Fig. 162.—Neuration of the genusPamphila.
(1)Pamphila mandan, Edwards, Plate XLXII, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Arctic Skipper).
Butterfly.—No description of this interesting little insect is necessary, as the figure in the plate will enable the student at once to distinguish it. It is wholly unlike any other species. Expanse, 1.10 inch.
Early Stages.—These have been described by Dr. Scudder and Mr. Fletcher. The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
The insect ranges from southern Labrador as far south as the White Mountains and the Adirondacks, thence westward, following a line north of the Great Lakes to Vancouver's Island and Alaska. It ranges southward along the summits of the Western Cordilleras as far as northern California.
Genus OARISMA, Scudder
Butterfly.—Closely related to the preceding genus. The antennæ are very short; the club is long, cylindrical, bluntly rounded at the apex, not curved. The palpi are stout, the apical joint very slender, elongated, and porrect. The head is broad; the body is long and slender, projecting somewhat beyond the posterior margin of the secondaries. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut.
Early Stages.—So far as known to me the life-history of no butterfly of this genus has yet been ascertained.
Fig. 163.—Neuration of the genusOarisma.
(1)Oarisma garita, Reakirt, Plate XLVII, Fig. 3, ♂ (Garita).
Butterfly.—This obscure little insect is light fulvous on the upper side, with the costa of the hind wing somewhat broadly marked with leaden gray; on the under side the fore wings are brighter fulvous, with the inner margin laved with dark gray. The hind wings are paler fulvous, inclining to gray, with the inner margin brighter fulvous. Expanse, .75-1.00 inch.
Early Stages.—We know little of these. The species is found in southern Colorado, ranging thence westward and southward to Arizona.
(2)Oarisma powesheik, Parker, Plate XLVII, Fig. 4, ♂ (Powesheik).
Butterfly.—This species may be distinguished from its allygaritaby its larger size, the darker color of the upper side of the wings, and the red markings on the costa of the fore wings. On the under side the fore wings are black, edged on the costa and outer margin for a short distance below the apex with light fulvous. The hind wings are dusky, with the veins and nervules white, standing forth conspicuously upon the darker ground-color. Expanse, 1.00-1.25 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
Powesheikoccurs in Wisconsin, and ranges thence westward to Nebraska, northward to Dakota, and southward as far as Colorado.
EXCHANGES
One of the best ways of adding to a collection is by the method known as exchanging. A collector in one part of the country may find species which are rare, or altogether unknown, in another part of the country. By a system of exchanges with other collectors he is able to supply the gaps which may exist in his collection. No one, however, cares to effect exchanges with collectors who are careless or slovenly in the preparation of their specimens, or inaccurate in naming them. A collector who contemplates making an exchange should, as the first step, prepare double lists, in one of which he gives the names and the number of specimens of either sex of the butterflies which he is able to offer in exchange; in the other he sets forth the things which he desires to obtain. The first list is said to be a list of "offerta"; the second is a list of "desiderata." As an illustration of the manner in which such lists may be conveniently arranged, I give the following:
The collector who receives these lists of offerta and desiderata will be able to decide what his correspondent has which he desires, and what there may be in his own collection which the correspondent wishes that he can offer in exchange; and the process of exchange is thus immediately facilitated.
Persons who exchange insects with others should always be extremely careful as to the manner of packing the specimens, and the directions given in the introductory portion of this book should be very carefully followed. Too much care cannot be taken in preventing damage to specimens in transit.
Genus ANCYLOXYPHA, Felder
Butterfly.—Very small, the antennæ very short, the club straight, bluntly pointed. The palpi have the third joint long,slender, and suberect. The neuration of the wings is shown in the cut. The abdomen is slender, extending beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The fore wings are without a discal stigma.
Egg.—Hemispherical, marked with lozenge-shaped cells; yellow when laid, later marked with orange-red patches.
Caterpillar.—The entire life-history has not yet been ascertained. The caterpillars live upon marsh grasses; they construct for themselves a nest by drawing together the edges of a blade of grass with bands of silk. In form they do not differ from other hesperid larvæ.
Chrysalis.—Not as yet accurately known.
Fig. 164.—Neuration of the genusAncyloxypha.
(1)Ancyloxypha numitor, Fabricius, Plate XLVII, Fig. 2, ♂ (Numitor).
Butterfly.—The upper side is correctly delineated in the plate. On the under side the fore wings are black, margined on the costa and on the outer margin with reddish-fulvous. The hind wings are pale fulvous. Expanse, .75-.95 inch.
Early Stages.—What has been said in reference to these in connection with the description of the genus must suffice for the species.
This pretty little insect is widely distributed, and abounds among grasses about watercourses. It ranges from the province of Quebec to eastern Florida, thence westward across the Mississippi Valley as far as the Rocky Mountains.
Genus COPÆODES, Speyer
Butterfly.—The antennæ are very short; the club is thick, straight, rounded at the tip; the palpi are as in the preceding genus. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut. The abdomen is slender, extending beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The male is provided in most species with a linear stigma.
Early Stages.—These have not as yet been described.
(1)Copæodes procris, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 9, ♂ (Procris).
Butterfly.—The plate gives an excellent idea of the upper side of this diminutive species. On the under side the wings are colored as on the upper side, save that the fore wings at the base near the inner margin are blackish, and that the hind wings are a trifle paler than on the upper side. The sexes do not differ in color. Expanse, .75-1.00 inch.
This pretty little butterfly is a Southern species, is found plentifully in Texas and Arizona, and occurs also very commonly in southern California.
Fig. 165.—Neuration of the genusCopæodes.
(2)Copæodes wrighti, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 10, ♂ (Wright's Skipper).
Butterfly.—This species may be easily distinguished from the preceding by the dark fringes of both the fore and the hind wing and by the different arrangement of the discal stigma on the fore wing. On the under side it is colored very much asprocris. Expanse, .75-1.10 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The species is found in the Mohave Desert and southern California.
(3)Copæodes myrtis, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 11, ♂ (Myrtis).
Butterfly.—This diminutive little species may be readily recognized by the plate. The fore wings are somewhat broadly margined with dusky at the apex and along the outer margin; the hind wings on the costa are broadly and on the outer edge narrowly margined with dusky. On the under side the fore wings are blackish at the base. Expanse, .75 inch.
The only specimens of this butterfly that I have ever seen came from Arizona. The type is figured in the plate.
Genus ERYNNIS, Schrank
Butterfly.—The antennæ are short, less than half the length of the costa; the club is robust, with a very minute terminal crook; the palpi have the third joint minute, suberect, and bluntly conical. There is a discal stigma on the fore wing of the male.
Egg.—Somewhat spherical.
Caterpillar.—Feeds upon grasses, and is stouter in form thanmost hesperid larvæ, and sluggish in proportion to its stoutness. It does not make a nest, but conceals itself between the leaves of grass at the point where they unite with the stem, and is not very difficult to discover.
Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is elongated, cylindrical. Our knowledge of this stage is not very accurate as yet.
Fig. 166.—Neuration of the genusErynnis, enlarged.
(1)Erynnis manitoba, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 2, ♂; Fig. 3, ♁ (The Canadian Skipper).
Butterfly, ♂.—The upper side of the wings is depicted in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, the fore wings fulvous on the cell, pale gray at the apex and on the outer margin. There is a black shade at the base of the primaries, and a black streak corresponding in location to the discal stigma on the upper side. The hind wings are pale ferruginous, except a broad streak along the inner margin, which is whitish. All the light spots of the upper side of both wings reappear on the under side, but are more distinctly defined, and are pearly-white in color.
♁.—The female, on the under side of the fore wing, has the black discal streak replaced by a broad ferruginous shade. The hind wings are darker, and the light spots stand forth more conspicuously upon the darker ground. Expanse, ♂, 1.25 inch; ♁, 1.30 inch.
Early Stages.—These remain to be ascertained.
The Canadian Skipper is found across the entire continent north of a line roughly approximating the boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada. Along the Western Cordilleras it descends into the United States, as far south as Colorado and northern California.
(2)Erynnis morrisoni, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 26, ♂; Fig. 27, ♁ (Morrison's Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings in both sexes is sufficiently well delineated in the plate to obviate the necessity for description. On the under side the fore wings are pale fulvous, black at the base and ferruginous at the tip, the ferruginous shade interrupted by the subapical pale spots, which on this side of the wing are pearly-white. The hind wings are deep ferruginous, obscured on the inner margin by long pale-brown hairs. From the base to the end of the cell there is a broad silvery-whiteray. Beyond the cell the curved postmedian band of fulvous spots which appears above reappears as a band of pearly-white, which stands forth conspicuously on the dark ground. Expanse, ♂, 1.20 inch; ♁, 1.20-1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The species ranges from southern Colorado to Arizona.
(3)Erynnis sassacus, Harris, Plate XLVI, Fig. 13, ♂ (The Indian Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is as shown in the plate. The female is larger, the fulvous ground-color paler, the outer marginal shades darker, and the discal stigma is replaced by a dark-brown shade. On the under side in both sexes the wings are pale fulvous, with the spots of the upper side feebly reproduced as faint lighter spots. The fore wings in both sexes are black at the base. Expanse, ♂, 1.10-1.25 inch; ♁, 1.25-1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—The caterpillar, which is plumper than most hesperid larvæ, feeds on grasses.
The insect ranges from New England to Georgia, and westward to Colorado.
(4)Erynnis ottoë, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 11, ♂; Fig. 12, ♁ (Ottoë).
Butterfly.—Considerably larger than the preceding species. The wings of the male on the upper side are pale fulvous, narrowly bordered with black. The discal stigma is dark and prominent. The female has the wings on the upper side more broadly but more faintly margined with dusky. The wings of both sexes on the under side are uniformly pale fulvous or buff, marked with dark brown or blackish at the base of the fore wings. Expanse, ♂, 1.35 inch; ♁, 1.45-1.50 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The habitat of this species is Kansas and Nebraska.
(5)Erynnis metea, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 33, ♂; Fig. 34, ♁ (The Cobweb Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings is fairly well represented in the plate, the male being a little too red, and the wings at the base and the discal stigma not being dark enough. On the under side the wings are brown, darker than on the upper side. The pale markings of the upper side are all repeated below as distinct pearly-white spots, and in addition on the hind wings near the base there is a curved band of similar white spots. Expanse, ♂, 1.20 inch; ♁, 1.25-1.30 inch.
Early Stages.—We know as yet but little of these.
The species occurs in New England, New York, and westward to Wisconsin.
(6)Erynnis uncas, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 27, ♂; Fig. 28, ♁ (Uncas).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings of both sexes is well represented in the plate. On the under side in both sexes the wings are beautifully marked with conspicuous pearly-white spots on a greenish-gray ground. The spots are defined inwardly and outwardly by dark olive shades and spots. Expanse, ♂, 1.30 inch; ♁, 1.55 inch.
Early Stages.—We know nothing of these.
The insect ranges from Pennsylvania to Colorado and Montana.
(7)Erynnis attalus, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 23, ♂ (Attalus).
Butterfly.—The male is fairly well depicted in the plate, but the light spots are too red. The female is larger and darker. On the under side the wings are dusky, with the light spots reproduced in faint gray. Expanse, ♂, 1.25 inch; ♁, 1.45 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The species occurs very rarely in New England, is found from New Jersey to Florida and Texas, and ranges westward to Wisconsin and Iowa.
(8)Erynnis sylvanoides, Boisduval, Plate XLVII, Fig. 44, ♂ (The Woodland Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is well shown in the plate. The female on the upper side has less fulvous, the wings being prevalently fuscous, and the red color reduced to a spot at the end of the cell. There is a median band of fulvous spots on both wings. On the under side in both sexes the wings are quite pale gray, with the costa near the base and the cell of the primaries reddish. The primaries at the base near the inner margin are black. The spots of the upper side reappear, but are pale and faint. Expanse, 1.25-1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The species ranges along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California, and eastward to Colorado.
(9)Erynnis leonardus, Harris, Plate XLVII, Fig. 35, ♂; Fig. 36, ♁ (Leonard's Skipper).
Butterfly.—Stouter and larger than the preceding species, andnotably darker in coloring. The upper side of the wings is shown in the plate. On the under side the wings are dark brick-red. The primaries are blackish on the outer half, interrupted by the spots of the median series, which on the under side are large, distinct, and shade from pale fulvous to white toward the inner margin. The secondaries have a round pale spot at the end of the cell, and a curved median band of similar spots, corresponding in location to those on the upper side. Expanse, ♂, 1.25 inch; ♁, 1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—These are only imperfectly known. The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
The butterfly, which haunts flowers and may easily be captured upon them, ranges from New England and Ontario southward to Florida, and westward to Iowa and Kansas.
(10)Erynnis snowi, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 29, ♂; Fig. 30, ♁ (Snow's Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings of both sexes is well represented in the plate. On the under side the wings are uniformly reddish-brown, with the primaries black at the base, and the median spots enlarged near the inner margin and whitish, as in the preceding species. The light spots of the upper side reappear below as pale spots, which are well defined on the dark ground-color. Expanse, 1.25-1.40 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The species ranges from southern Colorado to Arizona.
Genus THYMELICUS, Hübner
Butterfly.—The antennæ are short, less than half the length of the costa; the club is stout and short, somewhat crooked just at the end. The third joint of the palpi is conical, almost concealed in the thick vestiture of the second joint. The neuration is given in the cut.
Egg.—The egg is hemispherical, with the surface marked by irregular angular cells formed by slightly raised lines.
Caterpillar.—The caterpillars feed on grasses. They are long and slender, thicker behind than before, covered with short hair. They are generally dark in color, and not green as are the caterpillars in most of the hesperid genera.
Plate XLVII.
Chrysalis.—I can discover no account of any observationsmade upon the chrysalids of this genus.
(1)Thymelicus brettus, Boisduval and Leconte, Plate XLVII, Fig. 40, ♂; Fig. 41, ♁ (The Whirlabout).
Butterfly.—The male on the upper side resemblesHylephila phylæus, but may be distinguished by the broader and darker spots on the under side of the wings. The costal and outer margins of the secondaries are also generally more broadly bordered with fuscous than inphylæus, a fact not shown in the specimen figured in the plate. The female is quite different from the female ofphylæus, as will be seen by a comparison of the figures of the two sexes. Expanse, ♂, 1.15 inch; ♁, 1.25 inch.
Early Stages.—These are only partially known. The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
Fig. 167.—Neuration of the genusThymelicus, enlarged.
The insect is very rare in the North, a few specimens having been taken in New England and Wisconsin. It is found commonly in the Carolinas, and thence southward to the Gulf, and is abundant in the Antilles, Mexico, and Central America.
(2)Thymelicus ætna, Boisduval, Plate XLVI, Fig. 28, ♂; Fig. 29, ♁; Plate VI, Fig. 42,chrysalis(The Volcanic Skipper).
Butterfly.—Both sexes are well represented on the upper side in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, with the light spots of the upper side repeated. Expanse, ♂, 1.00 inch; ♁, 1.25 inch.
Early Stages.—What we know of these is well stated in the pages of Dr. Scudder's great work. The caterpillar usually feeds on grasses.
The species ranges from New England, Ontario, and Wisconsin on the north to the Gulf, and as far west as Iowa and Texas.
(3)Thymelicus mystic, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 22, ♂; Fig. 23, ♁ (The Long-dash).
Butterfly.—No description of the upper side is needed, the figures in the plate being sufficient to enable identification. On the under side the primaries are fulvous on the costa at the base. The remainder of the primaries and the secondaries are dark ferruginous, with the light spots of the upper side all repeatedgreatly enlarged, pale, and standing out boldly upon the dark ground-color. The hind wings are pale brown on the inner margin. Expanse, ♂, 1.10 inch; ♁, 1.25 inch.
Early Stages.—These have been elaborately described by Scudder. The caterpillar feeds on grasses, making a tubular nest for itself among the leaves.
The insect ranges through southern Canada and New England to Pennsylvania, and westward to Wisconsin.
Genus ATALOPEDES, Scudder
Butterfly.—Antennæ short, less than half the length of the costa; club short, stout, crooked just at the end; the palpi as in the preceding genus. The cut shows the neuration. The only mark of distinction between this genus and the two genera that follow is found in the shape of the discal stigma on the wing of the male, which is described as follows by Dr. Scudder: "Discal stigma in male consisting of, first, a longitudinal streak at base of middle median interspace, of shining black, recurved rods; second, of a semilunar field of dead-black erect rods in the lowest median interspace, overhung above by long, curving scales; followed below by a short, small striga of shining black scales, and outside by a large field of erect, loosely compacted scales."
Fig. 168.—Neuration of the genusAtalopedes, enlarged.
Egg.—Hemispherical, covered with a network of delicate raised lines describing small polygons over the surface; minutely punctate.
Caterpillar.—Cylindrical, tapering backward and forward; head large; the neck less constricted than in the genusEudamusor in the genusThanaos; dark in color.
Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is slender, cylindrical, a little humped upon the thorax, with the tongue-sheath free and projecting to the end of the fifth abdominal segment.
(1)Atalopedes huron, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 4, ♂; Fig. 5, ♁; Plate VI, Figs. 43, 47,chrysalis(The Sachem).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings in both sexes is wellrepresented in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, with the light spots of the upper side faintly repeated. Expanse, ♂, 1.15 inch; ♁, 1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—These are described in full with painstaking accuracy by Scudder in "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
The species ranges from southern New York to Florida, thence westward and southward into Mexico.
Genus POLITES, Scudder
Butterfly.—The antennæ and the palpi are as in the preceding genus; the neuration of the wings is also very much the same. This is another genus founded by Dr. Scudder upon the shape of the discal stigma in the wing of the male. His description of this feature is as follows: "Discal stigma of male consisting of an interrupted, gently arcuate or sinuate streak of dead-black retrorse scales or rods, edged below, especially in the middle, by a border of similar, but dust-colored, erect rods, and followed beneath by an inconspicuous large area of loosely compacted, erect, dusky scales."
Egg.—Approximately hemispherical, the height, however, being greater than in the egg of the preceding genus; reticulated, the lines forming hexagonal figures upon the surface.
Caterpillar, etc.—Of the stages beyond the egg we know as yet comparatively little. The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
Fig. 169.—Neuration of the genusPolites, enlarged.
(1)Polites peckius, Kirby, Plate XLVII, Fig. 24, ♂; Fig. 25, ♁ (Peck's Skipper).
Butterfly.—This little species, the upper side of which in both sexes is correctly shown in the plate, has the under side of the wings dark brown, with the light spots of the upper side greatly enlarged, especially upon the disks of the wings, fused, and pale yellow, thus contrasting strongly with the rest of the wings. Expanse, ♂, 1.00 inch; ♁, 1.25 inch.
Early Stages.—These are not thoroughly known as yet. The larva feeds on grasses.
Peck's Skipper ranges from Canada southward to Virginia, and west to Kansas and Iowa.
(2)Polites mardon, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 26, ♂ (The Oregon Skipper).
Butterfly.—On the under side the wings are pale gray, with the light spots of the primaries and a curved median band of spots on the secondaries whitish. Expanse, ♂, 1.10 inch; ♁, 1.20 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The only specimens I have, including the types, were taken in Oregon and Washington.
(3)Polites sabuleti, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 42, ♂; Fig. 43, ♁ (The Sand-hill Skipper).
Butterfly.—Small, the male on the upper side looking like a diminutive and darkly borderedphylæus. On the under side the wings are paler than on the upper side; the still paler spots of the discal areas are defined outwardly and inwardly by elongated dark spots. Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The habitat of this species is California.
Genus HYLEPHILA, Billberg
Butterfly.—The antennæ are very short, scarcely one third the length of the costa of the fore wing; the club is robust and short, with a very minute crook at the end; the palpi are as in the two preceding genera. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut.
Early Stages.—As yet but partially known.
The larva feeds on grasses, and the mature form has been figured by Abbot, a copy of whose drawing is given by Dr. Scudder in Plate 77 of "The Butterflies of New England."
Fig. 170.—Neuration of the genusHylephila, enlarged.
(1)Hylephila phylæus, Drury, Plate XLVI, Fig. 18, ♂; Fig. 19, ♁; Plate VI, Fig. 39,chrysalis(The Fiery Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side is correctly shown in the plate. On the under side the wings are pale yellow, with a few small, round spots on the margin and disk of the hind wings, a black patch at the base, large black marginal spots, and a central, interrupted, longitudinal black streak on the disk of the primaries. Expanse, 1.15-1.25 inch.
The insect ranges from Connecticut to Patagonia, over all the most habitable parts of the New World. I have taken it frequently in southern Indiana, where I often have collected in recent years.
Genus PRENES, Scudder
Butterfly.—The antennæ are short, not half the length of the costa. The head is broad, and the antennæ are inserted widely apart. The club is moderate, terminating in a fine point which is bent back at right angles, forming a distinct crook. The abdomen is long and slender, but does not project beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The fore wings are pointed at the apex and are relatively longer and narrower than in the preceding genus. The neuration is illustrated in the cut.
Early Stages.—These have not yet been studied.
Fig. 171.—Neuration of the genusPrenes, enlarged.
(1)Prenes ocola, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 34, ♂ (The Ocola Skipper).
Butterfly.—Accurately depicted in the plate. The under side is like the upper side, but a shade paler. The under side of the abdomen is whitish. Expanse, 1.45-1.60 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
This is a Southern species, found commonly in the Gulf States, and ranging northward to Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, and Indiana.
Genus CALPODES,Hübner
Fig. 172.—Neuration of the genusCalpodes, enlarged.
Butterfly.—Rather large, stout; head broad; antennæ as in the preceding genus, but stouter. The neuration, considerably enlarged, is accurately delineated in the cut.
Egg.—Hemispherical, ornamented with irregular, more or less pentagonal cells.
Caterpillar.—Cylindrical, slender, tapering forward and backward from the ninth segment, rapidly diminishing in size posteriorly; the head relatively small, the neck not much strangulated; spiracles surrounded by radiating blackish bristles.
Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is relatively slender, gently convex both on the ventral and dorsal aspects, with a curved delicate frontal tubercle. The tongue-case is long and projects for a considerable distance beyond the somewhat short cremaster.
(1)Calpodes ethlius, Cramer, Plate XLV, Fig. 3, ♁; Plate VI, Fig. 48,chrysalis(The Brazilian Skipper).
Butterfly.—There can be no mistaking this robust and thick-bodied species. The wings on the under side are dull olive, blackish at the base of the primaries, with all the spots of the upper side repeated. Expanse, 2.00-2.15 inches.
Early Stages.—The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the canna.
It is common in the Gulf States, and ranges north to South Carolina. A stray specimen was once taken at West Farms, New York. Southward it ranges everywhere through the Antilles to Argentina, in South America.
Genus LERODEA, Scudder
Butterfly.—The antennæ are about half as long as the costa; the club is robust, slightly elongated, with a distinct crook at the extremity; the palpi have the third joint erect, minute, and bluntly conical. The neuration is represented in the cut.
Early Stages.—These are not known.
Fig. 173.—Neuration of the genusLerodea, enlarged.
(1)Lerodea eufala, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 33, ♁ (Eufala).
Butterfly.—The plate shows the upper side of the female. The male is not different, except that the fore wings are a little more pointed at the apex. The under side is like the upper side, but a shade paler. The lower side of the abdomen is whitish. When seen on the wing the creature looks like a smallPrenes ocola. Expanse, 1.10-1.20 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
This butterfly is found in the Gulf States.
Genus LIMOCHORES, Scudder
Butterfly.—The antennæ are about half as long as the costa; the club is robust, elongate, with a very short terminal crook; the palpi have the third joint erect, short, bluntly conical. The male has a linear discal stigma on the upper side of the fore wing, as shown in the cut.
Egg.—Hemispherical, somewhat flattened on the top, the surface broken up by delicate raised lines into pentagonal cells.
Caterpillar.—Largest on the fourth and fifth abdominal segments, tapering to either end. The larvæ feed on grasses, and construct a tube-like nest of delicate films of silk between the blades.
Chrysalis.—Comparatively slender, strongly convex on the thoracic segments and on the dorsal side of the last segments of the abdomen. On the ventral side the chrysalis is nearly straight. The cremaster, which is short, is bent upward at an oblique angle with the line of the ventral surface.
Fig. 174.—Neuration of the genusLimochores, enlarged.
(1)Limochores taumas, Fabricius, Plate XLVII, Fig. 20, ♂; Plate VI, Fig. 44,chrysalis(The Fawny-edged Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is excellently portrayed in the plate. The female is without the tawny edge on the fore wing, the entire wing being olivaceous, with three small subapical spots and a median row of four spots beyond the end of the cell, increasing in size toward the inner margin. On the under side in both sexes the wings are uniformly dull olivaceous, with the spots of the upper side repeated. The costa of the male is edged with red on this side, as well as on the upper side. Expanse, ♂, 1.00 inch; ♁, 1.20 inch.
Early Stages.—The reader who wishes to know about them may consult the pages of "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
The insect ranges from Canada to the Gulf, and westward to Texas, Colorado, and Montana.
(2)Limochores manataaqua, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 30, ♁ (The Cross-line Skipper).
Butterfly.—The male on the upper side is dusky-olive, with a black discal streak below the cell, which is slightly touched withreddish, becoming deeper and clearer red on the costa at the base. The wings on the under side are more or less pale gray, with a transverse series of pale spots on the primaries, and a very faint curved discal series of similar spots on the secondaries. The female, the upper side of which is well shown in the plate, is marked below much like the male. Expanse, 1.10-1.20 inch.
Early Stages.—These have been described by Scudder.
The insect occurs in New England and Canada, and ranges westward to Nebraska.
(3)Limochores pontiac, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 16, ♂; Fig. 17, ♁ (Pontiac).
Butterfly.—This fine insect is so well represented in the plate as to require but little description. The wings are pale red, clouded with dusky on the under side, the spots of the upper side being indistinctly repeated. Expanse, ♂, 1.15 inch; ♁, 1.25 inch.
Early Stages.—Little is known of these.
The insect ranges from Massachusetts to Iowa and Nebraska, and seems to have its metropolis about the southern end of Lake Michigan.
(4)Limochores palatka, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 21, ♂ (The Palatka Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the male needs no description. The female closely resembles the female ofL. byssus, which is shown in the plate at Fig. 20, but differs from the female of that species in having the median spots on the primaries much reduced in size, the band of spots being greatly interrupted beyond the end of the cell. On the hind wing the female has the entire surface of the secondaries inside of the broad outer band fulvous, as shown in the figure of the male, and not simply marked by a transverse narrow band of spots. On the under side the fore wings are bright fulvous, clouded with black at the base and near the outer angle. The hind wings are uniformly dull reddish-brown. This species has been identified by Dr. Scudder with a species nameddionby Edwards, but which is a very different thing. Expanse, ♂, 1.50-1.65 inch; ♁, 1.90-2.00 inches.
Early Stages.—We know nothing of these.
The insect is confined to Florida, all the specimens which I have seen coming from the region of the Indian River.
(5)Limochores byssus, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 20, ♁ (Byssus).
Butterfly.—Allied to the preceding species. The discal stigma of the male upon the fore wings is much longer than inL. palatka. The outer margin of the secondaries is not as sharply defined as in that species, but shades insensibly into the lighter greenish-fulvous of the basal part of the wing. The female on the upper side is distinguished from the female of the preceding species by the restriction of the discal band of spots on the hind wing to a few small light-colored spaces beyond the end of the cell, and by the regular continuation of the band of yellow spots across the primaries from the subapical spots to the submedian nervule near the middle of the inner margin. On the under side the primaries and the secondaries are very bright, clear orange-red, with the base and inner margin of the primaries brightly laved with blackish. The median series of spots in the male are very faintly indicated on the fore wings, but are more strongly indicated on those of the female. Expanse, ♂, 1.45 inch; ♁, 1.65 inch.
Early Stages.—We know little of these.
The insect is found in Florida.
(6)Limochores yehl, Skinner, Plate XLVI, Fig. 40, ♂ (Skinner's Skipper).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is shown in the plate. On the under side the wings are lighter, the secondaries uniformly pale cinnamon-brown, marked with a semicircle of four yellowish round spots, with a small spot on the cell toward the base. Expanse, 1.25-1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—Unknown.
The species has been taken in Florida, and is as yet not common in collections. The figure is that of the type.
Genus EUPHYES, Scudder
Butterfly.—The antennæ have the club stout, elongate, furnished with a short crook at the end; the palpi are densely scaled; the third joint is slender, bluntly conical, projecting beyond the vestiture of the second joint. The neuration is shown in the cut.
Egg.—Hemispherical.
Caterpillar.—The head small, body cylindrical, tapering forward and backward from the middle, the body profusely covered with minute tapering hairs arising from small, wart-like protuberances.
Chrysalis.—Thus far undescribed.
Fig. 175.—Neuration of the genusEuphyes, enlarged.
(1)Euphyes verna, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 32, ♁ (The Little Glass-wing).
Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is correctly delineated in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, inclining to purplish-red. The spots of the upper side are repeated, but in addition about the middle of the hind wings there is a semicircle of pale spots. Expanse, ♂, 1.15 inch; ♁, 1.35 inch.
Early Stages.—We do not know much of these; what little we do know may be found recorded in the pages of "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on grasses.
It ranges from southern New England to Virginia, westward to Kansas, and northward to the province of Alberta. It is quite common in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.
(2)Euphyes metacomet, Harris, Plate XLVI, Fig. 31, ♂ (The Dun Skipper).
Butterfly.—The male is dark in color on the upper side, and on the under side the wings are a shade lighter, the lower side of the abdomen being generally paler. The female has some faint traces of translucent apical spots near the costa, and two minute translucent spots on either side of the second median nervule near its origin. On the under side the spots of the upper side reappear. There is a faint trace of a semicircle of pale spots about the middle of the hind wing. The female specimens vary on the under side from pale brown to a distinctly purplish-brown. Expanse, ♂, 1.15 inch; ♁, 1.30 inch.
Early stages.—Next to nothing is known of these.
It ranges from Quebec to the Carolinas, and westward to Texas, New Mexico, and the British possessions east of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as the latitude of the northern shores of Lake Superior.