Boros István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 7. (Budapest 1956)

Kovács, L.: Some data concerning the subspecific distribution of Colias chrysotheme Esp. (Lepidoptera)

taken for the base of comparison in the course of research concerning geographical forms. The detailed description and its distribution in Hungary of the nominate form. With regard to the fact that several important characters are lacking from E s p e r's description, — characters necessary for the examination of the subspecies of C. chrysotheme — I will attempt to give a detailed representation of the species, based on specimens from the Eastern Transdanubium. The main importance lies with the characters of the summer generation, as the differences within the Central European forms jump to the eye most strongly on individuals of the summer brood. The alar expanse of the males originating from the Eastern Transdanubium varies generally between 38—42 mm in the summer generation, yet also smaller specimens occur. The smallest male which went through my hands was 34 mm. The females are somewhat larger, their alar expanse being generally 40—44 mm. There are also smaller ones, and I found a specimen measuring 45 mm. The fore wings are only rarely narrow and elongated, such specimens occur mostly among females. The tornus of the fore wings lies only sligtly more basad than the apex. The termen, if but slightly, arches outwards, a wholly straight termen is a rare occurrence. The orange color of the fore wings is vivid, usually with a yellow tint, with a gradual transition to yellow toward the costa and the submarginal black margin. The yellow color occupies but a smaller-broader zone near the costa in the males, whilst on the females, the immediate costal area is greyish green with yellow only on its inside. The yellow spots within the black margin of the females are elongated in the direction of the termen, both on the fore and on the hind wings. On the fore wings, the two lowest spots are the broadest, their breadth makes up 50—70% of the breadth of the margin. On the hind wings, the discal orange spot are in both sexes big, just as the corresponding brown-inclosed double silver spot on the underside. The brown ring around the silver spot is sharply delineated. On the underside of the hind wings, the yellow color is vivid, clear (with the exception of the base), yet even the greenish-grey suffusion in the basal area is generally weak. The alar expanse of the specimens of the first brood is less uniform, that of the males oscillates between 31—39 mm, that of the females between 33—44 mm. The orange spread on the wings of the males occupies a smaller area. The yellow before the costa and the termen is less vivid, with rather a greenish tint. The orange suffusion of the females is more vivid, though it takes up a smaller area also in this sex. The greenish-grey suffusion on the underside of the hind wings is stronger and, with the exception of the yellow spot before the margin, it spreads onto the whole wing. The black margin is small, mainly on the males. The yellow spots within the black margin of the females are smaller than on the summer specimens, they are better separated from each other and, since the margin itself is narrower, they do not take place in its middle or in its outer side but rather on the inner side (by this it is evident that the marginal spots change their place but seemigly, it is the breadth of the margin that varies). The autumnal specimens of C. chrysotheme take an intermediate place between those of the spring and the summer. The alar expanse of the males varies between 31—42 mm, that of the females between 33—43 mm. They are not so pale and green as are the springtime specimens, and the orange color covers a smaller area than on the specimens of the summer brood. The yellow spots within the black margin of the females are mostly small and they appear in the middle of the margin even if they are larger than usual. They resemble the springtime specimens mostly in the strength of the greenish suffusion on the underside of the hind wings. Specimens of the third generation in Central Europe had come into my hands from Central Hungary only. To this detailedly discussed form of C. chrysotheme which, in the sense delineated above, I hold to be identical with the nominate form, belong those that live in the populations of our home fauna between the Danube and Lake Balaton. It reaches the Danube, between Dunaalmás and Esztergom in the north, but I miss data whether it is to found also further north. It spreads in the east to the slopes of the Mts Dunazug, it occurs in several places in the hills around Buda, and its area is delimited by a straight line running from Buda