Art. XXXI.—On the Abundance of Vanessa itea in Wellington during Season 1894.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 27, 1894, Page 281

Art. XXXI.—On the Abundance of Vanessa itea in Wellington during Season 1894. By Walter P. Cohen. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 27th June, 1894.] Last season a friend of mine who is a semi-entomologist, not now collecting, told me he had chased on one or two occasions in the Bolton Street cemetery, and also in the Botanical Gardens, a brilliantly-marked butterfly, which he said was not V. gonerilla, and which I could not identify from his description owing to his not having captured one to show me. I have therefore been on the look-out for something new in consequence, and was rewarded on the 3rd March this year by seeing a handsome butterfly settle on one of the paths in the cemetery when I was there in quest of sport, but, as it was a windy afternoon, and not having a net with me, I failed to catch it, so made two trips next morning, and saw none, but in the afternoon saw and obtained two specimens, which proved to be V. itea. I could have taken more, but it was Sunday, and lots of people were passing by the spot, which frightened my friends away. Since then I have taken up to date fourteen specimens at the same spot, as it seems to settle generally on the trunk of a large weeping willow (Aspidiotus camillæ), in company with V. gonerilla, which has always been very plentiful in this cemetery. V. itea flies as high as its sister, but is not quite so rapid in its flight, so is easier to capture, and, if frightened by a noise or anything coming near it, it always returns to the same spot shortly after. I exhibit this evening some of the specimens, and in one or two the large splashes on the upper wings appear to be of a much paler yellow. I am inclined to believe that this handsome insect may have been imported here lately, as it is mostly a northern species, as I have two specimens which came from the Auckland District: these show the same markings. My co-worker, Mr. A. Norris, has taken it in Thorndon this summer, and it has been seen in Wadestown this season. Mr. G. H. Grapes, of Paraparaumu, saw it up there in January, 1892, and in 1893, when it was tolerably plentiful, but has only seen it once since. He netted his specimens on the flowers of the koromiko, marigold, sage, & c., and says it appears there from January to November, and with an interval midway between those periods; therefore my specimens must be of the autumnal brood, so I should like to know whether they hibernate or are double brooded.