The Butterfly Book Part 25

Genus JUNONIA, Hubner

(Peac.o.c.k b.u.t.terflies)

_b.u.t.terfly._--Medium-sized b.u.t.terflies, with eye-like spots upon the upper wings. Their neuration is very much like that of the b.u.t.terflies belonging to the genus _Pyrameis_, to which they are closely allied. The eyes are naked, the fore feet are scantily clothed with hair, and the lower discocellular vein of the fore wing, when present, does not terminate on the arch of the third median nervule before its origin, as in the genus _Vanessa_, but immediately at the origin of the third median nervule.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 98.--Neuration of the genus _Junonia_.]

_Egg._--Broader than high, the top flattened, marked by ten vertical ribs, very narrow, but not very high. Between the ribs are a few delicate cross-lines.

_Caterpillar._--The caterpillar is cylindrical, the segments being adorned with rows of branching spines and longitudinally striped.

_Chrysalis._--The chrysalis is arched on the dorsal surface and marked by two rows of dorsal tubercles, concave on the ventral side. The head is slightly bifid, with the vertices rounded.

There are eighteen or more species which belong to this genus, of which some are neotropical, but the greater number are found in the tropical regions of the Old World. Three forms occur within the limits of the United States, which have by some authors been reckoned as distinct species, and by others are regarded merely as varietal forms.

(1) =Junonia coenia=, Hubner, Plate XX, Fig. 7, ?; Plate III, Figs. 29, 30, _larva_; Plate IV, Figs. 56, 57, 65-67, _chrysalis_ (The Buckeye).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The figure in the plate is far better than any verbal description. On the under side the eye-like spots of the upper side are reproduced, but are much smaller, especially on the hind wings. There is much variety in the ground-color of the wings on the under side. Some specimens are reddish-gray, and some are quite heavily and solidly pinkish-red on the secondaries. Expanse, 2.00-2.25 inches.

_Egg._--The egg is dark green.

_Caterpillar._--The caterpillar is dark in color, longitudinally striped, and adorned with branching spines, two of which are on the head and point forward.

_Chrysalis._--The chrysalis is generally pale wood-brown, strongly arched on the dorsal and concave on the ventral side. It always hangs at less than a right angle to the surface from which it depends.

This is a very common b.u.t.terfly in the Southern States, ranging northward as far as New England, westward to the Pacific, and southward to Colombia. The caterpillar feeds on various species of plantain (_Plantago_), also _Gerardia_ and _Antirrhinum_. When I was a lad in western North Carolina these insects fairly swarmed one summer; thousands of the caterpillars could be found in worn-out fields, feeding on the narrow-leaved plantain, and every fence-rail had one or more of their chrysalids hanging from the under side. I have never seen such mult.i.tudes of this species since then. The b.u.t.terflies are quite pugnacious, and will fight with other pa.s.sing b.u.t.terflies, dashing forth upon them, and chasing them away.

(2) =Junonia lavinia=, Cramer, Plate XX, Fig. 8, ? (Lavinia).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This species may be distinguished by the more rounded apex and the more deeply excavated outer margin of the fore wings, and also by the decided elongation of the outer margin of the hind wings at the end of the submedian vein. The wings are paler on the upper side than in the preceding species, and the eye-like spots much smaller. Expanse, 2.00 inches.

The early stages are not accurately known. The insect is common in the Antilles and South America, but is only now and then taken in the extreme southern parts of Texas.

(3) =Junonia genoveva=, Cramer, Plate XX, Fig. 9, ? (Genoveva).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Much darker above than either of the two preceding species. The transverse subapical band is pale yellow, almost white; the ocelli of the wings are more as in _lavinia_ than in _coenia_. Expanse, about 2.00 inches.

This form, if found at all in our fauna, is confined to the extreme South. I have seen and possess some specimens reputed to have come from Texas. The specimen figured in the plate was taken in Jamaica, where this form is prevalent.

Genus ANARTIA, Doubleday

_b.u.t.terfly._--The head is small; the eyes are round and prominent; the tongue is long; the antennae are relatively long, having the club short, compressed, and pointed. The palpi have the second joint thick, the third joint gradually tapering and lightly clothed with scales. The fore wings are rounded at the apex, and have the outer and inner margins somewhat excavated. The outer margin of the hind wings is sinuous, produced at the end of the third median nervule. The cell of the hind wing is open. The subcostal nervules in the fore wing are remarkable because of the tendency of the first and second to fuse with the costal vein. The prothoracic feet of the male are small and weak; of the female, stronger.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 99.--Neuration of the genus _Anartia_.]

_Early Stages._--These, so far as is known to the writer, await description.

There are four species belonging to this genus, only one of which is found within the limits of the United States. The others are found in Central and South America.

(1) =Anartia jatrophae=, Linnaeus, Plate XX, Fig. 13, ? (The White Peac.o.c.k).

_b.u.t.terfly._--There can be no mistake made in the identification of this species if the figure we give is consulted. The male and female are much alike. Expanse, 1.75-2.00 inches.

_Early Stages._--So far as is known to me, these have never been described. The b.u.t.terfly is common throughout the tropics of the New World, and is occasionally found in southern Texas and Florida.

Genus HYPANARTIA, Hubner

(The Banded Reds)

_b.u.t.terfly._--The palpi of medium size, well clothed with scales; the second joint moderately thick; the third very little thinner, blunt at the tip. The antennae have a distinct, short, well-rounded club. The fore wings have the first two subcostal nervules arising before the end of the cell, close to each other. The third subcostal arises midway between the end of the cell and the origin of the fourth subcostal. The cell of the fore wing is closed by a stout lower discocellular vein which is more or less continuous with the third median nervule. The hind wing has the cell open or only partially closed.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 100.--Neuration of the genus _Hypanartia_.]

_Early Stages._--But little is known of the early stages of this genus.

The species reckoned as belonging to _Hypanartia_ number less than a dozen, most of which are found in tropical America, but, singularly enough, two species occur in tropical and southern Africa, and another has been described from Madagascar.

(1) =Hypanartia lethe=, Fabricius, Plate XXIV, Fig. 10, ? (Lethe).

This very handsome insect, which is quite common in tropical America, is another straggler into our fauna, being occasionally found in southern Texas. But little is known of its early life-history. Expanse, 2.00 inches.

Genus EUNICA, Hubner

(The Violet-wings)

_b.u.t.terfly._--The head is narrow, hairy; the eyes prominent. The antennae are long and slender, having a greatly enlarged club marked with two grooves. The palpi have the third joint in the case of the female longer than in the case of the male. They are relatively short, thickly clothed with hairs and scales lying closely appressed to the surface. The fore wing has the costal and median vein enlarged and swollen at the base.

The subcostal has five nervules, the first two of which arise before the end of the cell, the third midway between the end of the cell and the fourth nervule. The upper discocellular vein is wanting; the middle discocellular vein is bent inwardly; the lower discocellular vein is somewhat weak and joins the median vein exactly at the origin of the second median nervule. The cell of the hind wing is lightly closed.

_Early Stages._--Very little is known of the early stages of this genus.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 101.--Neuration of the genus _Eunica_.]

The b.u.t.terflies are characterized by the dark-brown or black ground-color of the upper side, generally glossed with rich blue or purple. On the under side the markings are exceedingly variable and in most cases very beautiful. The genus is characteristic of the neotropical fauna, and there are over sixty species which have been described. The males are said by Bates, to whom we are indebted for most of our knowledge of these insects, to have the habit of congregating about noon and in the early afternoon in moist places by the banks of streams, returning toward nightfall to the haunts of the females. In this respect they resemble club-men, who at the same hours are generally to be found congregating where there is something to drink. Only two species are found in our region, and are confined to the hottest parts of Texas and Florida, ranging thence southward over the Antilles and Central America as far as Bolivia.

(1) =Eunica monima=, Cramer, Plate XXI, Fig. 7, ?; Fig. 8, ? (The Dingy Purple-wing).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This obscure little b.u.t.terfly represents in Florida and Texas the great genus to which it belongs, and gives but a feeble idea of the splendid character of its congeners, among which are some exceedingly beautiful insects. Nothing is known of its life-history. It is common in the Antilles and Mexico.

Another species of the genus, _Eunica tatila_, has recently been reported from the extreme southern portion of Florida.

Genus CYSTINEURA, Boisduval

"And here and yonder a flaky b.u.t.terfly Was doubting in the air."

MCDONALD.