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PSYCHE.

EXPERIMENTS UPON TfIE EFFECT OF COLD APPLIED TO CHRYS-ALIDS OF BUTTERFLIES.

BY WILLIAM HENRY EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA.

(Continued fi’om p. 6.)

With every experiment, however similar It might be supposed that the applicationthe conditions seem to be, and are intended of heat to the overwintering chrysalidsto be, there is a difference in results, and would precipitate the appearance of theat present the reason therefor does not ap- summer form of P. ajax, or change thepear. For example, in 1878 the first but- butterflies so that while they had the shapeterfly emerged on 14th day after removalfrom the ice, the period being exactly whatit is at its longest in this species in nature,with an occasional exception. Othersemerged at 19 days and several at inter-vals up to the 96th day after ice. In1879, the emergence began at 8 days, andby 12 days all which came out this year

of telamonidez they should have the color-ation of marcellus. But I have not foundthis to occur. I have been in the habit,for several years, of placing the chrysalidsin a warm room or in the greenhouse, earlyin the winter, so causing the butterflies toemerge in February, instead of in Marchand April, as they would otherwise do. But

had appeared, except three belated indi- the winter form has invariably emergedviduals at 22, 40 and 50 days. In previous from such chrysalids.experiments, no matter what the species,the butterflies had not emerged till after 3. In June 1879, I obtained eggs ofthe natural period of the chrysalis had Grapta interrogationis, laid by form urn.

passed, after removal from the ice. In brosa, in confinement. As the chrysalidsthis one, either the cold had not fully sus- formed, and at intervals of from 6 to 24pended the changes which the pupa under- hours after pupation, they were placed in

goes in the chrysalis, or these changes the ice box. After 14 days I removed allwere hastened by some other cause after but five, which were left 6 days longer.the chrysalids were taken from the ice. Several were dead at the end of the 14In the first experiment, apparently, the days. Temperature most of the tine aboutchanges were absolutely suspended as long 5 F. 1.7 C.J, but a little higher for aas the cold remained, few hours each day, as the ice melted, reach-

16 PSYCHE.

ing then 40 to 45 F. [4 to 7 C.J. I broad band of the females), which occu-obtained from the 14-day lot seven perfect pies the same position as the clouding inbutterflies 3 % 4 9 from the 20-day lot the normal male but blackened and some-

five 4 % 1 9 every one umbrosa; and what diffused. In the four examples fromnearly all had changed in one striking par- the 20-day lots this connecting band isticular. In the normal umbrosa, of both scarcely as deep colored and continuoussexess the fore wings on upper side haves as in the other three. Beyond this changeon costal margin next inside the broad on the submarginal area whereby a co,l-

border of hind margin and separated spicuous band is created where naturallyfrom it by a considerable space of fhlvous would be only the two patches and a fainta dark patch which ends a little below the cloudiness over the intervening fulvousdiscoidal nerwlle; inside the same border space I see no difference between theseat inner angle is a similar patch lying on examples of both sexes and a long seriesthe submedian interspace. Between these of natural ones placed beside them so fartwo patchess across all the median inter- as relates to the upper surface.spacess the ground is fulvouss but very On the under side all the males are otslightly and faintly clouded with black, the same types the colors intense. There is

Indeed this clouding would usually not be considerably more red both dark a)d palenoticed, over the whole surface than in the series

I find that in all the four 9 exposed to ofnatural examples these latter discoveringcold 14 days, there is present a broad biack shades of brown over which is a bluish or

band crossing the entire wing continuouss lilaceous flush. In the females I discoverof uniform shade covering the two patches no change on under side.and intervening space and almost confluent It appears that 14 days was as effectivewith the marginal border from end to end in producing changes in case of this Grap-only a streak of obscured fulvous any- tct as t longer period. In facts the mostwhere separating band and border. In decided changes were found to be in thethe other female being from chrysalis ex- t’emales exposed least. It appears also thatposed 20 days the band is presents but cold will produce change if applied afterwhile broad and covering the spce between the chrysalis has hardened. In 1878, Ithe patches, it is not so dark as in the other put Grapta chrysalids on ice at from 10examples, and includes against the border minutes to 6 hours after pupation, anda series of obscured fulvous lunules. This while some were quite soft,--and lostis like some normal females, and this re- every one of them, although some chrysa-male, though longest exposed, therefore is lids of/). ajax in same box, and in partessentially unchanged, exposed very shortly after pupation, were

In all the males, the patches are diffuse, not injured. It also appears that. cold maythose at apex almost coalescing with the change certain markings only, and thatborder. In the three males from the 14- the females were most susceptible to theday lot, these patches are connected by a influence.narrow dark band (very different from the The resulting butterflies were all urn-

PSYCHE. 17

brosa though both forms of the species ag% remained in box 2 days; three at

might have been expected to appear. In 3 hours olds for 8 dayss and one agebreeding from eggs laid by umbrosa in a omitteds ,for 6 days. All these producedibrmer year I obtained both forms of the arcellus and therefore they had not beenbutterfiy viz. 11 umbrosa and 6 fabri- affected by the cold.cii. But from this single experiment itcannot be determined whether any change {. In 1877 I had placed several chrys-of form was brought about, alids of Lycaena pseudargiolus in the ice

box thinking that I might thus obtain the4. In 1877s a lot of eight chrysalids form violacea which is the winter form of

of P. ajax all under 12 hours from pupa- the species. On 8 Aug. 31 days after the

tion were put on ice and left there 24 days. chrysalids were removed from the box a

(They were placed on top of the ice but female emerged in some respects consider-in all later experiments I have placed them ably unlike either of the forms. The corn-under it in the bottom of the box.) The mon series of dark streaks and points acrosstemperature was irregular and as I was the disks was wholly wanting though theabsent from home nearly all of the time stripes across the ends of cells were pres-and had to leave the box in charge of ser- ent; and the marginal crescents were largevantss I felt no certainty that the ice had and black--far more conspicuous than isnot been supplied irregularly or that there ever seen in the naturallaseudargiolus andhad not been intervals during which there still very unlike violacea. The generalwas no ice in the box. :But from these coloration of both surfaces was that of thechrysalids there came 5 % 3 9 butterflies, usual female l)seudargiolus. All the otherOf thes% one was telamonides unquestion- chrysalids were found to be dead.ablys in color and markings; all the restwere between telamonides and marcellus. In Can. Entom.s v. 7 p. 236-240 I gaveTwo other chrysalidss on ice 23 days in an account of the first experiments madethe box at same time with the above men- by me in exposing chrysalids to cold thetioned eight gave telamonides. But three subject being /. ajax. The chrysalidsmore exposed 26 dayss and 1 hour from were placed in the ice box, but were sub-

pupation when placed in tim box all gave sequently removed to the ice house and

unchanged marcellus, left fbr two months after forming but on

In the box at same time were 6 chrysa- returning home after a long absenee Ilids of G. interrogationiss and all of them found the ice had wholly melted. The

gave unchanged umbrosa, chrysalids had at first been subjected to alow temperature in the boxs but as the ice

5. During thesame seasons 1877sI ex- in the house failed the temperature hadposed six P. ajax chrysalidss keeping the risen so that when I examined the tintemperature as nearly as possible at 33 F. cases which had held the chrysalids many[0.6 C.-]. One was 1 hour from pupation butterflies were found alive therein in aand remained in the box 5 days one same crippled state. About one half the butter-

18 PSYGHE.

flies that emerged from this lot were com- partly or not at all; from the 25-day lotpletely changed being telamonides and all were changed. Temperature 33 d-F.wcdshii, and about half the rest were partly [0.6 C.J.changed. It was observed also that the In 1877: chrysalids under 1.2 hours old,butterflies were generally smaller than the but the minimum not noted; exposure 24average marcellus. I have not been able days. Temperature 40 F. [4.4 C.] andto subject chrysalids to cold for a very long upwards, irregular. Result: one changedperiod, for the reason that ice fails us in fully, seven partly; some others subjectedmidsummer, it having been put up when to same conditions for 23 days were fullythin and of poor quality, owing to our changed; others at 26 days not at all.moderate winter climate. Indeed, in some In 1875: chrysalids stated in my noteseasons we get no ice. at all, as the streams book to have been exposed as formed,"do not freeze over. On more than one but the exact age not given; exposed foroccasion the period ofexposure has abruptly 30 to 60 days temperature at first aboutterminated, and much earlier than I had 32 F. [0 C.J, afterwards uncertain. Re-intended by the failure of the ice. suit: 50 per cent. fully changed, 25 per

cent. partly, rest not.SUMMARY OF THE EXPERIMENTS WITH GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:---

P. aja. 1. P. ajax. The longer the exposureIn 1877 chrysalids 1 to 3 hours old under a low temperature the more decided

exposed from 2 to 8 days. Temperature the change, but 25 or 30 days seem quite33 d- F. [0.6 C.]. 1Io change effected, sufficient in many cases, and changes have

In 1878: chrysalids 10 to 15 minutes been produced by exposure for 20, 16 andold, and at intervals up to 1 day, and then

daily to 8th day from pupation; expos-ure from 19 to 5 days. Result: onetelamonides or walshii from chrysalis 12hours old, 11 days exposure; one walshiifrom chrysalis 2 hours old, 11 days expos-ure one telamonides from Chrysalis 3 daysold, 16 days exposure; all the rest un-

changed, but the periods of emergenceremarkably prolonged. Temperature 33

+ s. C.].In 1879: chrysalids not less than 12

hours old nor over 24 hours; exposed 14,

11 days; no changes recorded at less than11 days while exposure at 8 days and lesshas produced no effect except in some casesto prolong the chrysalis period.

2. The longest interval between pupa-tion and exposure to cold when any changehas resulted, has been 3 days. In all in-stances beyond that no change has been

produced. The shortest interval has beentwo hours, and in this instance the but-

terfly was changed to walshii, which is a

change more extreme than to telamonides.Most chrysalids exposed so early die in the

20 and 24 days. Result: the period of process but as many changes have been

emerging greatly precipitated in nearly all effected when the age of the chrysalis at

cases. From the 14-day lot there was no exposure has been from 12 to 24 hours, Ichange or only a partial one from the 20- believe that to be the most satisfactory pc-day lot one half were changed, the rest tied. The chrysalis has then become hard-

PSYGHE. 19

ened and the growth of the organs of the With P. ajax 32 to 40 F. [0 to 4.4 C.Jpupa probably then begins and their direc- seems a proper temperature.tion may best be turned by the cold then My experiments with /)h. tharos are

applied, given in Can. Entom. v. 9 p. 4 and p.3. The effect of the cold is to albinize 204-206. Also in Butterflies of ll. A.

the butterfly the black area being con- v. 2 pt. 7. In the former a completestantly reduced, change was brought about and every but-

4. Cold has failed to change the shape terfly emerged in the winter form. Temp-of the wings its influence being confined erature about 40 F. [4.4 C.J and con-to coloration and markings; the frontal tinned for 7 days the chrysalids being 3hairs of the head have also been changed; 6 9 hours old when exposed and beforeand the sexes are equally susceptible, several had hardened. In the second ex-

5. Grapta interrogationis. 14 days periment the temperature was about 32exposure aher the chrysalids have hard- F. [-0 C.]; the chrysalids were 10 min-

ened has been found sufficient to produce utes to 9 hours old and the exposure was

changes and the females were most sus- about 20 days. It was found that the but-ceptible to the influence of cold. terflies emerging from chrysalids which

6. With different species the degree of had been from 1 to 9 hours old were corn-

temperature required to produce the mostdecided change varies. I have succeededbest with Phyciodes tharos at 40 F.[4.4 C.]. At 32 F. [0 C.] have de-stroyed many Grapta chrysalids but thismay have, been principally because thechrysalis was too tender when exposed.

pletely changed; some which had beenfrom 30 to 60 minutes old were notchanged while others of same lot were

greatly suffused. I concluded that withthis species it was not necessary that coldshould be applied after the chrysalids had

llardened in order to change the form.

REVIEWS.

[PRO’ESSOR EDUARD BR_IID:’S interest- the nervous system in more than fifty spe-ing papers upon the nervous system of in- cies. Up to the time of appearance of

sects which appeared during 1878 and [Professor Brandt’s papers but little had1879 [see Rec. nos. 1451-1458] in the been published upon this subject; for ex-Hore Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae ample, the metamorphoses of the nervousare valuable additions to the literature of system had been traced in only eight spe-the subject. The amount of research upon cies (ibur lepidoptera and four coleoptera).which the author’s conclusions are based, Many important facts were ascertained incan be best understood perhaps by con- his studies and the papers published bothsidering that [Professor Brandt examined in German and in Russian and fully il-the nervous system of nearly a thousand lustrated with photolithographic plates pre-species of adult insects and of about one sent the facts in a systematic and carefullyhundred and twenty-five species of larvae condensed form. G.D.and that he studied the metamorphoses of

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