INTRODUCTION 



15 



The Scents of Butterflies 



Many students of American butterflies have occasionally 

 mentioned the fact that certain species seem to give off a 

 distinct scent which has frequently been spoken of as a 

 pleasing fragrance, suggesting sandalwood or some other 

 aromatic odor. The general subject as exemplified by 

 butterflies of other lands has been studied for many years 

 by Fritz Miiller; and certain English entomologists have 

 paid considerable attention to it. A translation of the 

 Miiller publications and an excellent summary of our pres- 

 ent knowledge of the subject is published in Dr. Longstaff's 

 book on butterfly hunting. 



The odors given off by butterflies are divided into two 

 principal kinds, namely : first, those which are repulsive to 

 the senses of man, and evidently for the purpose of pro- 

 tecting the butterflies from birds and other vertebrate 

 enemies — these are found in both 

 sexes; second, those which are 

 evidently for the purpose of sexual 

 attraction and confined to the male 

 butterflies — these scents are usually 

 attractive to the senses of man. 



The aromatic scents of the second 

 group are generally produced by 

 means of certain scales or hairs of 

 many curious forms, which are 

 scattered over the surface of the 

 wings or are placed within certain 

 special pockets, generally near the borders of the wings. 

 These scales or hairs are called androconia. Some of them 

 much magnified are represented in the picture above. 



Androconia from wings of male 

 butterflies 



