Part 11

Ranges from New England to Virginia and westward to the Mississippi.

(4) Phyciodes pratensis (Behr), Plate XXIII, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Meadow Crescent).

Closely resembling the preceding, but fore wings not as curved on the costal margin, and relatively longer and narrower; the pale markings more whitish, not so red, and more clearly defined. On the under side, especially in the female, the markings are heavier than in P. batesi. Expanse 1.15-1.40 inch.

Ranges from Oregon to southern California, Arizona, and northern Mexico.

(5) Phyciodes camillus Edwards, Plate XXIII, Fig. 2, ♂, under side (The Camillus Crescent).

Resembling P. pratensis, but the pale spots on fore wings paler, and on hind wings brighter fulvous. Below the dark markings not nearly so pronounced as in P. pratensis. Expanse 1.3-1.6 inch.

Ranges from British Columbia to Colorado and Kansas and south into Texas.

(6) Phyciodes picta Edwards, Plate XXIII, Fig. 3, ♀, under side (The Painted Crescent).

Below fore wings red on median area, with base, costa, apex, and outer margin pale yellow. The dark spots on this wing stand out prominently. Hind wings nearly uniformly bright yellow. Expanse 0.8-1.25 inch.

Ranges from Nebraska as far as Mexico. The larvæ feed on asters.

GENUS ERESIA DOUBLEDAY

Closely allied to Phyciodes, but distinguished from it by having the fore wing more or less deeply excavated on the outer margin about its middle, and the light spots on the hind wings arranged in regular bands. There are also differences in the form of the chrysalids and caterpillars. The genus is best represented in Central and South America, where there are many very beautiful species. Only three occur in our region. We have figured two of these.

(1) Eresia frisia (Poey), Plate XXIII, Fig. 4, ♂ (Poey’s Crescent).

Our figure of the upper side will enable any one to recognize it. Below the wings are fulvous, mottled with dark brown and white, and the spots of the upper side reappear as white bands and markings. Expanse 1.4-1.5 inch.

Occurs in the extreme south of Florida about Key West, and is not uncommon in the Antilles, Mexico, and Central America.

(2) Eresia texana (Edwards), Plate XXIV, Fig. 1, ♀ (The Texan Crescent).

Well represented in our illustration. Below the fore wings are fulvous at base, and broadly marked with dark brown beyond the middle. Hind wings at base marbled wood-brown, and dark externally like the fore wings. The light spots of upper side reappear on lower side, but not so distinctly. Expanse 1.25-1.75 inch.

Ranges through Texas into Mexico, and South America. The genus Eresia is undoubtedly one of those which originated in the warm neotropical regions and which since the glacial epoch have spread northward. Many of our genera have come to us from the South.

GENUS SYNCHLOE BOISDUVAL (THE PATCH-SPOTS).

Medium-sized or small butterflies, often very gayly colored. Wings generally more produced than in the two foregoing genera, more excavated on outer margin of primaries, and third joint of palpus spindle-shaped, not sharp like the point of a needle, as in Phyciodes and Eresia. The lower discocellular vein in the fore wing is straight and not angled, as in the two last-named genera. Eggs, which are laid in clusters upon sunflowers (Helianthus), like those of Phyciodes in general appearance; the caterpillars and chrysalids like those of Melitæa. There are many species of the group found in the American tropics, and among them are many curious mimetic insects, which resemble miniature Heliconians and Ithomiids. Three species occur in our southland, one of which we figure.

(1) Synchloë janais (Drury), Plate XXIV, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Crimson-patch).

The upper side of a small male specimen is well shown in our figure. Below the markings of the upper side are reproduced in the fore wings. Hind wings on this side black at base and on outer third. The basal area crossed by a yellow bar, on middle of wing a broad yellow band, washed externally with crimson, in which are numerous black spots. There is a marginal row of yellow, and a limbal row of white spots parallel to the outer border. Expanse 2.50-3.00 inches.

Ranges through southern Texas, Mexico, and Central America.

GENUS GRAPTA KIRBY (THE ANGLE-WINGS).

Medium-sized or small butterflies; fore wing strongly acuminate at end of upper radial, deeply excavated on outer and inner border; hind wing tailed at end of third median nervule; cells on both wings closed; palpi heavily scaled beneath. Upper side of wings tawny, spotted with darker, under side mimicking the color of bark and dead leaves, often with a silvery spot about middle of hind wing. The butterflies hibernate in winter. Eggs taller than broad, tapering toward top, which is flat, adorned with a few longitudinal ribs, increasing in height upward, laid in clusters, or strung together, then looking like beads. Larva with squarish head; body cylindrical, adorned with branching spines. Chrysalids with head bifid; prominent tubercle on back of thorax; two rows of dorsal tubercles on abdomen; compressed laterally in thoracic region; color wood-brown or greenish. The caterpillars feed upon plants of the nettle tribe, including the elm and hops, though willows, azalea, and wild currants are affected by different species.

The genus is confined to the northern temperate zone. We have about a dozen species in America, of which five have been selected for illustration.

(1) Grapta interrogationis (Fabricius), form fabricii Edwards, Plate XXV, ♂ (The Question-sign).

The largest species of the genus in our fauna. Dimorphic, the upper sides of the hind wings in the form fabricii being fulvous with dark markings, those of the form umbrosa Lintner being uniformly dark, except at base. In the Middle States double-brooded. The second brood hibernates in the winged form. Expanse 2.50 inches.