Genus ERESIA Doubleday
Closely allied to Phyciodes, but distinguished from it by having the fore wing more or less deeply excavated on the outer margin about its middle, and the light spots on the hind wings arranged in regular bands. There are also differences in the form of the chrysalids and caterpillars. The genus is best represented in Central and South America, where there are many very beautiful species. Only three occur in our region. We have figured two of these.
(1) Eresia frisia (Poey), [Plate XXIII], Fig. 4, ♂ (Poey’s Crescent).
PL. XXIV
Our figure of the upper side will enable any one to recognize it. Below the wings are fulvous, mottled with dark brown and white, and the spots of the upper side reappear as white bands and markings. Expanse 1.4-1.5 inch.
Occurs in the extreme south of Florida about Key West, and is not uncommon in the Antilles, Mexico, and Central America.
(2) Eresia texana (Edwards), [Plate XXIV], Fig. 1, ♀ (The Texan Crescent).
Well represented in our illustration. Below the fore wings are fulvous at base, and broadly marked with dark brown beyond the middle. Hind wings at base marbled wood-brown, and dark externally like the fore wings. The light spots of upper side reappear on lower side, but not so distinctly. Expanse 1.25-1.75 inch.
Ranges through Texas into Mexico, and South America. The genus Eresia is undoubtedly one of those which originated in the warm neotropical regions and which since the glacial epoch have spread northward. Many of our genera have come to us from the South.
Genus SYNCHLOE Boisduval
(The Patch-spots).
Medium-sized or small butterflies, often very gayly colored. Wings generally more produced than in the two foregoing genera, more excavated on outer margin of primaries, and third joint of palpus spindle-shaped, not sharp like the point of a needle, as in Phyciodes and Eresia. The lower discocellular vein in the fore wing is straight and not angled, as in the two last-named genera. Eggs, which are laid in clusters upon sunflowers ( Helianthus), like those of Phyciodes in general appearance; the caterpillars and chrysalids like those of Melitæa. There are many species of the group found in the American tropics, and among them are many curious mimetic insects, which resemble miniature Heliconians and Ithomiids. Three species occur in our southland, one of which we figure.
(1) Synchloë janais (Drury), [Plate XXIV], Fig. 2, ♂ (The Crimson-patch).
The upper side of a small male specimen is well shown in our figure. Below the markings of the upper side are reproduced in the fore wings. Hind wings on this side black at base and on outer third. The basal area crossed by a yellow bar, on middle of wing a broad yellow band, washed externally with crimson, in which are numerous black spots. There is a marginal row of yellow, and a limbal row of white spots parallel to the outer border. Expanse 2.50-3.00 inches.
Ranges through southern Texas, Mexico, and Central America.
Genus GRAPTA Kirby
(The Angle-wings).
PL. XXV
Medium-sized or small butterflies; fore wing strongly acuminate at end of upper radial, deeply excavated on outer and inner border; hind wing tailed at end of third median nervule; cells on both wings closed; palpi heavily scaled beneath. Upper side of wings tawny, spotted with darker, under side mimicking the color of bark and dead leaves, often with a silvery spot about middle of hind wing. The butterflies hibernate in winter. Eggs taller than broad, tapering toward top, which is flat, adorned with a few longitudinal ribs, increasing in height upward, laid in clusters, or strung together, then looking like beads. Larva with squarish head; body cylindrical, adorned with branching spines. Chrysalids with head bifid; prominent tubercle on back of thorax; two rows of dorsal tubercles on abdomen; compressed laterally in thoracic region; color wood-brown or greenish. The caterpillars feed upon plants of the nettle tribe, including the elm and hops, though willows, azalea, and wild currants are affected by different species.
The genus is confined to the northern temperate zone. We have about a dozen species in America, of which five have been selected for illustration.
(1) Grapta interrogationis (Fabricius), form fabricii Edwards, [Plate XXV], ♂ (The Question-sign).
PL. XXVI
The largest species of the genus in our fauna. Dimorphic, the upper sides of the hind wings in the form fabricii being fulvous with dark markings, those of the form umbrosa Lintner being uniformly dark, except at base. In the Middle States double-brooded. The second brood hibernates in the winged form. Expanse 2.50 inches.
Found throughout Canada and the United States, except on the Pacific Coast.
(2) Grapta comma (Harris), form dryas Edwards, [Plate XXVI], ♂ (The Comma Butterfly).
Larvæ feed on nettles; some are almost snow-white. The species is dimorphic. In the form dryas Edwards the hind wings are dark above, in the form harrisi Edwards they are lighter in color. Expanse 1.75-2.00 inches.
The range is much the same as that of the Question-mark.
PL. XXVII
(3) Grapta faunus Edwards, [Plate XXVII], ♀ (The Faun).
Readily recognized by the deep indentations of the hind wings, the heavy black border, and the dark tints of the under side mottled conspicuously with paler shades. Expanse 2.00-2.15 inches. The larva feeds on willows.
Ranges from New England and Ontario to the Carolinas, thence westward to the Pacific.
As I have remarked of the genus Argynnis that it is difficult, so also I may say of the genus Grapta that it provokes much discussion among those who have not had the opportunity to study full series of specimens of the various species. The resemblances are very great, and the differences are not accentuated, so that the superficial observer is easily led astray. The differences are, however, valid, even on the upper side of the specimens, which are more nearly alike than the lower side. Take the two species here presented to view on opposite pages. They resemble each other closely, but the student will soon see that there are differences, and these are constant. On the under side they are very great, G. faunus being light in color below, while G. silenus is very dark. In both species at the end of the cell of the hind wing there is on the under side a silvery spot which has the form of an inverted L (⅂), or is rudely comma-shaped.
PL. XXVIII
(4) Grapta silenus Edwards, [Plate XXVIII], ♂, Type (The Toper).
Wings in form very much like those of G. faunus, but the fore wing not as strongly produced at the ends of the upper radial, and the hind wing at the end of the first submedian. The wings are much darker below than in faunus, without large pale spots, at most sprinkled with white scales. Expanse 2.00-2.30 inches.
Occurs in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.
The life history of this species is not as yet known. It is highly probable that the insect has the same tastes as the other species of the genus, and lives upon much the same food-plants. The late W. G. Wright, who was a careful observer, states that the butterfly haunts partially wooded places upon hillsides in the region where it is found. It is to be hoped that some bright young person in Oregon or Washington may succeed in breeding the larvæ to maturity, giving us an account of his observations. It is a mistake to suppose that everything which is worth knowing is already known about our lepidoptera. There is much for the students of the future to find out.
PL. XXIX
(5) Grapta progne (Cramer), [Plate XXIX], ♂ (The Currant Angle-wing).
Somewhat smaller than any of the foregoing species. Fore wings light fulvous shading into yellow outwardly. The dark markings are smaller than in the other species, but pronounced and clearly defined. Wings below very dark, sprinkled with lighter scales. Expanse 1.85-2.00 inches.
The larva feeds upon all kinds of plants belonging to the currant family.
Ranges from Siberia to Nova Scotia, thence south to the latitude of Pennsylvania.
Genus VANESSA Fabricius
(The Tortoise-shells).
Butterflies of medium size. Eyes hairy; palpi somewhat heavily scaled; cell of fore wings may or may not be closed, that of hind wing always open. Fore wings more or less excavated about middle and somewhat produced at ends of upper radial and first median, but not so strongly as in Grapta. Hind wings, with outer margin toothed at ends of veins and strongly produced at end of third median nervule. Eggs short, ovoid, tapering above, and having a few narrow longitudinal ribs, which increase in depth upward; laid in large clusters. Caterpillars when mature, cylindrical, with longitudinal rows of branching spines. Feeding upon elms, willows, and poplars. Chrysalis not unlike that of Grapta.
The genus is restricted to the north temperate zone and the colder mountain regions of subtropical lands. The butterflies hibernate, and are among the first to be seen in the springtime.
PL. XXX
(1) Vanessa antiopa (Linnæus), [Plate XXX], ♀ (The Mourning Cloak, The Camberwell Beauty).
This familiar insect needs no description. It occurs everywhere in the north temperate zone. Eggs laid in large masses on willows, poplars, and elms. There are two broods in the Middle States, the second hibernating under eaves and in hollow trees. Expanse 2.75-3.25 inches.
There is a rare variety of this insect in which the yellow border becomes broad, reaching the middle of the wings. Only two or three such “sports” are known, one in the possession of the author. There are some collectors who set great store by such “freaks” or “aberrations,” as they are called.
PL. XXXI
(2) Vanessa j-album Boisduval & Leconte, [Plate XXXI], ♂ (The Compton Tortoise).
No description is necessary as our figure will enable it to be immediately recognized. A close ally of the European Vanessa vau-album. Expanse 2.60-2.75 inches.
Larva feeds upon willows. Confined to the northern parts of the country, only occurring in Pennsylvania upon the summits of the higher mountains, and ranging thence to Labrador in the east and to Alaska in the northwest.
PL. XXXII
(3) Vanessa milberti Godart, [Plate XXXII], ♀ (Milbert’s Tortoise-shell).
Easily distinguished by the broad yellow submarginal band on both wings, shaded outwardly by red. Expanse 1.75 inch. The larva feeds upon nettles ( Urtica).
Found at high elevations in the Appalachian highlands, ranging northward to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, thence westward to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coast, its distribution being determined by temperature and the presence of its food-plant, though its distribution seems to be more dependent upon climate than upon food, as nettles abound in the Southern States, where the insect is never found.
In addition to the three species of Vanessa, which we have figured upon our plates, it should be mentioned that there is a very pretty species, known as Vanessa californica, which occurs upon the Pacific Coast. It somewhat closely resembles the European Vanessa urticæ. In southern California it is only found upon the mountains, but about Vancouver and elsewhere in British Columbia it occurs at sea-level. It is a pugnacious little thing, and fights at sight any other butterfly which comes near. The food-plant of the larva is Ceanothus thyrsiflorus. W. G. Wright informs us that the butterfly in the spring delights to feed upon the gum of Abies concolor, when it is still fluid.
Genus PYRAMEIS Doubleday
(The Red Admiral and Painted Ladies).
The butterflies of this are like those of the last genus in the structure of their wings, except that the hind wings are not angulate, and below the hind wings are generally marked with eye-like spots. Egg ovoid, closely resembling that of Vanessa. Larva like that of Vanessa, but spines relatively not so large and not so distinctly branching. Form of chrysalis very like that of Vanessa. The genus includes comparatively few species, but most have a very wide range, Pyrameis cardui being almost cosmopolitan in its distribution, having a wider range than that of any other butterfly.
PL. XXXIII
(1) Pyrameis atalanta (Linnæus), [Plate XXXIII], ♀ (The Red Admiral).
This familiar butterfly is found throughout temperate North America, Europe, northern Africa, and temperate Asia. Expanse 2.00-2.50 inches.
Larva feeds on the leaves of hop vines, on nettles, and Bœhmeria.
PL. XXXIV
(2) Pyrameis huntera (Fabricius), [Plate XXXIV], ♂ (Hunter’s Butterfly).
Marked much like P. cardui, but easily discriminated from it by the two large eye-like spots on the under side of the hind wings. Expanse 2.00 inches.
Caterpillar feeds on cud-weed ( Gnaphalium) and Antennaria. Ranges from Nova Scotia to Mexico and Central America, being comparatively rare in California, but more abundant east of the Sierras.
We all know Hunter’s Butterfly. How many know that its name commemorates that of a most remarkable American, John Dunn Hunter? Captured by the Indians in his infancy, he never knew who his parents were. He was brought up among the savages. Because of his prowess in the chase they called him “The Hunter.” Later in life he took the name of John Dunn, a man who had been kind to him. He grew up as an Indian, but after he had taken his first scalp he forsook the red men, no longer able to join them in their bloody schemes. He went to Europe, amassed a competence, became the friend of artists, men of letters, and scientists. He was a prime favorite with the English nobility and with the King of England. He interested himself in securing natural history collections from America for certain of his acquaintances, and Fabricius named the beautiful insect shown on our plate in his honor. His Memoirs of Captivity Among the Indians are well worth reading. In that charming book, Coke of Norfolk and His Friends, which recently has been published, there are some most interesting reminiscences of this American gentleman, for gentleman he was, although reared by savages. The presumption is established that his unknown progenitors were gentlefolk. “Blood will tell.”
PL. XXXV
(3) Pyrameis cardui (Linnæus), [Plate XXXV], ♀ (The Painted Lady; The Thistle Butterfly).
Easily distinguished from the preceding by the numerous and much smaller eye-spots forming a band on the under side of the hind wings. Expanse 2.00-2.25 inches.
Found all over the world, except in the tropical jungles of equatorial lands.
The caterpillars feed on various species of thistles, nettles, and marshmallows.
Genus JUNONIA Hübner
(Peacock Butterflies).
PL. XXXVI
Medium-sized butterflies with eye-spots on upper side of wings. Neuration almost exactly like that of the genus Pyrameis, save for the fact that the cell of the fore wing is usually, and of the hind wing always, open. Egg broader than high, flattened on top and adorned by ten very narrow and low vertical ribs. Caterpillars cylindrical, longitudinally striped, and with several rows of branching spines. Chrysalis arched on back, curved inwardly in front, and somewhat bifid at head, with the two projections rounded.
There are a score of species, most of which are found in the tropics of the Old World. Three occur in our region, two of which are found in the extreme south. The one which is common we have figured.
(1) Junonia cœnia Hübner, [Plate XXXVI], ♂ (The Buckeye).
The spots of the upper side reappear on the lower side, but are much smaller, especially on the hind wings. Expanse 2.00-2.25 inches.
The larva feeds most commonly on plantains ( Plantago), snapdragons ( Antirrhinum), and Gerardia.
Very common in the Southern States, ranging as far north as New England, west to the Pacific, and south into South America.