature of 

 ticking musical buzzing, or humming, and are quite pleasing. Some of the noises hâve a metallic 

 ring, and the humming reminds one of that of téléphone and telegraph wires. 



About II years ago, at Townsville, I had some 20 pupae of Arhopala eupolis enclosed in 

 a cardboard box; at that time D"^ A. J. Turner (F. E. S.) of Brisbane, was in the district, and 

 called upon me, and I was able to bring thèse undcr his notice, the ticking could bc heard from 

 any part of an ordinary sized room. Upon another occasion I sent several of the insects to 

 Mr. A. J. Keishaw (F. E. S.) of the Melbourne Muséum (i,8oo miles away), who received them 

 alive, and heard and remarked upon the sounds emanating from them. 



The Arhopalas and the large Ogyris genoveva can easily be seen to move when sound pro- 

 ducing, a slight upward jerk is given producing the k tick », followed by a slight vibration for 

 the other sounds, but, as already stated, by holding them so as to prevent any movement, still 

 the sounds are made; when they are quieter than usual, a shake of the box, or a light strokc or 

 two with a camel's hair brush, will set them going, a perfect outburst of harmony resulting. 



When pupae die they are abandoned by the ants, and, when collecting them, I always knew 

 whcn one was dead through the absence of those insects, so doubtless thc pupal movements and 

 sounds are necessary as signais to keep the ants in attcndance. I never found that a dead pupa 

 was interfered with, even one broken through by emerged parasites; with the ants so much in 

 attendance upon the larvae and pupae, yet a large proportion are victimised by ichneumons, 

 mostly BraconidiC. 



Years ago, also at Townsville, I had a iiumber of pupae of a large Geometrid {Monoctenia 

 Sp. ?) which gave out rolling and muffled machinery-like sounds, but not of the pleasing musical 

 nature of those of the Lycœnidœ. 



Of many moth chrysalids which make some kind of noise in their cocoons, by far the most 



