THE ENTOMOLOGIST 
Vou. XLIT.] 
MARCH, 1909. [No. 550 
LIFE-HISTORY OF ARGYNNIS LAODICE. 
By F. W. Fronawk, M.B.O.U., F.E.S. 
(Prater IT.) 
On September 17th, 1907, I received from the Hon. N. Charles 
Rothschild a number of eggs of Argynnis laodice, obtained from 
four females captured by himself near Cséhtelek, in the Bihar 
Comitat, Hungary. The four specimens were placed on potted- 
up plants of dog-violet (Viola canina), with the satisfactory 
result that about one hundred and seventy eggs were deposited 
on various parts of the leaves and stems. By acquiring this 
consignment of ova I have been enabled, through Mr. Rothschild’s 
kindness, to have the pleasure of successfully working out the 
complete life-history of this rare species, which I believe has 
never been previously accomplished, and, excepting the full- 
grown larva and pupa that were described and figured twenty-six 
years ago by G. Kunow (‘Schriften d. Physik, Oekon Geselbech, 
zu Konigsberg,’ vol. xii. p. 147, 1872), nothing hitherto was 
known of any of the earlier stages. 
Aigner has already recorded (‘ Rovartani Lapok,’ vol. xiv. 
p: 222, 1907) the capture of the specimens of this Argynnis by 
Mr. Rothschild. 
This species, which apparently only occurs in the Réz Moun- 
tains and not on the plain, frequents open spaces in the forest in 
the neighbourhood of streams, where it flies in company with 
A. paphia, A. adippe, and A. lathonia, frequenting the blossoms 
of bramble and of hemp-agrimony. All the specimens that 
Mr. Rothschild secured were worn, being taken from about the 
middle of August onwards, and were mostly females. Apparently 
the locality where these were captured is the most western point 
in Hungary, and possibly in Europe, at which this species has 
been observed. 
The ege resembles that of Argynnis adippe in shape and 
general structure, but in the number of keels it is more similar 
to A. aglaia. It is conical in form but rather straight-sided, and 
gz In. in height ; the base is twice the width of the crown, which 
ENTOM.—MARCH, 1909. F 
