ZYGAENIDAE. General Topics. By Dr, A, Seitz. 
19 
2. Family: Zygaemdae, Burnet-Moths. 
To what K. Jordan has already said in Vol. II (p. 3), Vol. VI (p. 21) and Vol. X (p. 5) we merely add 
some remarks on the systematic position of the Zygaenidae. Whilst the neuration makes ns presume that 
the Zygaenidae have developed from a rather old branch of the lepidopteral tribe, the representatives of this 
group known to-day represent themselves as highly specialized insects being in the most perfect degree adapted 
to the very latest epoch of our earth. They exhibit thereby a similar behaviour as the Castniidae, for which 
reason we let them follow here. They likewise contain many species imitating butterflies in so unmistakable 
a way that they can only be regarded as copies of them. These copyists are butterflies met with in the Asiatic 
branch of the Zygaenid family, the Chalcosiinae. We find the most peculiar fact that a family exhibits in one 
of its branches the most conspicuous mimicry, whilst another branch ( Zygaeninae) show a just as distinct 
internal protection (unedibleness). The Chalcosiinae partly copy well protected lepidoptera, such as Danais, 
Euploea, Pharmacophagus, Nyctemera, but partly also Pieridae (such as Ch. pura, pieroides, Cycl. hecabe) or 
also Geometridae, which fact is nowhere else so unmistakably evident as for instance in the Chalcosiinae species 
Eucorma intercisa copying a Milionea, and Psaphis euschemoides copying a Diaphania. Although we do not 
know in what the protection of these models consists, jet we cannot doubt of their being protected, as we see 
them flying entirely unmolested from one blossom to the other, in the midst of the most variegated butterflies. 
Sometimes only the $ is protected and the not, as in Cyclosia papilionaris (Vol. X, pi. 3 a), and in such cases 
the two sexes also show a different behaviour. Whereas, for instance, the CC °f Cycl. papilionaris, in 
cpiite a similar way as the red-dotted Zygaena, cling to the blossoms from which they drink, their $$ mostly 
fly around those places where also their models (in this instance Danais simplex or similarly coloured species) 
frequently bustle about in great numbers. Sometimes it occurs that both sexes are mimetic, the $, however, 
to a higher degree. Thus both sexes of Trypanophora argyrospila are similar to a Polystes-Yike wasp which 
is common at its chief habitats (the cemeteries in the Island of Hongkong); the $ of the imago, however, copies 
this wasp in so minute a way that only after long practice it is possible to discern them, which is besides rendered 
more difficult by the fact that numerous Syntomis polymita fly at the same place. The $ of this Trypanophora 
exhibits besides a fictitious spike at the end of the abdomen, which is distinctly visible in the very cpiiet way 
of buzzing of this insect. Chiefly Aculeates and Rhopalocera are copied, and are thus products of the most 
modern epochs of creation. 
Another method of procuring the safety by other animals seems to be applied by the peculiar subfamily 
of Himantopterinae. There seems to exist here a kind of symbiosis with termites serving them as defenders 
or guards. 
In the Phaudinae we notice again so distinct a way of mimicry that even the eyes of experts may be 
deceived; thus certain scarlet Phauda copy Lygaeidae, several of them settling on the same leaf and running 
about on it, without making use of their wings, like the gregariously living Lygaeidae which the Phauda resembles. 
On the other hand, the Phaudina Pryeria sinica (Vol. II, pi. la) is almost invariably seen swarming about 
like a Tenthredinide of the exterior of our Lyda- species. Thus the habits of the mimetic species corroborate 
the effect of the copied exterior. 
In contrast with these groups being in a certain manner associated with other insects, are the real 
Zygaeninae showing a great independency in colour and shape from their surroundings. Particularly the 
South- and East-African genera Zutulba, Orna, Neurosymploca, which are allied to the European Zygaena, 
are distinctly protected by interior saps in the same way as the Zygaena themselves. The bitterest enemies 
and murderers in the insect-kingdom, the Asilidae, seem to shun the Zygaena even in those districts, where 
they represent the most copious and most accessible prey, as for instance in North Africa. The reptiles like¬ 
wise seem to scorn the Zygaena as food. Mr. Burgeff told me that he quite unexpectedly threw Zygaena to 
