Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Cardui Virginiensis, Drury, App. v. 2.
Papilio Iole, Cramer, Pap. 1. pl. 12. f. E. F.
Papilio Bella Donna Virginiana, Petiv. Gaz. Dec. 4. tab. 33. fig. 5.
Habitat: New York, Maryland, Virginia (Drury). Brazil to Georgia (Enc. Méth.).
Upper Side. The base of the wings tawny orange; the anterior, dentated and angulated; the tips and external edges are brownish black, on which are five white spots near the external angle, the largest being round. The remainder of the wings is of a fine orange brown, with several black marks thereon, near the anterior edges. The posterior wings are a little dentated, and of a brown orange colour like the anterior, having five black spots placed near the external edge of each, two of which being larger than the rest have blue centres, below these is a black border, with a row of brown-orange crescents running along the middle. The cilia is black and white.
Under Side. The anterior wings at the base are greyish, beyond which they are beautifully adorned with rose-coloured and black marks, having three white spots on each near the external edge, with several clouds and marks of different colours placed at the tips and anterior edges. The posterior wings are of a beautiful agate colour, with many lines and narrow bars branching from, and intersecting one another under different directions (like lines in a map), so as to form spots and clouds of different shapes. Each wing has two eyes placed near the external edge, one larger than the other, the pupils being of a blueish hue and the irides black, the small one having a yellow circle within it; below these, a purple line runs parallel with, and near to the external edge.
The caterpillar of this insect is described by Drury as being green, with black rings round the body, and as feeding about New York upon the wild balsams, appearing about the latter end of July, or beginning of August. Once in about five or six years they are exceedingly plentiful, at other times very scarce; a peculiarity also noticed in the very nearly allied European species, Cynthia Cardui (the Painted lady), of which species, indeed, Drury appears to have regarded it as a geographical variety.
The caterpillar, according to Abbot, is of a brown colour, with the incisions, and a lateral line yellow; it has also two dorsal lines, formed of alternately white and red points; the head is black, and the spines, with which the body is armed, are of the prevalent colour of the surface. It feeds upon the Gnaphalum obtusifolium. The chrysalis is rather yellow, with black spots, and is assumed towards the end of April or beginning of May. The butterfly appears at the end of about ten days. It continues breeding during the summer, and is very commonly seen sucking up moisture from damp places near houses. The caterpillar folds and spins the leaves together, in the same manner as the English Painted lady, Cynthia Cardui.
PIERIS (THESTIAS) PYRENE?
Plate [V]. fig. 2.