


VI—THE 
This insect has a fine appearance when flying; the 
large yellow spots on the fore-wings are then very con- 
spicuous, and ensure its immediate and certain recognition. 
Beyond New Zealand Vanessa itea is found through- 
out Australia, Tasmania and the Loyalty Islands. 
VANESSA CARDUI. 
(Vanessa cardui, L. Cynthia kershawii, McCoy, Ann. and Mag, 
Nat. Hist. iv., vol. i. 76 (1868). Pyrameis cardui, var. P. 
kershawii, Butler, Erebus and Terror Lep., 29 (1874).) 
(Plate IV., fig. 1 9.) 
This elegant butterfly occurs throughout both islands, 
but is very irregular in its appearance. In some years it 
is quite abundant, whilst in others scarcely a specimen 
will be seen. During the summer of 1889-1890 it was 
extremely plentiful in the Wellington district, being at 
that time commoner than Vanessa gonerilla, but its appear- 
ance in such large numbers as this was very exceptional. 
It is sometimes found on mountains between 5000 and 6000 
feet above the sea level. 
The expansion of the wings varies from 2 to 24 inches. 
Above, all the wings are orange-red, spotted and mottled with 
black. The fore-wings are bronzy towards the base; in the black 
apex there are five white spots. Near the termen of the hind- 
wings three of the black spots have blue centres. On the under 
side of the forewings the markings are very similar to those on 
the upper side, except that there are several additional white 
blotches, and the orange-red ground colour has a rosy blush 
towards the base. The hind-wings are very beautifully mottled 
with an elaborate series of pale brown, purplish-grey, yellowish- 
brown, and white markings; three of the large spots near the 
termen have pale blue centres. 
I have not yet met with the larva of this insect, 
neither can I find any record of its having been observed 
in New Zealand. The following description by Stainton 
is taken from a European specimen:* ‘‘The spiny larva 
is brown with two dorsal and two lateral yellow lines; on 
the third, fourth, and twelfth segments there are four 
spines; on the fifth to eleventh segments seven spines, and 
on the thirteenth two spines; it feeds solitarily in rolled 
thistle-leaves.’’ 
The perfect insect appears in January, February, 
March and April, specimens which have presumably hyber- 
nated occurring from August until December. It is a 
much more wary butterfly than either Vanessa gonerilla 
or V. itea, and can seldom be captured after it has once 
been disturbed, although it will often return to the same 
spot several times in succession. In fact, owing to its 
extreme timidity, its capture is generally attended with 
some difficulty. 
This insect is found almost throughout the entire 
world. In specimens from the Northern Hemisphere the 
black spots on the hind-wings have no blue centres, and 
the butterflies are a little larger than those found in the 
Southern Hemisphere, otherwise the two insects are exactly 

‘British Butterflies and Moths,’ p. 103. 
BUTTERFLIES. 
alike. The southern form has been ealled V. kershaww by 
several writers, but the differences do not appear to be 
sufficiently important to merit a distinct specific name, 
especially as both forms occur together in South Africa. 
This butterfly has frequently been observed at various 
places on the European Continent migrating in vast 
swarms; and it seems probable that its strong migratory 
instinct may have led to its enormously wide range at the 
present time. It is possible that some of the specimens of 
this butterfly, which are occasionally observed in New 
Zealand during the spring and early summer, are migrants 
from Australia. 
Family 2.—LYCAENIDAE. 
Anterior legs developed, but tarsi of ¢ more or less abbre- 
viated, or with one or both claws absent; posterior tibiae without 
middle spurs. Fore-wings with vein 7 absent, 8 and 9 stalked or 
coincident. Hind-wings without praecostal spur. (Plate B., figs. 
15, 16, neuration of Chrysophanus salustius.) 
The family is large and very generally distributed. 
The species are of moderate size or more often rather small, 
usually blue, dark brown, or coppery-orange in colouring 
often with series of small black pale-ringed spots on lower 
surface. 
Ovum flattened—spherical or subeylindrieal, reticu- 
lated and sometimes ribbed, seldom smooth. Larva stout, 
with few hairs. Pupa attached by tail and a central belt 
of silk, or sometimes unattached or subterranean. 
We have two genera represented in New Zealand, 
V1Z. : 
1. CHRYSOPHANUS. 2. LYCAENA. 
Genus 1—CHRYSOPHANUS, Hb. 
Eyes glabrous. Club of antennae elongate. Fore-wings with 
vein 6 separate, 8 and 9 stalked.” (Plate B., figs. 15 and 16 
neuration of C. salustius). 
An extensive and nearly cosmopolitan genus. Larva 
short, stout, attenuated at extremities, with short hairs. 
Pupa attached by the tail and central belt of silk, or some- 
times unattached on the ground. 
There are three New Zealand species. 
CHRYSOPHANUS SALUSTIUS. 
(Chrysophanus salustius, Fabr.; Syst. Ent. 111, 310 (1793); 
Lycaena edna, Doubl., Dieffenbach’s. “New Zealand,’ App. 283 
(1843). Polyomnatus edna, Westwood & Hewitson, Gen. Diurn. 
Lep. Pl. 76, fig. 6 (1852). Chrysophanus salustius, Butler, Butter- 
flies of N.Z., Trans. N.Z. Inst. x. 263. Chrysophanus rauparaha, 
Fereday, Trans, N.Z. Inst. ix. 460. Chrysophanus maui, ib, x. 
252.) 
(Plate V., fig. 7 @ coastal form, 8 @ ditto; 9 @ rare variety; 
25 @ variety with confluent spots, 24 underside of ditto; 
26 @ Canterbury form; 27 4 Wellington inland form, 28 9? 
ditto, 21 underside ditto; 20 9 high mountain form; Front- 
ispiece, fig. 3 egg; Plate I., fig. 1 larva, 2 pupa.) 
This brilliant little butterfly is common, and generally 
distributed throughout the country. It is often extremely 
abundant around Wellington, 
