ZYGAENA. By H. Reiss. 
7 
register of original descriptions. Otherwise same would have been incomplete and not synoptical. As far as aberrations in Vol. 2, 
p °18— 31 have already been described as “ab.” and as belonging to a type race of any specific species, they are not mentioned 
again here, but merely referred to in the text. With the exception of ephialtes the aberrations are mentioned in the text 
with the main races and races to which they belong. In giving the particulars of denominations of aberrations, such as ab. flava 
( Oberth.) Bgff.” it is intended to convey that the new author Burgeff intends the name flava Oberth. to be used for the yellow 
form also of a new subspecies, instead of giving this formanother name, which would of course be permissible. — An indescribable 
chaos prevails in literature in regard to the denominations of aberrations. Names for intermediary gradations in the development 
of the markings of insects should therefore be excluded. For reasons of lucidity it has been necessary to leave out even a 
summary of the names of these excluded forms. In regard to the descriptions of races I am of the opinion that one has often 
gone too far in this respect. Ways and means should be found of avoiding inundating nomenclature with denominations ol 
minute and unimportant variations of the various strains among themselves. It should suffice to establish a larger main race, 
to describe the distinct variations from neighbouring main races and then to give same a subspecies name of its own. Should 
anyone desire a further division of such a subspecies, they can indicate the particulars, such as indication of locality, altitude etc. 
below the name on the label. It should be mentioned here that on the question of subspecies certain Varietates (Races), which 
are easily separable, may be classified separately and also denominated. As a comparison of the variability of the separate 
strains (as already practised by Verity) it should be possible to arrange for combinations of name diagnoses, which would 
not be counted as denominations in a systematic sense. In this way at least the separation of so many small races and the 
naming of many aberrations would be eliminated. 
I. Subgen. Mesembrynus Hbn. 
Z. rubicundus Hbn. (= erythrus Bsd.) in Vol. 2, p. 18. Of this generally very constant species Verity rubicundus. 
has described ab. polygalaeforniis, which is like ab. rubrotecta in purpuralis, and ab. erythraeformis, which is polygalae- 
marked on the forewings like erythrus. The $ of rubicundus is illustrated (1 e). — According to Oberthur s 
illustration the larvae when full grown are of grey ground colour mixed with yellow, with a wide dorsal stripe 
of darker grey and on this dorsal stripe at the edges on both sides behind each segment heavy grey-black spots 
pointing towards the dorsal stripe. The head is black. The larvae are fullfed in April and May and feed on 
Eryngium amethystinum L., pupating in a longish straw yellow cocoon. The period of pupation lasts abt 20 days. 
formis. 
erythrae¬ 
formis. 
Z. erythrus Hbn. (= minos Bsd., saportae Bsd.) (Vol. 2, p. 18). The yellow form has been named by erythrus. 
Oberthur ab. citrina; in ab. verityi Stefanelli the streak spot 3—5 is intersected with black; the ab. cingulata citrina. 
Reiss has a faint red abdominal belt. The type race from Florence is taken. — As special races we have 
to mention: The var. actae Bgff. (1 e) from the coast and coastal valleys of the Riviera di Ponente (Mentone, aetae. 
Bordighera, Camporosso, Pigna etc.). It is the largest race of erythrus with wing expanse up to 40 mm in the 
cj and up to 42 mm in the $ and with narrower very acute wings. The red is less brilliant than in the type race, 
expansion of spots is very regular, spots narrow, streak-spot 3—5 more extended outwards than in specimens 
from Florence. The black areas of wings also in the are without silvery grey scaling, also legs, scapulae 
and necklet with scarcely perceptible grey sheen. The 9 illustrated is from Burgefe’s collection. — - The var. 
miserrima Vrty. from Mount Mousine near Turin is small (wing expanse abt 28 mm) thinly scaled, red wing miserrima. 
spots extended and confluent as in ab. irpina Zickert (Vol. 2, p. 18). — Var. pedemomtana Rocci from the Alps pedemon- 
of Piedmont comes between the ligurian erythrus and miserrima, besides which the axe-like mark of forewings 
is reduced in length. — Further var. irpinoides Bgff. (1 f ) a brilliant red mountain race from Mount Sirente and irpinoides. 
Gran-Sasso (Abruzzi Mountains). The spots are enlarged in the $ and still more so in the $; $ normally dusted 
with golden grey with a similar coloured collar, scapulae and legs. The S illustrated is from Mount Sirente. - 
The form magna Seitz (Vol. 2, p. 18, plate 4 a) could be placed with this race, if the characteristic of the especial 
size tallied and therefore same could be considered synonymous. — Finally the var. albipes Vrty. (= minos albipes. 
Ragusa ) (1 e) from Sicily with brilliant colouration, both sexes sometimes with whitish legs, the $$ besides 
with pale silvery sheen on the forewings. The $ illustrated is from Le Madonie, Sicily (500 m). Larvae are 
found on Eryngium campestre and immediately on the seaboard on Eryngium maritimum. 
Z. purpuralis Brunnich (= pythia F., pilosellae Esp., minos Hbn.), Vol. 2, p. 18, 441 described from purpuralis. 
Denmark (Zealand Isle) occurs in Europe excepting in the Pyrenee Peninsular, in England, Denmark, Scandi¬ 
navia, Caucasus, Asia Minor, Armenia, Aclial-Tekke, Sarafshan, Ala-Tau, Tien-Shan and Altai. Specimens 
in which the middle of the red streak-spots on the forewings is regularly and completely the same width are 
called ab. plutonia Vrty. (= plutoicles Reiss, boursini le Charles). Further I enumerate: ab. quinquemaculata plutonia. 
Bgff. with 5 spots on fore wings quite separate from one another; ab. paupera n. ab. (4 m) from Montabaur, qU ™^uMa. 
Wester Forest in which the whole forewing except spots 1, 2 and 5—6 is suffused with the ground colour; paupera. 
3 S 1 $ in my collection; ab. rubrotecta Vrty. : the red covers nearly the entire forewing; ab. cingulata Bgff. rubrotecta. 
(Vol. 2, p. 19); further ab. rubrianata Bgff., ab. $ grisescens Bgff. both in Vol. 2, p. 441. Besides ab. nigra Reiss '^eseels' 
(from Dim) without any red. The name lutescens Tutt (Vol. 2, p. 441) may be deemed synonymous. The nigra^"' 
forms already mentioned as aberrations in Vol. 2, p. 18/19 are to be added; marginata Bgff. and dilatata 
Bgff . (Vol. 2, p. 441) are not systematically justified designations. Ab. grossmanni Rilhl (1 f) from the 
neighbourhood of Di m on the Danube is illustrated, as also is ab. sexmaculata Bgff. (Vol. 2, p. 19) (4 m) from the 
