(_Diadema nerina_, Butler, Butterflies of N. Z., p. 13. Female.--_Papilio
nerina_, Fabr., Syst. Ent., p. 509, n. 277 (1775); Donovan, Ins. of New
Holland, pl. 27, fig. 1 (1805). _Papilio iphigenia_, Pap. Exot., 1, pl.
lxvii., figs. D, E, (1775). Var. _Papilio proserpina_, Cramer, Pap.
Exot., 3, pl. ccxviii., figs. C, D, (1782). Male ? _Papilio auge_,
Cramer, Pap. Exot., 2, pl. cxc., figs. A, B (1779).)
(Plate XII., fig. 7 [M], 8 [F], 9 under side.)
This fine species appears to be rare in New Zealand, but I think it has now
occurred often enough to entitle it to a place amongst our native
butterflies. The following is a list of the captures so far as I am able to
ascertain them:--
From Mr. Eny's 'Catalogue of New Zealand Butterflies'[46] the first
specimen taken appears to have been a male, which was captured by Dr.
Sinclair, of Auckland, and sent to the British Museum before the year 1855.
The Rev. Richard Taylor also caught one male specimen in his garden at
Wanganui, and saw another, the only {105}two he observed in thirty-four
years. Dr. Baker saw one in his garden at Christchurch on lilac flowers,
also a male. Mr. R. W. Fereday[47] records the capture of the first female
specimen by a son of Mr. Thomas Tanner, near Napier, in January, 1876. On
the 18th of March, 1885, Mr. R. I. Kingsley[48] took a fine female specimen
in Nelson, and on the 25th of March, 1886, I saw another female specimen in
the same locality; I also understand that quite a number of specimens of
both sexes have been recently captured in the neighbourhood of
Auckland.[49]
From the foregoing records, I think that there are very good reasons for
regarding this as an indigenous species, as it is very improbable that such
a large number of specimens would have been accidentally introduced to the
various localities at so many different times.
The expansion of the wings of the male is 3½ inches, of the female 4
inches. On the upper side all the wings of the male are rich
brownish-black, with a large white blotch in the middle of each,
surrounded by a patch of brilliant flashing blue; there is also a small
white spot near the apex of the fore-wings and a series of white
crescent-shaped markings on the termen of all the wings. The fore-wings
of the female are brownish-black, with a patch of deep orange-brown near
the tornus; there is a series of four very large oval white spots on the
costa, beyond the middle, a smaller white spot near the apex, and three
rows of small white marks parallel to the termen; the hind-wings are
brownish-black, with a broad white band across the middle, several small
white spots, and a double series of white markings parallel to the
termen; all the wings of the female have brilliant bluish reflections
near the white spots. On the under side the wings of both sexes are rich
brown with white markings, and a double series of white crescents on the
termen.
The female appears to be very variable in almost every respect.
The perfect insect appears in January, February and March. From its large
size and brilliant colouring it is easily recognised. Although rare in New
Zealand, it is very common in Australia. It also occurs in Java, New Guinea
and the Loyalty Islands. A smaller representative is found in Samoa
(_Anosia otaheitæ_, Feld.), which is probably only a variety of this
species.
The figures and descriptions of this insect are taken from Australian
specimens, which were kindly forwarded to me by the late Mr. Olliff.
Genus 2.--VANESSA.
Eyes hairy. Club of antennæ abrupt. Fore-wings with vein 10 separate.
Hind-wings with transverse vein present.
"A moderate genus, principally characteristic of the Northern Hemisphere.
Larva with six or seven rows of bristly spines. Pupa with angular
prominences, often with golden metallic spots."--Meyrick.
Of this very beautiful and interesting genus we have three species in New
Zealand.
VANESSA GONERILLA, Fabr.
(_Papilio gonerilla_, Fabricius, Syst. Ent. p. 498, n. 237 (1775);
Donovan, Ins. New Holland, pl. 25, fig. 2 (1805). _Vanessa gonerilla_,
White in Taylor's New Zealand, pl. 2, fig. 1 (1855).)
(Plate XII., fig. 5, 6 under side; Plate III., figs. 1 and 2 larvæ, 31 and
32 pupæ.)
This handsome insect is the most familiar of New Zealand butterflies. It is
very common and generally distributed throughout the country.
{106}The expansion of the wings varies from 2-3/8 to 2¾ inches. Above,
all the wings are black, becoming bronzy towards the body. _The
fore-wings have a band of dark red nearly across the middle, and a series
of three small blue spots, and three larger white spots near the apex.
The hind-wings have a broad dark red band near the termen, containing two
pairs of black spots with blue centres._ On the under side the fore-wings
are dark brown, with a broad patch of red in the middle, and a very
conspicuous eye-like mark on the costa, consisting of a black central
spot surrounded by a blue ring, and encircled by a yellow crescent
towards the termen. The hind-wings are brownish-grey, with many darker
and paler markings; the four spots on the upper surface are faintly
indicated on the under side by blackish rings and central dots; the
colouring of the under side varies a good deal. It is considerably darker
and duller in some specimens than in others.
The egg, which is deposited on a nettle-leaf, is barrel-shaped,
ornamented with a series of longitudinal ribs meeting in a central spot
on the top. It is pale green, with the ribs white. The young larva, when
first hatched, is dusky-yellow, with the spines black. In about a week it
moults for the first time, and is then of an almost uniform brown, with
the lateral lines faintly indicated. Ten days later it again sheds its
skin, after which time the white lateral markings are considerably
stronger. The full-grown larva varies from black to reddish-brown, with
interrupted pale lateral and dorsal lines. On the third and fourth
segments there are four spines, on the fifth to eleventh seven spines;
the twelfth segment has six spines, and the thirteenth two spines. There
are numerous white dots all over the larva. The spines vary from pale
green to black. The caterpillar is considerably attenuated at each end,
the central portions being somewhat swollen. Length about 1½ inches.
This caterpillar constructs for itself a small tent by fastening together
several of the leaves of its food-plant. In this dwelling it can feed,
safely concealed from all enemies. There are two kinds of nettles
constituting the food of this insect--one a small plant, which generally
grows in little patches amongst ferns in the forest (_Urtica incisa_), the
other a large shrub or tree often found in rather open situations near
rivers (_Urtica ferox_). The shrub is easily recognised by the formidable
array of long, white spines which project from the midrib of each leaf. The
larvæ of _V. gonerilla_ are much more easily collected on the tree nettle
than on the dwarf species; their leafy tents being easily detected by an
examination of the foliage. When once discovered the larvæ are best
obtained by cutting off, with a pair of strong scissors, the leaves which
form their habitations. Like most larvæ of the genus _Vanessa_, these
caterpillars are extremely voracious and soon eat themselves out of house
and home. Those feeding on the tree nettle have an unlimited supply of
leaves available both for food and shelter, but in the case of larvæ, which
are dependent on the dwarf nettle for their supplies, no doubt individuals
must occasionally die of starvation, as we sometimes observe large patches
of the _Urtica incisa_ completely destroyed by the larvæ of this butterfly.
In some seasons these larvæ may be found as early as the middle of
September, and continue abundant until the middle or end of January.
When full grown, this caterpillar suspends itself by the tail to a little
patch of silk, which it has spun on the under side of a leaf, having also
drawn two or three other leaves around it in the same way as the feeding
larva. In this situation it hangs, with the head and three anterior
segments slightly curved upwards, for nearly twenty-four hours before the
transformation to the pupa state occurs. I have often watched these larvæ
changing, and as their manoeuvres during the process exactly resemble those
of _Anosia erippus_ a special description is unnecessary. The actual
transformation may be easily observed in this species, as the larvæ are
common and {107}can be obtained in large numbers. It is well worth
watching, and if a good many specimens are kept at once, some of them are
sure to change at a convenient time for observation. The pupa varies from
pale yellowish-brown to dark purplish-brown, darker on the wing-cases and
ventral surface. The spines on the back are golden. The whole insect is
also speckled with brown or black dots. The pupa varies considerably in
size as well as in colour. In this insect the pupa state is of very short
duration, usually only lasting about a fortnight. I am informed by Mr.
Helms that the pupa of _Vanessa gonerilla_ is often destroyed by the common
hemipteron, _Cermatulus nasalis_, which penetrates its shell by means of
its long rostrum, and speedily consumes the liquid internal portions.
The perfect insect usually emerges early in the morning. It dries its wings
for a few hours whilst resting on the old nettle-leaves which formed its
home when a larva. The increasing warmth of the sunshine soon hardens the
wings sufficiently to allow the new-born butterfly to fly away.
This insect is very common in most situations from January till April. It
lives through the winter, appearing again on fine days towards the end of
August. During the spring and early summer these hibernated individuals
occur in great profusion, a few specimens always remaining until the
earliest of the new ones have emerged; so that about December we may
occasionally observe both hibernated and recent specimens together.
In the autumn these butterflies may be seen feeding on the flowers of the
scabious and the white rata, thus preparing for their long winter sleep. In
the spring, however, the insect is most abundant in the vicinity of the
nettle-plants, where the females are busily engaged depositing their eggs.
I have noticed that this insect possesses the power of emitting a distinct
grating or hissing noise, evidently closely resembling the sound, which has
been observed to be emitted by several European species of the genus.[50]
This sound is only made when a specimen is roused from a semi-torpid
condition; and it is thought that it may be useful to the insect for the
purpose of intimidating intruders during its period of hibernation.
This butterfly is a rapid flier and may often be seen pursuing a straight
course high above the tree-tops, apparently migrating in search of fresh
breeding-grounds. It appears to have a singular liking for hill-tops, and a
specimen which has selected one of these places will keep on returning to
the same spot, after being repeatedly frightened away. In such situations,
if the weather be calm and sunny, we may frequently see two specimens
engaged in aerial battle. They fly upwards, and coursing round each other
with great velocity, almost disappear in the clear blue sky. A few seconds
later the two insects, gently fanning their wings in the warm sunshine, are
again seen in their respective places.
VANESSA ITEA, Fabr.
(_Papilio itea_, Fabr., Syst. Ent., p. 498, n. 238 (1775); Donovan Ins.
New Holland, pl. 26, fig. 1 (1805). _Vanessa itea_, Godart, Enc. Meth.
ix. p. 321, n. 57 (1819); White in Taylor's New Zealand, pl. 2, figs. 2,
2 (1855). _Bassaris itea_, Hubner, Samml. Esot. Schmett. (1816-24).
_Pyrameis itea_, Doubleday, Gen. Diurn. Lepid., p. 202 (1849).)
(Plate XII., fig. 3, fig. 4 under side.)
This beautiful butterfly is, I believe, fairly abundant in the northern
portions of the North Island, but becomes scarcer southwards of Napier and
New Plymouth. In the {108}South Island I believe I once saw a specimen at
Nelson, but beyond that I can find no record of its occurrence there.
The expansion of the wings is about 2 inches. The fore-wings are black,
becoming reddish-brown speckled with gold towards the base; _there is a
very broad yellow band nearly across the middle, and one yellow and two
white spots near the apex_. The hind-wings are rich reddish-brown,
broadly bordered with black, especially towards the costa; there are four
small black spots with blue centres near the termen, and a blue stripe
bordered with black at the tornus. The under surface closely resembles
that of _Vanessa gonerilla_, except that the red patch on the fore-wings
is replaced by pale yellow, and the markings on the hind-wings are more
sharply defined.
The perfect insect appears from January till April, hibernated specimens
occurring in the spring. It is very fond of selecting a perch on the top of
a hill, and often engages in violent encounters with _Vanessa gonerilla_.
During the contest both insects course round each other with great
rapidity, and generally ascend to a considerable elevation. They almost
invariably return to their former resting-places. This is a fortunate habit
for the collector, as it frequently enables him to ultimately capture a
specimen, which he has almost touched with the net on several previous
occasions. I have noticed this propensity to return to a favourite perch in
the European species of the genus _Vanessa_, so that it is most likely a
congenital habit, probably of great antiquity.
This insect has a fine appearance when flying; the large yellow spots on
the forewings are then very conspicuous, and ensure its immediate and
certain recognition.