86 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
July, 1920 
RHOPALOCERA OF SOUTH .QUEENSLAND. 
(Notes on Seasonal Forms in Various Species.) 
By R. iLLJDtjE. 
(Read iSth August, 1918.) 
As regards winter and summer forms, heat and cold 
seem to have a strangely variable effect on the colouration 
of butterflies. In some cases winter greatly intensifies their 
hues ; especially so is this the case amongst the LycaenideX. 
It is usually supposed that summer warmth produces 
greater brilliancy of colour, but such is certainly not the 
case with regard to many of our butterflies, amongst which 
are the various members of the abovementioned family. 
In this particular family stands the genus Nacaduba, 
almost all the local species of which exhibit in their winter 
garb a remarkable brilliancy of metallic splendour, which 
is not seen in summer forms, or, if so, is much duller and 
confined to the basal area in more or less restricted extent. 
In this genus, again, a remarkable feature must l)e noted, 
for the brilliant colouration of the winter form affects the 
female only, the male retaining its general appearance 
throughout the seasons. In the genus Thysonofis, of the 
same family, the reverse is the case, for in some of the 
winter forms of the male of Thysonotis taygetus we find the 
discal area occupied by a large white spot not seen in the 
summer form ; female specimens, on the other hand, show 
but little, if any, variation. 
In members of the family Pierid^e, notably of the 
genera Huphina and Belenois, extreme summer and winter 
forms are produced, which are so utterly unlike each other 
that they have been described as distinct species. Huphina 
scvllara' found throughout the year, has a distinct monthly 
change in colour. In winter (June) it is slate colour, and 
in summer (December) very pale yellow. It has inter- 
mediate clay-colour and bright yellow forms vaiying with 
the months, some having a dark venation, and others white. 
Not only is the colouration of many butterflies affected 
hut the shape of the wings also varies to such a degree as 
to have caused authors not knowing them as merely forms 
of the one species to bestow specific rank on them, as in 
Mclanitis Icda bankia and M. barnardi. 
