1939] 
Metamorphoses of Cuban Hesperiinae 
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METAMORPHOSES OF CUBAN HESPERIINAE 
By V. G. Dethier 
Biological Laboratories, Harvard University 
Introduction 
As is generally the case when the life histories of skippers 
are studied, members of the subfamily Pyrginse receive most 
attention while the Hesperiinse are almost totally neglected. 
This situation is difficult to understand for though larvae of 
the Pyrginse are admittedly more spectacular and more fre- 
quently encountered in the field, a satisfactory treatment 
of their life histories is rendered difficult by several factors 
not the least of which is the fact that gravid females do not 
readily oviposit in captivity. Again, in many instances the 
food plant is unknown. On the other hand, Hesperiinae ovi- 
posit on the least provocation, and the larvae can be reared 
practically upon any grass. It is all the more surprising 
that the metamorphoses of Cuban Hesperiinae have suffered 
neglect since all species can undoubtedly feed on sugar cane. 
Those species treated in this paper readily did so and the 
Hesperiinae include not a few potential sugar cane pests. 
Of the twenty-two species listed in this subfamily by 
Bates (1935) the life histories of but half are now known. 
Species which also occur in the United States have been 
studied by workers there. Gundlach (1881) recorded two 
additional species, and six species are treated below. 
This work was made possible by my receiving a Harvard 
University Fellowship to study at the Atkins Institution of 
the Arnold Arboretum at Soledad, Cuba. The incomplete- 
ness of some of the life histories is due in part to the limited 
time available for study in Cuba. Color descriptions are 
based on a comparison with Ridgway’s (1920) color charts. 
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the generosity of Profes- 
sor Thomas Barbour and the cheerful assistance of Mr. 
Frank Walsingham. 
