Zoology. — ''On the pvimarij character of the markings in Lepi- 

 dopterous pupae". By Prof. J. F. van Bp:mmelkn. 



(Communicated in the meeting of April 26, 1918.) 



On p. 136 of his paper: Znr Zeichnung des Insekten-, iiii be- 

 sonderen des Diptereii- tind liepidopterenfliigels (Tijdschrifr voor 

 Entomologie, vol. LIX, 1915) dk Meyere raises objections against 

 the comparison of the pnpal stage in Lepidoptera with the siibima- 

 ginal instar of Agnatiia; a comparison, whicii as far as I know, was 

 first made by Poulton '), and to which I have expressed my adhe- 

 sion in my paper on the pupae of Rhopalocera"). 



He says (translated by me): "It is well known that many investi- 

 gators believe the pupa to have evolved from a flying imagolike 

 form, the limitation of the wings to the last instar having been 

 acquired later on. In these views I cannot agree with my colleagne" 

 (viz. VAN Bemmelen). "In what way one may imagine the initial 

 evolution of the pupal stage to have taken place, either from a 

 dormant subimago, or from a dormant larva (the latter alternative 

 according to my view being the more probable), in any case I think 

 to be justified in supposing that the Trichoptera, Panorpata, Diptera 

 and Lepidoptera have differentiated out of Neuroptera, after the 

 latter had acquired the Holometabolic metamorphosis they possess 

 to-day. Now the Neuroptera generally have a faintly coloured pupa; 

 which leads a hidden life, concealed in the earth or in a cocoon, 

 and usually has a thin chitinons skin. Such also is the condition 

 with Panorpata, Diptera, and likewise with a number of lower Le- 

 pidoptera, as Micropteryx, Lymacodides and many others. 



Wheii therefore loe meet with special colour-markings exactly in 

 the freeliving pupae of diurnal butterflies, I am inclined to regard 

 this as a mholly secondary feature .... (The italics are mine). 



This statement leads me to the following remarks : 



1) E. B. Poulton, The external morphology of the Lepidoplerous Pupa, its relation to 

 that of other stages and to the origin and history of metamorphosis ; Transactions 

 Linnean Society 1890 — 91. 



^) J. F. VAN Bemmelen, Die phylogenetische Bedeutung der Puppenzeichnung bei 

 den Rhopaloceren und ihre Beziehungen zu derjenigen der Raupen und Imagines» 

 Verh. d. Deutschen Zool. Ges. 23 Versamml. 1913. 



