Part 30

There are a number of forms of this insect, slightly variant.

GENUS MEGANOSTOMA REAKIRT (THE DOG-FACE BUTTERFLIES).

Closely resembling the insects of the next genus, from which they may be distinguished by the more pointed fore wings, and the fact that the rude outlines of the head of a dog are shown in yellow silhouette upon the fore wings. There are two species in our territory, one of which, M. eurydice Boisduval, found in California, may be distinguished from the other by the splendid purplish iridescence of the fore wings of the male.

(1) Meganostoma cæsonia (Stoll), Plate CIV, ♂ (The Southern Dog-face). (See p. 180.)

The sexes are much alike in this species, which ranges from Florida and the Gulf States northward as far as southern Illinois. Expanse 2.25 inches.

GENUS COLIAS FABRICIUS (THE SULPHURS).

Medium-sized butterflies, yellow, orange, and sometimes white or greenish yellow with dark-bordered wings, the borders generally heaviest in the female. Eggs spindle-shaped, tapering at top and bottom, and attached to the surface where laid by a flat disk-like expansion; vertically and horizontally ribbed. Caterpillars elongated; head small; body generally green, striped longitudinally. They feed upon leguminous plants, and especially upon the various species of clover (Trifolium) and Astragalus, though some boreal species are known to feed upon the foliage of huckleberries (Vaccinium) and willows.

The genus is large and is found on every continent except Australia. It is lacking in the very hot tropical regions of both the New and Old Worlds, but is found in Greenland and thence ranging south among the cordilleran uplifts to Patagonia. It is represented from Japan to Norway, and turns up at the Cape of Good Hope.

(1) Colias philodice Godart, Plate CV, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, albino, ♀ (The Common Sulphur).

This is the common “Puddle-butterfly” or “Clover-butterfly” which every child has seen gathered in swarms about moist places, or hovering by the score or hundreds over the blossoming clover fields. There are many variations both in size and color. The females are frequently albinoes, that is to say they are white, rather than yellow. Now and then melanic males turn up, but they are rare. In these the wings are black, of the same color as the borders in normal specimens. Expanse 1.25-2.25 inches.

Ranges from Canada to Florida and westward to the Rocky Mountains.

(2) Colias eurytheme Boisduval, Plate CVI, Fig. 1, ♂; Plate CVII, ♀; form keewaydin Edwards, Plate CVI, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Orange Sulphur). (See pp. 182 and 183.)

This is a form which is known to be very strongly polymorphic, having quite as many varieties and races as Lycæna pseudargiolus, for instance. C. keewaydin is a large winter form, which has the wings strongly washed with orange; there is a small winter form called C. ariadne, which is also laved with orange, though not so strongly. There is another form called C. eriphyle, which belongs to the summer brood, which has no orange on the wings, but is plain yellow; and there are still other forms. Expanse 1.60-2.15 inches.

The Orange Sulphur has a wide range, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Canada to the northern portions of the Gulf States, though not invading the hotter parts of these states.

GENUS TERIAS SWAINSON (THE YELLOWS).

Small butterflies, generally some shade of orange or yellow, with wings more delicate in structure than most of the genera belonging to the Pierinæ. Both wings generally rounded, but in a few species produced at the apex of the fore wing and at the end of the second median nervule of the hind wing. Eggs spindle-shaped, much swollen at the middle. Larva cylindrical, with a very small head, and the three first segments larger than those after them giving the body a humped appearance in front. Chrysalis compressed laterally, with the wing-cases forming a deep keel on the ventral side, more pronounced than in any other American genus, except Catopsilia.

This is a very large genus represented by many species in the tropical and subtropical regions of both the eastern and western hemispheres. Many of the species are dimorphic or polymorphic, and there is a vast deal of confusion as to their classification.

(1) Terias nicippe (Cramer), Plate CVIII, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The Small Orange). (See Plate on p. 184.)

The species is subject to considerable variation. Rare in New England, but common south of latitude 40° as far as the Rocky Mountains; also reported from Southern California, where it is rare. Expanse 1.50-2.00 inches.

(2) Terias mexicana Boisduval, Plate CVIII, Fig. 3, ♂ (The Mexican Yellow). (See Plate on p. 184.)

Easily recognizable by our figure. Expanse 1.75-1.85 inch. Found in Texas and Arizona, thence southward.

(3) Terias lisa (Boisduval & Leconte), Plate CIX, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Little Sulphur). (See Plate on p. 184.)

Allied to the three following species, but may be told apart at once by the solid black outer borders of the wings and the absence of the black band on the hind margin of the fore wing. Expanse 1.25-1.60 inch.

Ranges from New England to Honduras, east of the Rockies.

(4) Terias elathea (Cramer), Plate CIX, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Florida Yellow). (See Plate on p. 184.)

May be told from the next two species by the white hind wings. Expanse 1.25-1.40 inch.

Found in Florida, Mexico, and the Antilles.

(5) Terias delia (Cramer), Plate CX, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The Gulf Yellow). (See Plate on p. 185.)