The Butterfly Book Part 63

_Caterpillar._--Not differing materially in its characteristics from the caterpillars of other hesperid genera.

_Chrysalis._--Somewhat slender, with the dorsal and ventral outlines straighter than in any of the preceding genera, and the dorsum very slightly elevated in the region of the thoracic segments.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 161.--Neuration of the genus _Amblyscirtes_.]

(1) =Amblyscirtes vialis=, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 5, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 40, _chrysalis_ (The Roadside Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This little species, an exceptionally bright example of which is represented in the plate, may be known by the dark color of the upper surface, almost uniformly brown, with a few subapical light spots at the costa. In the specimen that is figured these light spots are continued across the wing as a curved band, but this is not usual. The wings on the under side in both s.e.xes are very much as on the upper side, save that both wings on the outer third are lightly laved with gray. Expanse, 1.00 inch.

_Early Stages._--These have been described with minute accuracy by Dr.

Scudder.

The Roadside Skipper ranges from Montreal to Florida, and westward as far as Nevada and Texas. It is not a common species in the valley of the Mississippi; it seems to be far more common in southern New England and in Colorado. At all events, I have obtained more specimens from these localities than from any others.

(2) =Amblyscirtes samoset=, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 6, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 45, _chrysalis_ (Pepper-and-salt Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This little species on the upper side has the ground-color as in the preceding species; the fringes on both wings are pale gray.

There are three small subapical spots on the fore wing, three somewhat larger spots, one on either side of the second median nervule and the third near the inner margin, and two very minute spots at the end of the cell. On the under side the wings are pale gray, the white spots of the upper side of the fore wing reappearing. The hind wing is in addition marked by a semicircular median band of white spots, a small spot at the end of the cell, and another conspicuous white spot about the middle of the costa. Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch.

_Early Stages._--The caterpillar apparently feeds upon gra.s.ses. We know as yet very little of the life-history of the insect.

It is found in Maine, New Hamps.h.i.+re, along the summits of the Appalachian mountain-ranges as far south as West Virginia, and is reported to be common in Wisconsin and Michigan.

(3) =Amblyscirtes aenus=, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 7, ? (The Bronze Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This obscure little species has the upper side of the wings somewhat tawny. The markings, which are similar to those in _A.

samoset_, are not white, but yellow. The wings on the under side are darker than in _samoset._ The spots of the fore wing are the same, but the spots on the under side of the hind wing are different, and form a zigzag postmedian transverse band, with a single small spot at the end of the cell, and another of the same size beyond the middle of the costa. Expanse, 1.00-1.20 inch.

_Early Stages._--These are unknown.

The species occurs in western Texas and Arizona.

(4) =Amblyscirtes simius=, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 8, ? (Simius).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The upper side of the male is correctly figured in the plate. The wings on the under side are quite pale; the spots of the fore wing reappear on the under side, and the fore wing is blackish at the base; the hind wing has the angle at the base broadly white, with a broad white blotch at the end of the cell, and a semicircular curved band of obscure spots traversing the middle of the wing. Expanse, ?, .90 inch; ?, 1.20 inch.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

The species was originally described from Colorado.

(5) =Amblyscirtes textor=, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 16, ?, _under side_ (The Woven-winged Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This little species, the under side of which is accurately delineated in the plate, needs no description to characterize it, as its peculiar markings serve at once to distinguish it from all other species. Expanse, 1.25-1.45 inch.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

This little insect ranges from North Carolina southward to Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

Genus PAMPHILA, Fabricius

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae are very short, less than half the length of the costa. The club is stout, elongate, and blunt at its extremity; the palpi are porrect, densely clothed with scales, concealing the third joint, which is minute, slender, and bluntly conical. The body is long, slender, and somewhat produced beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut.

_Egg._--Hemispherical, vertically ribbed, the inters.p.a.ces uniformly marked with little pitted depressions.

_Caterpillar._--The body is cylindrical, slender, tapering forward and backward; the neck less strangulated than in many of the genera. The body is somewhat hairy; the spiracles on the sides open from minute subconical elevations.

_Chrysalis._--Not materially differing in outline and structure from the chrysalids of other genera which have already been described.

Only a single species belonging to the genus is found in North America.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 162.--Neuration of the genus _Pamphila_.]

(1) =Pamphila mandan=, Edwards, Plate XLXII, Fig. 1, ? (The Arctic Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--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 gra.s.ses.

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=

_b.u.t.terfly._--Closely related to the preceding genus. The antennae 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 b.u.t.terfly of this genus has yet been ascertained.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 163.--Neuration of the genus _Oarisma._]

(1) =Oarisma garita=, Reakirt, Plate XLVII, Fig. 3, ? (Garita).

_b.u.t.terfly._--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).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This species may be distinguished from its ally _garita_ by 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.

_Powesheik_ occurs in Wisconsin, and ranges thence westward to Nebraska, northward to Dakota, and southward as far as Colorado.

EXCHANGES