Butterfly wing color-patterns are highly diverse. Many color-patterns or their elements are ecologically and behaviorally functional in mating, mimicry and camouflage, but it has been thought that not all of them have clearly identifiable functions. How such non-functional, sometimes extravagant color-pattern traits evolved has been enigmatic. To illustrate this process, a model for the color-pattern evolution of the Admiral butterflies (the genus Vanessa sensu stricto) is proposed. It is first assumed that ancestral populations of Vanessa were geographically isolated in high altitude regions where temperatures fluctuate widely. In this model, pupae produce the coldshock hormone (CSH) to protect differentiating cells in response to the temperature fluctuation. This hormone has an opportunistic ability to modify the wing color-patterns as a side effect or pleiotropic effect, revealing phenotypic plasticity of the ancestral populations. The modified phenotypes are rarely adaptive; they are in most cases either not favorable in mating or simply neutral with no adverse or adaptive effects. The modified phenotypes are nonetheless canalized in a population through a process of genetic assimilation accompanying natural selection for high hormonal activity, resulting in diverse orange areas on the wings in the present Vanessa species living in high altitude regions. Thus, the CSH physiologically acts as a mediator of genetic assimilation of the non-functional or neutral traits. In other words, a non-functional or neutral trait can be assimilated in a population as a "parasite" of a functional trait. Following the evolution of mating preferences, premating reproductive isolation might be established, as in the classical mechanism for allopatric speciation. This "physiological side-effect model" may explain the non-functional or neutral wing color-pattern diversity of Vanessa and other butterflies.

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Although most larvae of danaine milkweed butterflies defend themselves by their warning coloration, the defence strategy of plain-colored larvae (e. g. Euploea Sylvester) has not been noted. This paper describes some observations obtained in Taiwan on this topic, and discusses how the Euploea Sylvester larva defends itself with its simple coloration.

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The genus Ragadia in Indo-China is revised taxonomically, and four species, R. makuta, R. crisilda, R. crito and R. critias, are recognized. The latter three species are very similar to one another and have been variously treated in the past. The geographical variations including the male genitalia are described for these species.

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In the second part of this series, four new species and one new subspecies of Eupithecia are described from Kashmir and adjacent territories of Pakistan and India. Eupithecia mesodeicta Prout, 1938 is raised to a specific name, and Eupithecia vivida Vojnits & De Laever, 1978, and Eupithecia particeps Vojnits, 1988 are restored.

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An interspecific hybridizing experiment was carried out between Brenthis daphne ♀ and B. ino ♂ by the cage pairing method. Many F_1 adults were obtained with an equal sexual ratio. Neither deformity nor abnormal growth were observed at any developmental stage. The morphology of the early stages and an adult of F_1, hybrid is shown.

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Examination of specimens, discovered as larvae at Japanese airports on plants of Sauropus androgynus, imported from Thailand, and subsequently reared, has revealed a new species of the genus Sinicaepermenia Heppner, 1990. It is described here as S. sauropophaga.

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Recently it has been reported that the subtropical argyne butterfly, Argyreus hyperbius (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) has expanded its distribution to the northern areas of Japan. It is easy to suppose that the phenomenon is due to global warming. But, there is a possibility that other factors are involved, and garden plantation of the pansy, Viola wittrockiana, one of the food plants, has been pointed out as one factor by some colleagues. Because of the popularity of gardening in Japan, this plant has been planted in gardens much more extensively than before. This paper discusses the recent northward expansion of A. hyperbius from two viewpoints: one is the fluctuation in the number of butterflies in Hino City, Tokyo, and the other is the increase of pansy boxes transported into Tokyo or Hino City from prefectures inhabited by this butterfly. There is a probability that eggs or young larvae of the butterfly were transported from south to north with the pansy boxes.

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Pupae of the papilionid butterfly, Luehdorfia japonica, secrete a slightly viscous liquid immediately after pupation from the dorsal surface of the head and thorax, mainly from pro- and meso-thoraces. The secretion is colored pale yellowish-brown and emits greenish-blue fluorescence under light irradiation. The fluid, which gradually covers the dorsal surface of almost the whole body within 2 hours of larval-pupal ecdysis, solidifies along with the melanization and sclerotization of the pupal cuticle. The solidified exudate was almost insoluble in water, but was found to absorb a considerable quantity of water, suggesting that the secretion serves as a moisturizer against desiccation. Although the secretion showed no prominent antimicrobial activity, it seemed to have a weak bacteriostatic effect. Possible ecological roles of the secretion are discussed in regard to the survival strategy of the butterfly.

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Two species-groups of Alcis from the Sunda Islands are revised. The A. variegata complex: A. variegata (Moore), A. convariata (Prout), stat. & comb, nov., A. hemiphanes (Prout), A. cockaynei (Prout), A. lutzi sp. nov. (Sumatra), A. paukstadti sp. nov. (Flores), A. praevariegata (Prout). Aids taiwanovariegata nom. nov. is proposed for Boarmia subochrearia Wileman & South, 1917, currently assigned to Aids and preoccupied by Leech, 1897. The A. colorifera complex: A. colorifera (Prout), A. periphracta (Prout).

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