Part 10

Easily recognized by the figure. One of the larger species, the male having a width of 1.75-2.00, the female of 2.00-2.60 inches. Eggs brownish yellow when laid, changing to crimson, and later to black; deposited in clusters on balmony (Chelone glabra). Hatching in early fall, the little caterpillars spin a web or tent of silk, where they pass the winter. When spring comes, they scatter, fall to feeding, and after the fifth moult turn into chrysalids, from which the butterflies soon emerge.

Found locally in colonies in swampy places, where balmony grows, from Quebec to west of Lake Superior and south to the Carolina mountains.

(2) Melitæa chalcedon Doubleday and Hewitson, Plate XX, Fig. 1, ♂ (Chalcedon).

A common species in northern California, ranging eastward as far as Colorado and Wyoming. One of the larger species, expanding 1.75-2.5 inches. The caterpillar feeds on Mimulus and Castileja. The butterfly is variable, the females in particular differing in the size of the light spots on their wings.

(3) Melitæa macglashani Rivers, Plate XX, Fig. 2, ♀ (Macglashan’s Checker-spot).

One of the largest species in the genus, exceeding in size the two foregoing, having a width of from 1.85-3.00 inches; closely resembling M. chalcedon, but the outer marginal red spots always bigger and the yellow spots paler and larger than in that species. Occurs in Utah, Nevada, and California.

(4) Melitæa harrisi Scudder, Plate XXI, Fig. 1, ♀, under side (Harris’ Checker-spot).

Fulvous on upper side; base of wings and outer margins black, black margins widest at apex. Five fulvous spots in cell of fore wing, two below it; two white spots on apex. Under side of wings well shown in the figure we give. Expanse 1.5-1.75 inch. Eggs lemon-yellow, conoid, flattened at top, ribbed. Adult caterpillar reddish, with a black stripe on middle of back, nine rows of black, branching spines on body. On each segment a black band in front of the spines, and two black-bands behind them. Food-plants Aster and Diplopappus. Chrysalis pale gray or white, blotched with dark brown.

Ranges from Nova Scotia to Lake Superior.

(5) Melitæa perse Edwards, Plate XX, Fig. 3, ♂. Type (The Arizona Checker-spot).

One of the very small species of the genus. The specimen we figure is the type, that is to say, the specimen upon which Edwards founded his description of the species. Expanse ♂, 1.00 inch; ♀, 1.10 inch.

Habitat Arizona and northern Mexico.

(6) Melitæa dymas Edwards, Plate XX, Fig. 4, ♀. Type (The Least Checker-spot).

Even smaller than the preceding, having an expanse of only 0.85 to 1.00 inch. It is much paler on the upper side than M. perse, and the markings are different.

Ranges from southwestern Texas and Arizona to Mexico.

GENUS PHYCIODES DOUBLEDAY

(THE CRESCENT-SPOTS).

Usually quite small butterflies, the species found in our region being some shade of fulvous or reddish, above with dark markings, which are less distinctly reproduced on the paler under side of the wings. Of the spots on the under side the most characteristic is the crescent between the ends of the second and third median nervules. This, when present, is pearly white or silvery in color. Structurally these insects differ most markedly from the preceding genus in the enlarged second and the fine very sharp third joint of the palpi. Eggs higher than wide, slightly ribbed on top, pitted below, giving them a thimble-like appearance. Caterpillars cylindrical, with rows of short tubercles, much shorter than the spines in Melitæa, dark in color, marked with paler longitudinal stripes. Chrysalis with head slightly bifid, generally pale in color, blotched with brown.

Numerous species occur in Central and South America, but only about a dozen in the United States and Canada, most of them in the Southwestern States.

(1) Phyciodes nycteis Doubleday and Hewitson, Plate XXI, Fig. 2, ♂ (Nycteis).

Easily mistaken on the wing for Melitæa harrisi, which it closely resembles on the upper side, and with which it is often found flying, but an examination of the under side at once reveals the difference. The redder fore wings, paler hind wings, and the crescent on the lower outer border of these are marks which cannot be mistaken. Expanse ♂, 1.25-1.65 inch; ♀, 1.65-2.00 inches.

Ranges from Maine to the Carolinas and westward to the Rocky Mountains.

(2) Phyciodes tharos (Drury), Plate XXII, Fig. 1, ♂. Variety marcia Edwards, Plate XXII, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Pearl Crescent).

A very common little butterfly, which everybody must have noticed in late spring or early summer flitting about lawns and gardens, and in fall abounding upon clumps of asters. It may easily be recognized from the figures given. Expanse from 1.25-1.65 inch. The variety marcia comes from larvæ which have hibernated during the winter, and is lighter and brighter in color, especially beneath, than butterflies of the later summer and fall broods.

Eggs laid on asters and related plants; greenish yellow. Matured caterpillar dark brown, dotted on the back with yellow; adorned with short, bristly, black spines, yellow at base. Chrysalis pale gray, blotched with spots of brown.

Ranges from southern Labrador to Florida and westward to the Pacific Coast.

(3) Phyciodes batesi (Reakirt), Plate XXII, Fig. 3, ♂, upper side; Fig. 4, under side, ♀ (Bates’ Crescent-spot).

Above closely resembling P. tharos, but with the dark markings much heavier; below hind wings quite uniformly pale yellowish fulvous, with a row of very pale marginal crescents; ends of veins tipped with brown. Expanse 1.25-1.65 inch.