1961 Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 121

THE WALTER C. STINSON COLLECTION OF LEPIDOPTERA

The extensive collection of Michigan Lepidoptera amassed by the late WALTER C. STINSON has recently been donated to the entomology museum at Michigan State University. WALTER C. STINSON, 60, was secretary of the State Bridge Commission of Michigan and manager of the international Blue Water bridge at Port Huron, Michigan, since its opening in the fall of 1938.

STINSON was born February 6, 1898, in Elkhart, Indiana, where he received his grade and high school education. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1921 with a B. S. degree in civil engineering. After associations with several construction firms, STINSON joined the highway department as Municipal Survey Chief in 1933. In 1937 STINSON assumed his duties as Secretary of the State Bridge Commission. In that capacity STINSON played a prominent part in the construction of the Port Huron - Samia bridge and had been its manager since its completion. He died suddenly of a heart attack on May 11, 1958, at his home on the Lake Huron shore north of Port Huron.

The Stinson collection numbers over 7000 specimens representing nearly 1100 species of Michigan Lepidoptera. The collection is remarkable in respect to the extent of his collecting interests, for unlike many amateurs he collected all groups of Lepidoptera. Thus, using the 1955 Moore check list of Michigan moths (Misc . publ. mus. zool. Univ. Michigan, no. 88) as a guide, we find that 75 per cent of the Michigan Rhopalocera and 60 per cent of the Michigan Macrolepidoptera are represented in the collection. There is no accurate estimate of the number of Michigan species of Microlepidoptera, but the Stinson collec­tion has over four hundred species represented.

The collection contains a number of species which are represented from the state by only a single specimen or only very few specimens. These include among the N octuidre the following species: Graptolitha tepida ( Grote), Graptolitha fagina ( Morrison), Litholomia napxa (Morrison), Anathix raUa (Grote & Robinson), Chrysanympha formosa ( Grote), Autographa oxygramma Geyer, H eliothis virescens (Fabricius), and Erebus odora (Linnreus); in the Sphingidre: Sphecodina abbotii ( Swains on ) and Sphinx luscitiosa Clemens; and in the Saturniidre, Hemileuca maia Drury.

The collection is in remarkable state of preservation and is indicative of the care and exactness of the man himself. A large number of the labels are hand printed in a very neat and careful hand, probably re­flecting the early training of Mr. STINSON in civil engineering. The

122 FrSCHEn: Stinson collection VoLl5: no.2

Photo Askar-Shain

WALTER C. STINSON (1898 - 1958)

1961 Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 123

specimens themselves must have been carefully selected, for the great majority of specimens are in the best of shape, both in mounting and brightness. In most instances a species is represented by a series of six or so specimens, unless variation or sexual dimorphism warrants more.

Again, the collection is remarkable for the quantity and quality of the material collected over a period of only a few years. Collecting dates indicate that STINSON was an active collector during the years 1930-1937. During this period he was associated with the old Detroit Naturalists Club whose members comprised a core of other notable Michigan lepidopterists including BRYANT WALKER, SHERMAN MOORE, and Dr. GEORGE W. RAWSON. This group spent many a week end together collecting Lepidoptera in southeastern Michigan. Presumably through their common interest in the Detroit Naturalists Club or because of their mutual vocation, civil engineering, WALT STINSON and SHERMAN MOORE became very closely associated. A constant exchange of specimens took place between MOORE and STINSON for comparison and verification of identifications made by STINSON. Numerous notes made by MOORE are attached to many of the specimens indicating his approval or disapproval of STINSON'S identifications. One can envision that many a winter evening was spent by these two men pouring over descriptions and arguing over the identification of a particular specimen. Undoubtedly the close association of STINSON and MOORE was mutually beneficial.

WALT was an exceptionally intelligent man as may be attested by the fact that he built such an exceptional collection in such a short period of time. Again, his determinations were extremely accurate. In addition to the identification of the Lepidoptera he was remarkably well informed on the native Michigan Lepidoptera, of which he reared many.

Because of his inactivity in the entomological field in his later years, the passing on of many of his collecting associates, and the dulling of memories through the passage of time, information concerning STINSON and his collecting activities has been difficult to secure. However, I wish to extend my appreciation for the odd-ments of information which have been gathered together from the following: Dr. GEORGE W. RAWSON, New Smyrna Beach, Florida; WILBUR S. McALPINE, Birmingham, Michigan; and JOHN H. NEWMAN, South Lyon, Michigan. Lastly, special gratitude is expressed to his widow, ALICE STINSON, for her most generous gift to Michigan State University. Mrs. STINSON is to be further commended for her public spirited action in making such a collection generally available to the collecting fraternity and to science.

ROLAND L. FISCHER, Curator of the Entomology Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. U. S. A.