69 



NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BUTTERFLIES AND 

 MOTHS MADE IN TOURAINE. 



By Geoffrey Meade Waldo. 



The following notes cover a collection made from the end of 

 May until the end of August round Tours, and for the most part 

 at St. Avertin, a small village some four miles from it. In 

 France, as elsewhere, the weather was most unseasonable, hence 

 the not very large results in the number of species. Sugaring 

 at the beginning of August was the most satisfactory method, 

 although the weather then was not any better. 



To begin with the Rhopalocera, Papilio machaon was taken on 

 May 22nd and not seen again during my whole stay, though P. 

 podaUrius was out the first week in June, and again in the 

 middle of August, when several perfect specimens were caught. 

 The three " whites " were common everywhere, Pieris napi 

 coming out much later than his congeners. Leucophasia sinapis 

 was also common during most of my stay, males being by far 

 the commonest. Anthocharis cardamines was abundant, as was 

 Gonepteryx rhamni. Among the Lycsenidte, L. ci/llarus, L. hylas, 

 L. arion, L. argiolus, L. argiades were taken, as well as L. semi- 

 argus {acts). L. avion made its appearance the first week in 

 July, and were out for about ten days only. A few hybernated 

 Vanessa antiopa were seen, and any number of V. io larvae could 

 be obtained, which pupated about the middle of June and 

 hatched in due course, producing a second brood of larvae in 

 August. Not many V. egea were seen, but I got a larva which 

 safely pupated, but was unfortunately thrown away by the 

 servant. V. urticce was swarming, but V. polijchloi-os and V. 

 atalanta were much scarcer. Aporia cratagi was in splendid 

 condition during the first half of June, and was followed by 

 Melanargia galatea. Limenitis sihi/lla and Thecla ilicis were 

 common in the oak woods, and Colias liyale and Nemeohius 

 lucina were sometimes to be seen along roads and railway 

 cuttings. Polyommatus phlosas was out principally in July and 

 August, but P. dorilis was out in June. Melitcea didyma was 

 plentiful and varied. M. phoebe, M. dia, and M. athalia were 

 also taken. In early June some beautiful Pararge mcera and 

 P. megcBva were- to be seen sitting sunning themselves on stone 

 walls, and P. egerides was abundant in the woods. Epinephele 

 ianira was, of courwe, almost a plague in July, and E. titJtonus 

 was very common. A beautifully fresh Ccenonympha arcania 

 was caught on June 22nd, followed by plenty more afterwards, 

 C. pampJdlus was very common. Among the Hespeiidfe, syl- 

 vanus alcece and sao were caught, but very few Hesperidfe were 

 seen at any time. On Aug. 14th a solitary Satyriis hermione was 



ENTOM. — MARCH, 1904. H 



