PuU. 5. VI. 1913. DIONE. Bv Dr. A. Seitz. 



5. Gemis: I>ioiic H/m. 



401 



Tliis genus, formerly known as AgrauHs, is outwardly characterized by the frequently very rich sil- 

 vering of the under surface of the hindA\ings, traces of which we have already found in the last described 

 species of the preceding genus. The venation is not constant and cannot serve to characterize the genus; 

 thus in ??iowe<a the 1. subcostal neivule is emitted at the end of the cell, in wwi'toe behind it. Neither can the 

 larva or pupa serve to distinguish the two genera; only a slight difference is to be observed in the structure 

 of the antennae and in the palpi, which are distentcd like those of Argynnis. But for that reason to unite 

 it with these, or on account of the open cell in the hindwing to separate it from the Heliconinae and class it 

 «ith the Argijnninae, I do not judge to }>e I'ight. considering the u'any analogies existing between Dione 

 and the Heliconians, as to their mode of life, distribution, structure, the spines of the larva, the food-iilant. 

 the scent-organs, the stink-glands of the $?, the puffed up extremity of the o abdomen, the bottle-shape of 

 the eggs etc. But few, rather closely allied species are known. 



D. juno Cr. (84 e). Above very nnich like Col. juJia. together with which it is found. Under surface juno. 

 with numerous silvery spots which, however, are neither so large nor so bright as in tnoneta. Xot much is 

 seen of these, when the butterfly is flying or when, the wings flatly extended, it sips honey from some flower, 

 preferably some composite plant. The ?$ are often very much larger than the figured q, and vary indivi- 

 dually as to the extent of the black markings, so that one can at the same time capture specimens with broad 

 and with narrow border. At Santos in South Brazil I haven even taken specimens with some fine reddish 

 spots within the black terminal border ; the figured specimen which likewise sJiows these, came from Rio. Specimens 

 taken in Ecuador by Haek.sch during January, are very brillantly coloured, above bordered with jetblack, 

 on the under surface the ground-colour dark brown, not buff. On the forewing the beginnings of a third, pre- 

 apical, black band, starting from the costa. Otherwise these specimens agree almost exactly with andicola atidicola. 

 Bates, described from Chimborazo, differing, however, from the form huascatna Beak. (84 e), occurring from huascama. 

 Mexico throughout Central America to Colombia and Ecuador. Here the black markings of the ujjper surface 

 are reduced, the preapical band is obsolete and on the hindwings the termen interrupted by curved spots of the 

 ground-colour. — Larva, like that of Colaenis, on Passiflorae, but living gregariously; at first black, later 

 paler with dark marldngs and black spines; head without horns, but the dorsal pair of spines on the first seg- 

 ment curved forward over the head. "\^ery common, from Mexico to Argentina and Peru, generally all the year 

 round. 



D. vanillae L. (= passiflorae F.) (84 f) may be distinguished from the preceding species by the black vanillae. 

 dots on the upper surface. Under surface richlj^ adorned with silvery spots. Ranges from Virginia in the United 

 States throughout America southward to Buenos Aires, forming such a nund^er of varieties that one might 

 give at least 20 names, but which cannot be geographically defined.- Neither is it possible to separate the 

 different broods, for their whole development recixiires in the Tropics les than 4 — fi weeks, so that a great 

 number of broods follow one another throughout the year. In southern Brazil I noticed that the specimens 

 taken in February were largest and lightest, that thereafter they becanie ever smaller and darker, vnitil in Au- 

 gust the $? were almost black and only 40 mm in expanse, after which time the variation took place the oppo- 

 site way. The spots on the forewing vary greatly in number, being placed nearer together or farther apart; 

 the veins may or may not terminate in spots. The spots in the cell of the fore wings are beneath nearly always, above 

 frequently centred with white, those marking the end of the cell occasionally united into a band. On the hind- 

 wing the terminal border as a rule with a chain-pattern (= caie/fo *S'<ic/;.), in northerly specimens, from Mexico 

 and the Antilles, often oirly with some black anteterminal arches (= insularis Magn.). — We only mention 

 one striking form from Peru and Ecuador, copying above exactly the colouring of D. juno: = lucina Fldr. hwina. 

 (84 e). Forewings spotted only in the cell and on the termen, with an almost complete oblique band be- 

 fore the apex; hindwings with broadly black outer margin, devoid of any larger spots of fulvous. This form 

 is of rather large size, although it does not come up to some specimens I took at Buenos Aires in January, 

 the (J,^ of which had, moreover, the forewings rather more pointed (= niaculo.sa Sfich.). Most cjiaracteristic 

 is the und&r surface, where the apex contains on the forewing only one, on the hindwing only a few isolated 

 silvery spots. Larva pale brown, ringed with darker, with orange-yellow lateral stripes suffused with grey 

 above, and yellow-ochreous spines; underside dark brown. Head with two rather long spines. Feeds on 

 Passiflorae, not on A'anille. Pupa dark red-brown with white lateral and ventral stripes, provided in front with 

 fine ribs or rudimentary teeth of a saw-like appendage such as we distinctly observe in some Heliconiu.s 

 (apseude.s). Li their flight and other habits the butterflies resemble our Argynnis; tlujy love to visit flowers 

 of various kinds, fly throughout the year, and belong to the commonest Lspidoptera of Tropical America. 



D. moneta Hhn. Upper surface of both wings at the base, of the forewing in the costal area dark monria. 

 chestnut-brown, the veins black. Hindwings in the distal half orange-yellow, the marginal border black, 

 spotted with rufous. Underneath the silver spots much larger and closer together than in vanillae; also the costa 

 of the forewing silvered in places. From northern South America. — Our figure was uiade from a specimen 



V 51 



