38 entomological news. [February, 



VARIATION OF PYRAMEIS CARYE Hubner. 



By Beverly Letcher, San Francisco. 



Pyrameis carye n. var. muelleri — Varies from typical carye in extension 

 of fulvous markings at expense of black on primaries and the replacing 

 by white of the blue and to some extent the black on secondaries. Pri- 

 maries: apical white spots develop into dashes extending more or less to 

 outer margin of wing, with the exception of the broad marginal band, 

 which is black, and the inner margin and base of wing, which are dusky; 

 the entire wing below the median vein is bright fulvous. Secondaries: 

 the black encircled blue spots become white, or bluish white, the encir- 

 cling black sometimes disappearing; the submarginal interrupted band is 

 wanting. 



It is only within the last few years that any variation in this 

 species, the commonest of our day flyers, was noticed by the 

 writer. Previous to that time it had been considered the em- 

 bodiment of constancy. I had, it is true, taken in the Fall of 

 1892 a remarkable "sport," but its like I never expected to see 

 again. This specimen was forwarded to the late Mr. Neumoegen 

 and without doubt is still with his collection. 



Sometime after this Mr. Ammon of this city, now deceased, 

 pointed out to me in his collection two of the same form ; then 

 Mr. Rivers showed me at the University of California a specimen 

 somewhat damaged, having been gathered in by hand. Later 

 Mr. G. T. O. Mueller called my attention to three which he had, 

 and last Fall I was fortunate enough to take-another myself. 



While this form is very rare, it is still found with such fre- 

 quency as to entitle it to a name. Whether it is a remarkable 

 case of "aberration," a number taking the same form, or an 

 example of the evolution of a true variety time only will tell. 

 Mr. Mueller has several intergrades showing variation from typi- 

 cal carye to this form in two directions. In the first, there is the 

 gradual restriction of the black of the primaries and extension 

 of the red without change on the secondaries; in the other the 

 blue spots of secondaries are replaced by white with but slight 

 change in the markings of the primaries. 



With the exception of one, all of these variations have been 

 taken late in the Fall. 



