1972 ] 
Young — Hymenitis 
285 
Laboratory temperatures varied from 20 to 23°C and the average 
humidity was about 55 %• 
Results 
The results of studies on H. nero are summarized under these 
headings: (1) habitat and larval food plant, (2) life cycle and de- 
velopmental time, (3) larval behavior, and (4) adult behavior. 
Habitat and larval host plant 
The butterfly is associated with the herbaceous layer of the lower 
understory in the primary-growth forest in the ravine where it co- 
occurs with various other ithomiines. (Fig. i-A). Adults of these 
species feed on various flowers, and particularly various Compositae 
(Fig. i-B) which are common at the study site. Despite the fact 
that several other species of ithomiids breed here, only H. nero ovi- 
posits and completes development on Oestrum standleyi Morton 
(Solanaceae), which occurs as an herbaceous member (Fig. i-C) of 
the lower understory. Within the confines of the study site, this 
plant grows as single individuals in a highly dispersed distribution. 
The several species of ithomiids (Fg. i-D) which breed in the same 
study site include: Hymenitis andromica lyra Haensch, H. nero, 
Pseudoscada utilla pusio (Druce), Dircenna relata Butler & Druce, 
Oleria zelica pagasa (Druce), Napeogenes tolosa amara Godman 
and Pteronymia notilla Butler & Druce. Breeding and oviposition 
in all of these sympatric species occur regularly at the study site be- 
tween June and September. Adults of all species are generally active 
at the same times of day and fly at about the same level (just above 
the herbaceous layer) in the forest. With the exception of O. zelica 
and N. tolosa the larval food plants of these species have been de- 
termined (Young, in prep.) and these are in various genera and 
species of Solanaceae. But H. nero is the only ithomiine feeding on 
Oestrum standleyi. Pteronymia notilla feeds on C. megalophyllum 
Dum. and the other species on various species of Solanum (Young, 
in prep.). Food plant specialization is high in this ithomiine com- 
munity. 
Life cycle and developmental time 
The stocky egg (0.75 mm high X 0.70 mm wide), tapers slightly 
to the top and is characterized by many longitudinal deep grooves 
(Fig. 2 -A) . The central area at the top of the egg is depressed and 
the egg is uniformly white until hatching. 
There are five instars in larval development. All five instars are 
similar to one another, but the following differences occur. The first 
