MELITAEA. By M. Gaede. 
205 
from Mandchuria! Wales. - volupis Fruhst. On upperside similar to aurunca Trti. and sareptana Stgr. (Vol. 1, volupis. 
pi. 65 d). Brightly marked. The lively light ochre-yellow bands and spots of the median area contrast with the 
red-brown submarginal band. Yellow marginal spots of hindwings are prominent. Underside similar to 
merope-comacina Trti. Tessin at an altitude of abt. 1000 m. From 1700 m altitude the upperside is less bright, 
underside less pale, therefore more similar to northern Swiss forms. — To the south we have: aurunca Trti. aurunca. 
In size between provincialis and alexandrina Stgr. (Vol. 1, pi. 65 c). The same as latter in regard to marking 
and ground colour, only the bluish marginal lunules on hindwings correspond with those of provincialisBsd. 
(Vol. 1, pi. 65 e). Caserta. According to Verity scarcely any difference from provincialis , but its complete 
isolation so far in the South is very remarkable. - In Spain we have a few new subforms to iberica Obertln. 
(pi. 65 d): castillan" Oberth. A small race with less lively colour. Castile. — In Andalusia besides the typical caslillana. 
iberica we find also alfacaria Rbb. in which the yellowish bands are missing, ground colour red-brown. On alfacaria. 
hindwings the yellow marginal spots, surrounded with black are less prominent, morena Rbb. denominates morena. 
specimens like typical iberica but with blackened ground colour. — maculata Bub. also from Sierra Alfacar have maculata. 
the middle band of spots on hindwings reduced to dots. Basal spots are absent on underside of hindwings. 
bulgarica Fruhst. (13 d). Small, brightly coloured. In $ heavy black middle band on both wings. $ and y bulgarica. 
generally with light ochre-yellow post-discal spots as in balcanica Schaw., rarely with wide black margin to 
hindwings of <$. Bulgaria (Hilo, Rhodope). — balcanica Schaw. (13 d) resembles provincialis Bsd. most, large balcanica. 
strikingly light with large whitish marginal lunules. Herzegowina (Vucijabara). Specimens from Trebovitch 
are already darker and correspond more closely to the race from Carniola. — In regard to the asiatic races it 
must be mentioned first that according to Oberthur contrary to Vol. 1, p. 214, his davidi can claim priority 
over mandschurica Stgr. and sibirica Stgr. differs from both. A subform of the latter is narina Oberth. Smaller, narina. 
the black markings darker, therefore more striking. — dubia Krul. is similar to sareptana Stgr. (Vol. 1, pi. 65 d) dubia. 
but paler and smaller with red ocelli with black centres, not with a yellow-red band. According to the illu¬ 
stration however more like a large merope (plate 65 c), in colouration of iberica. Kasan. — obscurata Krul. obscurata. 
differs from same on forewings; its inner half is blackened, in outer half the light bands narrow. Kasan. 
apiciata Rob. closely resembles mandschurica Stgr., forewings pointed, black markings more extensive, yellow- apiciata. 
brown bands narrower, especially on hindwings. Underside with more red-brown. Baikal. — tenebricosa O. B.-H. tenebricosa. 
Similar to hibernica Birch. The otherwise light yellow patches of forewings are whitish, the yellow middle band 
of hindwings almost missing. Kansu. 
M. merope Prunn. (Vol. 1, p. 213, pi. 65 c). Already in Vol. 1 it was observed that merope differed from merope. 
aurinia both in the larval state and the habits of the imago. According to Verity the name of merope has 
always been wrongly applied. The original description reads: “upperside of wings with dark ochre-brown 
bands. Hindwings with 5 black spots.” Underside pale yellow with 5 black spots. Varaita Valley, south of 
Monte Viso. The dark marking is not much more dense than in typical aurinia with a regular latticework, but 
at base the black dusting is very dark and extended. Most striking however is the almost colourless pale ochre- 
yellow underside, markings of upperside reflecting through. In most specimens there are certainly still a few 
black streaks on hindwings and not only 5 black dots. — Consequently the forms from the Tyrol and Swiss High 
Alps should have a new name: glaciegenita Vrty. Typical of the Stilfser Joch. It is smaller than genuine glaciegenila. 
merope, wings narrower, apex more pointed. A few specimens are strikingly sparsely scaled, especially 
translucens Vrty. The dark bands are wider so that the lighter ground colour is reduced to round patches, translucens. 
glaciegenita is whitish on underside, somewhat greenish-yellow, never ochre-yellow like merope. The red spots 
of upperside reflect through, they are absent in merope. - Verity is of the opinion that despite the variation 
in the larvae, merope-glaciegenita is not a separate species, because Wfllschlegel has found an intermediary 
form frigescerjs Vrty. in the mountains above Martigny (Valais). On underside it is as colourless as glaciegenita frigescens. 
without red scales, only red patches reflecting through, but with black fine striations as in aurinia. On upperside 
in regard to ground colour, black markings and wing contour half way between aurinia and glaciegenita. The 
main question whether the genitals are more like those of merope or aurinia Verity leaves unanswered. In the 
lower levels of the Susa Valley and near Turin glaciegenita becomes larger, scaling denser, colour fuller on upper 
and undersides, the black markings thinner. Nevertheless the colour both on upper and undersides remains 
much duller than in the similar provincialis On underside the black hair-like streaks of hindwings most distinct: 
moritura Vrty. A dwarf form of this is minima Gian. — Closely resembling same comacina Trti. (13 d) lighter moritura. 
than typical aurinia. The black lines all uniformly thin. Underside light buff. Ochre-yellow bands on hindwings co>nacnia - 
almost missing, the black dots in the submarginal band without light surrounds. Como. According to Verity 
this race is very like the genuine merope. Also specimens from Larche in Oberthur’s collection closely resemble 
merope. — Among comacina a few specimens are found without the black middle band on forewings and the 
anterior part of same on hindwings: sterlineafa Trti. Quite extreme specimens are denigrata Trti.-. upperside sterlineaia. 
without dark markings, faint traces of markings reflecting through on top from underneath. — valentini Nitsche 
comes between aurinia and merope in regard to size and colouring. Plockenpass. From this description one 
cannot discern whether it is frigescens Vrty. A few aberrations of glaciegenita are: minor Vorbr., further 
impunctata Vorbr. The black dots are absent in the middle band of hindwings. — bicolor Wehrli is predominantly impunctata. 
bicolor. 
