The Butterfly Book Part 66

(2) =Thymelicus aetna=, Boisduval, Plate XLVI, Fig. 28, ?; Fig. 29, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 42, _chrysalis_ (The Volcanic Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Both s.e.xes are well represented on the upper side in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, with the light spots of the upper side repeated. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch; ?, 1.25 inch.

_Early Stages._--What we know of these is well stated in the pages of Dr. Scudder's great work. The caterpillar usually feeds on gra.s.ses.

The species ranges from New England, Ontario, and Wisconsin on the north to the Gulf, and as far west as Iowa and Texas.

(3) =Thymelicus mystic=, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 22, ?; Fig. 23, ?

(The Long-dash).

_b.u.t.terfly._--No description of the upper side is needed, the figures in the plate being sufficient to enable identification. On the under side the primaries are fulvous on the costa at the base. The remainder of the primaries and the secondaries are dark ferruginous, with the light spots of the upper side all repeated greatly enlarged, pale, and standing out boldly upon the dark ground-color. The hind wings are pale brown on the inner margin. Expanse, ?, 1.10 inch; ?, 1.25 inch.

_Early Stages._--These have been elaborately described by Scudder. The caterpillar feeds on gra.s.ses, making a tubular nest for itself among the leaves.

The insect ranges through southern Canada and New England to Pennsylvania, and westward to Wisconsin.

Genus ATALOPEDES, Scudder

_b.u.t.terfly._--Antennae short, less than half the length of the costa; club short, stout, crooked just at the end; the palpi as in the preceding genus. The cut shows the neuration. The only mark of distinction between this genus and the two genera that follow is found in the shape of the discal stigma on the wing of the male, which is described as follows by Dr. Scudder: "Discal stigma in male consisting of, first, a longitudinal streak at base of middle median inters.p.a.ce, of shining black, recurved rods; second, of a semilunar field of dead-black erect rods in the lowest median inters.p.a.ce, overhung above by long, curving scales; followed below by a short, small striga of shining black scales, and outside by a large field of erect, loosely compacted scales."

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 168.--Neuration of the genus _Atalopedes_, enlarged.]

_Egg._--Hemispherical, covered with a network of delicate raised lines describing small polygons over the surface; minutely punctate.

_Caterpillar._--Cylindrical, tapering backward and forward; head large; the neck less constricted than in the genus _Eudamus_ or in the genus _Thanaos_; dark in color.

_Chrysalis._--The chrysalis is slender, cylindrical, a little humped upon the thorax, with the tongue-sheath free and projecting to the end of the fifth abdominal segment.

(1) =Atalopedes huron=, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 4, ?; Fig. 5, ?; Plate VI, Figs. 43, 47, _chrysalis_ (The Sachem).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The upper side of the wings in both s.e.xes is well represented in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, with the light spots of the upper side faintly repeated. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.35 inch.

_Early Stages._--These are described in full with painstaking accuracy by Scudder in "The b.u.t.terflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on gra.s.ses.

The species ranges from southern New York to Florida, thence westward and southward into Mexico.

Genus POLITES, Scudder

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae and the palpi are as in the preceding genus; the neuration of the wings is also very much the same. This is another genus founded by Dr. Scudder upon the shape of the discal stigma in the wing of the male. His description of this feature is as follows: "Discal stigma of male consisting of an interrupted, gently arcuate or sinuate streak of dead-black retrorse scales or rods, edged below, especially in the middle, by a border of similar, but dust-colored, erect rods, and followed beneath by an inconspicuous large area of loosely compacted, erect, dusky scales."

_Egg._--Approximately hemispherical, the height, however, being greater than in the egg of the preceding genus; reticulated, the lines forming hexagonal figures upon the surface.

_Caterpillar, etc._--Of the stages beyond the egg we know as yet comparatively little. The caterpillar feeds on gra.s.ses.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 169.--Neuration of the genus _Polites_, enlarged.]

(1) =Polites peckius=, Kirby, Plate XLVII, Fig. 24, ?; Fig. 25, ?

(Peck's Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This little species, the upper side of which in both s.e.xes is correctly shown in the plate, has the under side of the wings dark brown, with the light spots of the upper side greatly enlarged, especially upon the disks of the wings, fused, and pale yellow, thus contrasting strongly with the rest of the wings. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch; ?, 1.25 inch.

_Early Stages._--These are not thoroughly known as yet. The larva feeds on gra.s.ses.

Peck's Skipper ranges from Canada southward to Virginia, and west to Kansas and Iowa.

(2) =Polites mardon=, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 26, ? (The Oregon Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--On the under side the wings are pale gray, with the light spots of the primaries and a curved median band of spots on the secondaries whitish. Expanse, ?, 1.10 inch; ?, 1.20 inch.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

The only specimens I have, including the types, were taken in Oregon and Washington.

(3) =Polites sabuleti=, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 42, ?; Fig. 43, ?

(The Sand-hill Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Small, the male on the upper side looking like a diminutive and darkly bordered _phylaeus_. On the under side the wings are paler than on the upper side; the still paler spots of the discal areas are defined outwardly and inwardly by elongated dark spots.

Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

The habitat of this species is California.

Genus HYLEPHILA, Billberg

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae are very short, scarcely one third the length of the costa of the fore wing; the club is robust and short, with a very minute crook at the end; the palpi are as in the two preceding genera.

The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut.

_Early Stages._--As yet but partially known.

The larva feeds on gra.s.ses, and the mature form has been figured by Abbot, a copy of whose drawing is given by Dr. Scudder in Plate 77 of "The b.u.t.terflies of New England."

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 170.--Neuration of the genus _Hylephila_, enlarged.]

(1) =Hylephila phylaeus=, Drury, Plate XLVI, Fig. 18, ?; Fig. 19, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 39, _chrysalis_ (The Fiery Skipper).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The upper side is correctly shown in the plate. On the under side the wings are pale yellow, with a few small, round spots on the margin and disk of the hind wings, a black patch at the base, large black marginal spots, and a central, interrupted, longitudinal black streak on the disk of the primaries. Expanse, 1.15-1.25 inch.

The insect ranges from Connecticut to Patagonia, over all the most habitable parts of the New World. I have taken it frequently in southern Indiana, where I often have collected in recent years.

Genus PRENES, Scudder

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae are short, not half the length of the costa.

The head is broad, and the antennae are inserted widely apart. The club is moderate, terminating in a fine point which is bent back at right angles, forming a distinct crook. The abdomen is long and slender, but does not project beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The fore wings are pointed at the apex and are relatively longer and narrower than in the preceding genus. The neuration is ill.u.s.trated in the cut.