A. E. Holt White

“ Before taking the pupa form some caterpillars creep into holes and crevices of walls and old buildings, others bury themselves in the earth; some envelop themselves in a tissue of silk which they spin as a silkworm does, and this case is called a cocoon. Other species draw a leaf round their bodies, fastening it together with silk-like threads, and so making a complete shelter for itself. The Aurifera caterpillar is an example of this type, being commonly found in Teneriffe on the potato plant, from the leaf of which it constructs its house. ”

“ When the larva of the butterfly is about to develop to its pupa state, it readily crawls up the box and netting, suspending itself, from the top head-downwards, and the netting serves as a good foot-hold for the butterfly when it appears. If possible the chrysalides should remain as they place themselves until the next stage of development is reached; because, unless they are able to expand their wings while in this position, deformity is likely to ensue. ”

“ The male has no orange-tawny markings on the surface, only a slight shade of yellow being seen on the fore-wings, shimmering through the uniform brown colour of the insect. There is a small black eye, with a white central dot on the apex of each fore-wing. On the under-side the fore-wings of the male are orange-tawny, the black eye being larger and more pronounced than on the surface. The hind-wings of the male are of a uniform olive-brown colour. It is found in barrancos, meadows and rough places, from the coast up to a moderately high altitude, from April to September ”

“ Many caterpillars are smooth, others rough and hairy. The hairy specimens vary much, the hair of some being soft, long, and silky, others having short stubby spikes rather than hairs sparsely dispersed over the body. The hairy species (the Rufescens moth caterpillar being one) use their hairy coats as a slight cocoon, and the hairy coat also, it is said, serves as a protection from birds; at the same time the hairs cause great irritation to the human skin if the caterpillars are handled too freely. ”

“ To procure good moths and butterflies with bright and uninjured plumage, it is best to rear them from the caterpillar stage of development, but as all varieties are not easily found, the net is usually the collector’s first resource. Raising caterpillars from the egg is a very interesting process, but it is rather tedious, and requires more knowledge and experience to meet with success than finding the insects in the next stage of development, and keeping them till they reach the perfect state. ”

“ The insect then emits a quantity of reddish fluid, and in a short time it is able to fly away. The duration of the life of Lepidoptera varies much, most species living a few days or a few weeks, but some hibernate. The flight of Lepidoptera is a very distinctive feature of the different species, the larger, such as the Plexippus, Chrysippus and Pandora, seem to sail through the air, sometimes rising to a great height. ”

“ The lava-rocks are sharp, and the numerous grasses with hooks, such as the “Amour Sec,” together with the thorns of the prickly pear, make a formidable barrier for the pedestrian. There are, however, no poisonous snakes to dread, no biting animals of any sort larger than flies, so that the inconvenience of the thorns and pricks is all that need be feared. ”

“ When forming a collection of the Lepidoptera of Teneriffe, it seems a pity that so many insects should be unnecessarily caught and destroyed, and the author would earnestly beg all lovers and collectors of the beautiful creatures to bear this in mind, as some of the rarer varieties may otherwise stand a good chance of being exterminated.
The “muchachos” (Spanish boys) are all too eager to supply any collector with specimens for a few “quartos,” and bring many poor mutilated insects in the hope of finding a purchaser. ”

“ Secondly, the moth either folds its wings close to its side or else spreads them out flat. The butterfly, when at rest, as a rule keeps its wings straight up, face to face, or else keeps up a fluttering motion, continually putting them in this position. Thirdly, the body of a butterfly is small at the waist, while that of the moth is larger, and of a more uniform size. The antennæ are the most distinctive feature, those of the moth being fine and long, and having no knob at the end. In some species they are short and finely feathered the whole length, terminating in a sharp point ”

“ Many of the caterpillars are most beautifully coloured and marked. Those of the Hawk-moth are usually the most brilliant, but, at the same time, they are most delicate, and require the greatest attention as regards freshness of food, ventilation, and cleanliness. ”

“ The caterpillar never suspends itself to the plant on which it feeds, but goes to some of the higher grasses near it, or it prefers still better a mallow plant, from the leaves of which as many as sixteen beautiful bright green and gold chrysalides have been seen hanging, forming quite a picture under the illumination of the glorious sun of Teneriffe. It lives and feeds [45] gregariously on the “Arbol de Seda,” [4] a plant bearing a very bright red and gold flower. Many specimens were reared from quite small caterpillars in the breeding-cages. ”

“ This is the smallest specimen of blue butterfly found in Teneriffe, being not quite one inch in expanse. The female is rather a browner blue than the male. The colouring on the upperside is of a most beautiful uniform blue, all the wings having a margin of brown; and a slight white fringe at the edges. The underside of all the wings is grey, rather freely dotted over with darker spots, encircled by greyish white. It is very commonly found on all grassy fields and lanes, and [41] quantities flutter quickly along the grass-grown streets of Orotava from April to August. ”

“ The acrid taste of some also protects them from feathered enemies. When the insect has remained in the pupa state for a sufficient length of time, which varies according to species from a couple of weeks to a few months, the process of throwing off its skin is quickly performed. Weather has much influence on the period during which the pupa lies dormant. The Teneriffe winter of 1892-93 was particularly warm, and all specimens emerged to the butterfly stage somewhat earlier than usual. ”

“ When, however, the fields get green and vegetation increases, they desert the barrancos and take more to the fields and country, with the exception of the Argynnis Lathonia, a variety which more particularly frequents barrancos.
The time of appearance of all species takes place from two to four weeks later the higher they are up the mountains. The south part of the island is not so fertile a place for Lepidoptera as the north; perhaps [22] this is owing to the more sparse vegetation on that side.
Many species are found inland, while some are peculiar to the coast. ”

“ The proboscis or trunk is a long flexible double tube through which the animal sucks the juices of the flowers; it is curled up under the thorax like a watch-spring, and expands at will. It varies much in length both in moths and butterflies. The antennæ are the horns or feelers of the insect, and are believed to contain the organs of smell. They vary much in size and thickness, and are most important as regards the classification of the different species of Lepidoptera. ”

“ The “Deilephila Daucus,” allied to “Lineata,” a North American species, is said to occur in Teneriffe, but the author has not seen a specimen. If such a species is really found in the island, it is more probably D. Livornica, which is common in South Europe and throughout Africa, and is found in Madeira. Either of the above species may be distinguished from D. Tithymali by the white lines on the wings, but D. Livornica has only four longitudinal white stripes on the thorax, whereas D. Daucus has six. ”

“ Over this stretch a piece of mosquito-netting, tacking it to the edge of the box all round, except at one side, where it should be left loose, so as to be fastened down at will with two or three stout pins. The loose side can then be raised to give the caterpillars fresh food, and to remove dirt or refuse. Breeding-cages that one can purchase at any naturalists’ outfitters are made very handily of wood, zinc, and glass, and of course are very durable, but those described above last well for a season, and have the merit of being of no expense. ”

“ KILLING AND SETTING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS, RELAXING-SPECIMENS, Etc.
Butterflies, when netted, can be easily killed by a prolonged sharp pinch under the thorax before being taken from the net, and do not need to be put into a poison-box. The pinch should be given between the finger and thumb, the wings of the insect being kept in an upright position.
Moths must be put into a poison-bottle or box, and left there from twelve to twenty-four hours. Some varieties die much quicker than others. ”

“ The caterpillar is sometimes affected by [69] a disease which consists of a small red fungus growing on the body, generally towards the tail. One small brood was entirely lost from this disease, which seemed to be contagious. As a rule, however, the larvæ are easy to keep, and the chrysalides hatch well and strongly. When numbers are kept, an old wine-case should be substituted for the smaller breeding-cages already mentioned, the mosquito-netting being used in the same way. A little sun is beneficial to them every day in the morning. ”

“ In the moths, the Deilephila Tithymali caterpillars, [103] if fed on a species of milk-wort, evince a slight variety in colouring and size of moths as compared with those fed on Euphorbia. They must, however, be fed on the plant from the earliest stage, as they only thrive on the food to which they have been accustomed from the first. Some of the earliest specimens are occasionally found on the milk-wort, the eggs having been deposited thereon. ”

“ As some difficulty is experienced in Teneriffe by persons who arrive there without already being provided with materials for collecting Lepidoptera, the description of a few useful expedients resorted to may be of service. A moderate knowledge of the Spanish language is a very useful help towards obtaining any small necessaries, but the Spanish shop-keepers are most obliging, and understand quickly by the help of a very few words what is wanted. ”

“ There are no observations to record on the caterpillar and pupa, as the specimens of the fly (one of which is illustrated) were netted; but very possibly larvæ may be found gregariously with the Cheiranthi in like manner to the Callirrhoe and Atalanta, or the Plexippus and Chrysippus. ”

“ They were easy to keep, but especial care must be taken in providing them with fresh food, and great attention ought to be paid to ventilation, or some disappointment may be experienced in the number that die during the pupa state for no apparent reason. A little of the morning sun is beneficial to them, as they are found, when in a natural state, in the most sunny localities. ”

“ After being kept for a time the chrysalides become a very dark brown, almost black, so that there is a temptation to throw them away as dead, since they show so little life; but on opening the hard, stick-like skin, the creature is found to be quite fresh. ”

“ This butterfly is allied to the Cheiranthi, but is a distinct variety, only recently met with in this island. Mr. Butler, of the British Museum, has named and fully described this insect, which has hitherto only been found in Madeira, but is now for the first time enumerated in the list of Teneriffe Lepidoptera. It is somewhat smaller than the Cheiranthi, measuring not more [31] than two and a half inches in expanse. ”