The Butterfly Book Part 58

This subfamily is composed of closely related genera which are found only in the New World. They may be easily recognized by the large blunt club of the antennae. The cell of the fore wing is always very long, being two thirds the length of the costa; the lower radial vein usually rises from the end of the cell, a little above the third median nervule, and at a considerable remove from the upper radial. They are said when at rest to extend all their wings horizontally.

But one genus belonging to this subfamily is represented within the limits of the United States.

Genus PYRRHOPYGE, Hubner

_b.u.t.terfly._--The neuration is as represented in the cut, and need not, therefore, be described at length. The club of the antennae is thickened, usually bluntly pointed and bent into a hook.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 150.--Head and antenna of _Pyrrhopyge_, magnified 2 diameters.]

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 151.--Neuration of the genus _Pyrrhopyge_.]

(1) =Pyrrhopyge araxes=, Hewitson, Plate XLV, Fig. 9, ? (Araxes).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Easily recognized from the figure in the plate. The hind wings are prevalently yellow on the under side. It is wholly unlike any other species found within the faunal limits with which this book deals.

The wings expand about two inches. We have no knowledge whatever of the life-history of the insect. It occurs in southern Texas occasionally, but is quite common in Mexico and more southern countries.

SUBFAMILY HESPERIINae (THE HESPERIDS)

"Twine ye in an airy round, Brush the dew and print the lea; Skip and gambol, hop and bound."

DRAKE, _The Culprit Fay_.

This subfamily falls into two groups:

_Group A._--In this group the cell of the fore wing is always more than two thirds the length of the costa; the lower radial vein lies approximately equidistant between the third median nervule and the upper radial. The hind wing is frequently produced at the extremity of the submedian vein into a long tail or tooth-like projection. The fore wing is usually furnished in the male s.e.x with a costal fold, but is never marked with a discal stigma, or bunch of raised scales. The antennae always terminate in a fine point and are usually bent into a hook. The b.u.t.terflies when at rest, for the most part, hold their wings erect, though some of them hold them extended horizontally.

_Group B._--In this group the cell of the fore wing is less than two thirds the length of the costa, and the lower radial is always emitted from the end of the cell near the upper angle, much nearer to the upper radial than to the third median. The hind wings are often somewhat lobed at the a.n.a.l angle, but never produced as in the first group. The antennae are very seldom hooked.

Genus EUDAMUS, Swainson

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae terminate in a fine point bent into a hook at the thickest part of the club. The cell of the fore wing is very long.

The discocellulars are inwardly oblique and on the same straight line, the upper discocellulars being reduced to a mere point. The lower radial is equidistant between the upper radial and the third median nervule.

The hind wing is without the lower radial and is always produced into a long tail.

_Egg._--The egg is more nearly globular than is true in most of the genera, but is strongly flattened at the base and is marked with a number of transverse longitudinal ridges, somewhat widely separated, between which are finer cross-lines. The micropyle at the summit is deeply depressed.

_Caterpillar._--The caterpillar is cylindrical, tapering rapidly from the middle forward and backward. The head is much larger than the neck and is distinctly bilobed.

_Chrysalis._--The chrysalis is provided with a somewhat hooked cremaster, is rounded at the head, humped over the thorax, and marked on the dorsal side of the abdominal segments with a few small conical projections. The chrysalis is formed between leaves loosely drawn together with a few strands of silk.

This genus is confined to the tropics of the New World, and is represented in the extreme southern portions of the United States by the species figured in our plate--_E. proteus_.

(1) =Eudamus proteus=, Linnaeus, Plate XLV, Fig. 6, ?; Plate II, Fig. 34, _larva_; Plate VI, Fig. 23, _chrysalis_ (The Long-tailed Skipper).

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 152.--Neuration of the genus _Eudamus_.]

_b.u.t.terfly._--The upper side of the wings is brown, glossed with green at the base of both wings. The spots on the primaries of both s.e.xes are alike, and are well represented in the plate. On the under side the wings are pale brown; the primaries are marked as on the upper side; the secondaries have the a.n.a.l portion and the tail dark brown; in addition they are crossed by a short dark band at the end of the cell, and another similar but longer postmedian band, which does not quite reach the costa and loses itself below in the dark shade which covers the a.n.a.l portion of the wing. About the middle of the costa of the hind wings are two small subquadrate black spots. Expanse, 1.60-1.75 inch.

_Early Stages._--The plates give us representations based upon Abbot's drawings of the mature caterpillar and the chrysalis. The student who desires to know more may consult the pages of Scudder's "b.u.t.terflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds upon leguminous plants, especially upon the _Wistaria_ and various species of _c.l.i.toria_ (b.u.t.terfly-pea).

It makes a rude nest for itself by drawing two of the leaves together with strands of silk.

The species is tropical and is found all over the tropics and subtropical regions of the New World, but ranges northward along the Atlantic sea-coast, being occasionally found as far north as New York City, where it has been taken in Central Park.

Genus PLESTIA, Mabille

_b.u.t.terfly._--The club of the antennae is flattened, sickle-shaped, terminating in a fine point. The male has a costal fold upon the fore wing. The lower radial is nearer to the upper radial than to the third median nervule. The hind wing is produced into a short tail. The fifth vein is wanting.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

This genus is peculiar to Mexico and Central America. But one species is found within our limits, and is confined to Arizona.

(1) =Plestia dorus=, Edwards, Plate XLV, Fig. 11, ? (The Short-tailed Arizona Skipper).

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 153.--Genus _Plestia_. Antenna, magnified 2 diameters. Neuration.]

_b.u.t.terfly._--The upper side is accurately depicted in the plate. On the under side the wings are h.o.a.ry. The spots of the upper side reappear, the lower spots of the primaries being partially lost in the broad honey-yellow tint which covers the inner margin of that wing. The secondaries are crossed by obscure dark-brown basal, median, and postmedian bands, portions of which are annular, or composed of ring-like spots. The a.n.a.l angle is clouded with dark brown. Expanse, 1.50-1.60 inch.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

The species has been taken in considerable numbers in Arizona, and ranges thence southward into Mexico.

Genus EPARGYREUS, Hubner

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae have the club stout, gradually thickened, tapering to a fine point, and abruptly bent into a hook.

+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | EXPLANATION OF PLATE XLIV | | | | 1. _Papilio ajax_, Linnaeus, var. | | _telamonides_, Felder, ?. | | 2. _Papilio ajax_, Linnaeus, var. | | _floridensis_, Holland, ? (This is the dark | | form found in Florida in the early spring.) | | 3. _Papilio ajax_, Linnaeus, var. | | _marcellus_, Boisduval, ?. | | 4. _Papilio ajax_, Linnaeus, var. | | _wals.h.i.+_, ?. | | 5. _Papilio eurymedon_, Boisduval, ?. | | | | [Ill.u.s.tration PLATE XLIV.] | +--------------------------------------------------------------+

The palpi are profusely covered with thick scales, in which the third joint is almost entirely concealed. The fore wing of the male is furnished with a costal fold; the hind wing is prominently toothed at the extremity of the submedian vein.

_Egg._--The egg is elevated, hemispherical; that is to say, it is flattened at the base, rounded above, its height being almost equal to the width. It is marked by about ten narrow, greatly elevated longitudinal ridges, which sometimes fork below the summit, and between which are a mult.i.tude of fine cross-lines. The micropyle is greatly depressed.

_Caterpillar._--The caterpillar closely resembles the caterpillar of the genus _Eudamus_, but the head is not as strongly bilobed.

_Chrysalis._--The chrysalis likewise resembles the chrysalis of the genus _Eudamus_; the cremaster, however, is not as strongly hooked as in that genus.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 154.--Neuration of the genus _Epargyreus_.]

(1) =Epargyreus t.i.tyrus=, Fabricius, Plate XLIII, Fig. 5, ?; Plate II, Figs. 30, 31, 33, _larva_; Plate VI, Figs. 22, 25, 26, _chrysalis_ (The Silver-spotted Skipper).