PAPILIO ASTERIAS.
Plate [XI]. fig. 2. 3. and 5.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Papilionidæ, Leach.
Genus. Papilio, Auct.
Papilio Asterias. Alis dentatis nigris, fasciâ maculari maculisque marginalibus flavis; posticis caudatis, angulo ani fulvo, puncto atro, abdominis dorso duplici serie punctorum flavorum. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.—4 unc.)
Syn. Papilio Asterias, Fabr. Mant. Ins. tom. 2. p. 2. No. 13. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 6. No. 16. Cramer, tab. 385. f. C. D. God. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 58. No. 91. Boisduv. et Lec. Icon. Lep. Amer. Sept. pl. 4. Boisd. Hist. nat. Lep. 1. 332. No. 175.
Papilio Troilus, Drury, App. Vol. 2. Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg. 1. t. 1. (exclus. Syn. Linn. et Fabr.)
Habitat: New York, Maryland, Carolina, Virginia (Drury).
Upper Side. Antennæ, head, and body black, with two yellow spots at the bases of the antennæ, and two more on the neck; the sides of the abdomen being spotted with two rows of the same. Anterior wings black. A row of eight or nine yellow spots runs along each wing, near the external edge. Within these appears another row, smaller in figure 3, but larger in figure 2, and shaped like triangles, above which are two spots, one nearly round, the other very oblong, which last is not seen in figure 3. Posterior wings black and dentated, with one tail issuing from each. Six yellow spots appear near the external edge; and at the anal angle is an orange-coloured one, with a black dot in its centre. Some specimens have a yellow bar running transversely from the row of triangles on the superior wings, and meeting below the extremity of the body, just above the orange spot, as in fig. 2. In some, instead of a bar, is seen a row of spots (as in fig. 3), which are sometimes very faint. Where this happens, the space between this row and the six spots mentioned before, consists of a shining blue colour; but in proportion as the yellow bar is more or less distinct, the wings have more or less blue on them.
Under Side. The under side in all the different varieties differs but very little. The breast, sides, abdomen and feet are black. The anterior wings of a dirty black colour, with nine yellow spots near the external edge; above these, nearer the body, are eight others, varying in size, and two small clouds or patches close to the anterior edge. Posterior wings, next the shoulders, dirty black, with the inner scollops edged with yellow crescents (appearing also on the upper side), within which are six spots near the edge—four orange and two yellow. Seven or eight orange spots, tipped with yellow, run circularly across the middle of the wing. Below each spot in this row is a ray of shining blue, separated by a strong black mark, and scattered with powder-like spots. An orange spot, with a black centre, is placed at the anal angle.