58 



INSECTS OF SAMOA. 



25. Zizera alsulus (H.S.). 



Lycaena alsulus ; Herrich-Schaeffer, p. 75. 



Schmeltz, p. 187. 



Butler, 1874, p. 289. 



Pagenstecher, p. 302. 



Waterhouse, 1903, p. 212, PI. II, fig. 10. 

 Zizera alsulus ; Rebel, 1910, p. 421. 



Waterhouse, 1904, p. 494. 

 Lycaena lulu Mathew, 1889, p. 312. 

 Zizera lulu ; Druce, p. 436, PI. VII, fig. 2. 

 Zizera labradus ; Swezey, 1921, p. 604. 



Zizera labradus alsulus ; Fruhstorfer, 1923, p. 926, PI. CLIII. 



A most unfortunate confusion has arisen between this species and 

 Z. labradus, originating in the fact that a specimen of the latter was sent by the 

 Godeffroy Museum to the British Museum as Z. alsulus, so that most English 

 writers have followed Druce in supposing that the latter was merely a poorly- 

 marked form of Z. labradus. A translation of the original description is as 

 follows : " Size and form of L. alsus, the upperside with dull violet iridescence, 

 the underside brownish ash-grey, towards the base of the hindwings silver- 

 green. A few specimens without any markings : then a black dot before the 

 edge of interspace 2 of the hindwings, defined basally by a white angular marking, 

 in interspace 3 a white dot, subsequently white angular markings in all the 

 interspaces. From Rockhampton [Queensland] and Upolu." 



The mention of a black dot makes it certain that the description cannot 

 refer to any form of Z. labradus, and Waterhouse is obviously right in using 

 alsulus as the earliest name of this species. Fruhstorfer's treatment of it as a 

 race of Z. labradus is quite unjustified ; the two species are very distinct, and 

 are frequently found flying together ; his figures are unrecognisable. 



Mathew's types of L. lulu were from Togatabu, Tonga, and there are very 

 remarkable differences between his type series and specimens from Upolu and 

 Savai'i ; in the former the maximum, mean, and minimum expanse in a series 

 of sixteen specimens are 27, 25, and 24 mm. ; all the females (seven in number) 

 have extensive blue markings on the forewing, and at least some blue on the 

 hindwing also, and in six of the nine males there is no black spot at the anal 

 angle of the underside of the hindwing. In a series of twenty-nine males and 

 fourteen females from Upolu and Savai'i, the corresponding figures are 24, 



