Lepidoptera Science

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In order to elucidate the causes of the migration of Lampides boeticus in the eastern part of Japan, the author has proposed a hypothesis. That is, the migrations of this butterfly in spring and summer are attributable to the south winds caused by some special atmospheric distributions, which are shown in weather charts: 'May storm', or similar low pressure in the Japan Sea, or summer typhoon in the East China Sea. In this paper, 55 records of this butterfly collected in the migration seasons in the eastern part of Japan are listed, and most of them are in good agreement with the days on which the said atomospheric distributions appeared in weather charts. The author also discussed several aspects of the migration, and concluded as follows: (1) The exceptional early arrivals of this butterfly in the Tohoku district can be well explained by the proposed hypothesis. (2) There was no substantial difference between the short and long distance migrations, contrary to what had been generally thought. (3) The recorded dates of capture are in good agreement with the emerging season of the adult butterflies in southern Boso peninsula, from where, it can be presumed, they started. (4) It can also be presumed that high temperature and high humidity of the south winds were favoured by the migrating butterflies. (5) It is thought that, this habit of the butterflies has well adapted to the climatic changes in the northern hemisphere.

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In this paper the author has reported an observation on the emergence from pupa of Clanis bilineata tsingtauica MELL, with short notes on the variation of wing colour and the size of adults. The moths emerge from pupae laying under the ground few or ten cm, in depth and dig out on the ground with frons of pupa on their head just like as steel helmets on soldiers' head. The emergences are observed mostly from 11p.m. to 5 a.m. of next day and the moths fly away after 15-21 hours or more.

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On October 31,1962 I observed a female blue monarch (Caduga sita niphonica) in captivity busily patting all over its thorax by the uncoiled tougue, after having imbibed the pure water sprayed on the window frame. Its antennae were almost horizontal while resting, a little downed while imbibing, and placed lower while patting. These patting motions are probably similar to the "Washing" in the American Monarch observed by Mrs. A. L. HORF, as introduced by Mr. TARO IWASE in 1958.

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