( 471 ) 



XIV. An Account of some ExperimenU on the Edibility oj 

 certain Lepidopterous Larvae. By H. Eltringham, 

 M.A, F.Z.S. 



[Read October 6tli, 1909.] 



For a considerable period, following on the first enuneia- 

 tion of the theories of Batesian and Miillerian mimicry 

 and common warning colours, the criticism that these 

 theories were based on small practical evidence was to 

 some extent justified. Such criticism, however, did not 

 in any way invalidate the theories in question. "It had 

 also the highly salutary effect of acting as a stimulus, not 

 only to the upholders but also to the opponents of these 

 theories, to carry out practical experiments with a view 

 to obtaining actual evidence bearing on some of the points 

 involved. 



It is a matter of common knowledge amongst those who 

 have studied these subjects, that the experiments which 

 have been recorded all tend to support the now well-known 

 theories of mimicry which had their origin in the celebrated 

 arguments published nearly fifty years ago by Mr. H. W. 

 Bates. Amongst the many points to be elucidated, one 

 of the most important was the proof of the comparative 

 inedibility of many insects. For much valuable evidence 

 on this head we are indebted to the experiments of Mr. 

 Jenner Weir, Mr. A. G. Butler, Prof Weismann, Mr. F. 

 Finn, and especially to those of Prof. Poulton and Mr. 

 G. A. K. Marshall, and it can no longer be said with justice 

 that the hypothesis of the comparative distastefalness 

 of most warningly coloured insects rests on insufficient 

 evidence. 



Arising out of the foregoing experiments, one of the 

 results obtained by Prof. Poulton * was as interesting as 

 it was unexpected. Whilst in accordance with anticipa- 

 tion, warningly coloured larvae were found to be distasteful, 

 and cryptic larvae edible, one instance was discovered in 

 which a larva (that of Mania typica), though exceedingly 



* Proc. Zool. Soo. 1887, Experimental Proof of the Vahie of 

 Colour and Markings in Insects in Fieference to their Vertebrate 

 Enemies. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1909. — PART IV. (DEC.) I I 



