8 



INSECTS OF SAMOA. 



2 (a). Danaida (Tirumala) melissa melittula (H.S.). 



Banais melittula ; Herrich-Schaeffer, 1869, p. 70 (Upolu Island). 

 Schmeltz, pp. 175-177. 

 Butler, 1847, p. 275. 

 Rebel, 1910, p. 415, PI. XVIII, fig. 4. 

 Tirumala melittula ; Waterhouse, 1904, p. 492. 



Moore, p. 233. 

 Swezey, 1921, p. 602. 

 Danaida melissa melittula ; Fruhstorfer, 1910, p. 203. 



Poulton, pp. 604-606. 

 Danais melissa ; Butler, 1870, p. 360. 

 " Miniature edition of Tirumala hamata " ; Fraser, p. 147. 



As has been pointed out by several authors, the Samoan record of 

 D. obscurata Butler is certainly erroneous. It is due to the fact that the type 

 specimens from the Solomons were unfortunately labelled Upolu as well. The 

 form is quite distinct from any found in Samoa. 



D. m. melittula (PI. II, fig. 3) is found in all the islands of Western Samoa, 

 where it is always common, and frequently very abundant, from sea-level to 

 about 800 feet, and, as a straggler, up to 2,000 feet. In American Samoa it is 

 replaced by the closely-allied D. melissa tutuilae. It is found in greatest numbers 

 on the flowers of Ageratum coryzoides L., but is also fond of those of Stachytar- 

 pheta indica ; Rechinger states that it prefers the flowers of Asclepias curassavica, 

 but I am not able to confirm this. It flies in mist or light rain, but is not on 

 the wing until after 7 a.m., and does not become fully active even in sunshine 

 until after 8 a.m. ; it remains on the wing until dusk. Among captured 

 specimens males outnumber females by at least five to one. 



There does not appear to be any difference in markings or in size between 

 specimens from the various islands of Western Samoa ; in a series of 49 males 

 from Upolu and 43 from Savai'i, the maximum, mean and minimum expanse 

 are 82, 72, and 62 mm. for Upolu, and 78, 72, and 62 mm. for Savai'i ; ignoring 

 one abnormally large specimen from Malololelei, Upolu, the figures for the two 

 islands are identical. Females are very slightly smaller, the corresponding 

 figures for a series of 21 specimens from the two islands being 78, 71, and 62 mm. 

 The race appears to be confined to Western Samoa, but the species has a wide 



