It is best to procure the larvæ to obtain good specimens, but the Ichneumon fly is such an enemy to this species that great disappointment will probably be experienced in the rearing if the caterpillars are not well examined before being placed in the breeding-cages.
PIERIS WOLLASTONI.
Plate I.—Fig. 1.
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 than two and a half inches in expanse. The reverses of the female (which is illustrated) and of the male are of a grey tinge, in place of the rather bright yellow shade of the Cheiranthi, sprinkled over with fine black dots. The apical patch is also grey, and both sexes have long black spots on the fore-wings. The upper surface is cream-white; the female has two distinctly marked long black spots on the fore-wings; the male having none. The black apical markings are similar in both sexes, and a small black spot is seen on the inner margin of the hind-wing of both male and female.
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.
The specimens taken were netted about 500 feet above the sea.
PIERIS RAPÆ.
The common English variety, Small Cabbage White. The fore-wings are creamy white, with an irregular blackish mark at the tip. The male generally has a black spot in the middle of the wing, the female having two; and both sexes have two black spots on the underside, which is of a yellowish colour, thickly dotted with small black atoms. All the markings vary greatly, however. The larva is dull green, with a yellowish stripe on its back and yellow dots on the side. It generally feeds on the cabbage, but is found also on the nasturtium. It is very common, and may be found everywhere from February to October. The Ichneumon fly is a great enemy to this insect.
PIERIS DAPLIDICE.
This butterfly resembles the rare English specimen Bath White. It is very common in some years,[2] and found in most localities from February to October. It seems mostly to frequent rough poorly-cultivated fields. The wings are white, the fore-wings having a large black spot in the middle, and being bordered with black encircling distinct white spots. The markings of the under-side show through on the hind-wings, and these have black markings on the edges in the female. The underside has a ground colour of sage-green, freely spotted with white. The markings show considerable variety, some being marked much more heavily than others. It measures across the wings from two to two and a half inches. The caterpillar, which is greyish green, has yellow stripes on the back, and feeds generally on cabbage. The butterflies are much pursued and destroyed by dragon-flies.