THE .ESTIVATION AND HYBERNATION OF BUTTERFLY LARVJE. 5 



Brenthis selene is just as complete, the first-named crawling under 

 leaves, etc., as soon as hatched, and remaining immovable till the end 

 of March (Buckler, and see also Ent. Bee, x., p. 28), as also does A. 

 aylaia (Ent. Bee, ix., p. 118), whilst larva of B. euphrosyne and B. 

 selene commence their hybernation in early July, the latter when 

 about a 875in. in length, and do not commence feeding again till 

 March. The larva of Colias hyale hybernate from September-October 

 until mid-March, whilst those of certain Chrysophanids also have a 

 very thorough hybernation, e.g., Loweia var. gordius larvae, after the 

 third moult, and early in November, cease feeding with considerable 

 unanimity, and attach themselves to sorrel leaves until March, when 

 they again begin to feed (Ent, Bee, xviii., p. 246). The larva of 

 Chrysophanws dispar, on the other hand, cease feeding in their third 

 stage, about mid- August, their hybernation, however, being as com- 

 plete as the last-named. On the other hand, the larva of Bumicia 

 phlaeas hybernate at different ages, and feed in mild weather, etc. (see 

 preceding vol., p. 385). 



Although the Satyrid larva do not, as suggested by Scudder, 

 mostly hybernate as larva directly from the egg and without feeding, 

 and, on the contrary, in many cases, feed on slowly in the " nibbling " 

 stage in mild weather, all the winter, without very definite hybernation, 

 e.g., Enodia hyperanthus, Epinephele ianira, Pararye egeria, etc., yet the 

 larva oi some species do so hybernate (e.g., Coenonympha mathewi), whilst 

 others hybernate small, and pretty completely, e.g., that of Erebia aethiops 

 hybernates when rather over 2 lines in length, creeping down the blades 

 and hiding in the thickest parts of the tufts, and commencing to feed 

 again in March (Buckler) ; those of Hipparchia semele remain very 

 small all the winter (although they feed a little occasionally), but com- 

 mence to be more active about April (Wolfe) ; whilst those of Melanargia 

 yalatea, Coenonympha pampliilus, etc., also remain small till well into 

 March. On the other hand, the larva of Melampias epiphron are 

 almost 8mm. in length when they commence to hybernate in August 

 (Alderson). Similarly, among the Lycanids, the two habits of (1) 

 hybernating small, and (2) going on slowly in the nibbling stage, are 

 well-illustrated — the first by Aricia astrarche, which hybernates when 

 about 2mm. in length, from November until February ; and by 

 Polyommatus icarns, which ceases to feed from November to January, 

 when it feeds slowly on until the commencement of April, after which it 

 grows much more rapidly, whilst the latter phase is illustrated by the 

 larva of Ayriades bellargus, which feed throughout November and 

 December, and often well into January; they then commence, occa- 

 sionally, to feed in suitable weather, growing very slowly until the end of 

 March, when they feed up rapidly ; during the resting-period, however, 

 they come up from their resting-places on the underside of leaves in 

 sunny weather, and lie stretched out along the midrib on the upper 

 side of a leaflet (Buckler). 



Scudder says (op. cit., p. 690) that, " with few exceptions, such as 

 Cissia, Eurymus, and some Melitaeidi, ail other hybernating caterpillars 

 (in New England) pass the winter in some sort of a nest ; most of 

 them, separately or collectively, in one which has already given them 

 protection during their partially completed larval life, but, generally, 

 specially strengthened or enlarged for the purpose, and almost always 

 with all approaches closely sealed." He curiously, however, continues : 



