Genus. Melitæa, Fabr. Argynnis, Latr. et God. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.), Drury.
Melitæa Phaeton. Alis subrotundatis integerrimis, nigris, singularum extimo suprà, paginâ omni subtùs fulvo flavoque maculatis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 9 lin. fere.)
Syn. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.) Phaeton, Drury, App. v. 2. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 46. No. 140. Cramer, pl. 193. f. C. D. Argynnis Phaetontea, Latr. et God. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 288. Boisduv. Hist. nat. Lep. pl. 7. B. f. 3.
Habitat: New York; taken in June and September, whence there are probably two broods in the year.
Upper Side. Body and wings black. The anterior pair of the latter with nine red spots placed near the external edges; above which are two rows of spots, of a lemon colour, with some other small ones placed near the upper edges. Posterior wings with eight red triangular spots, placed close to the external edges. Above these is a row of lemon-coloured crescents; and above that is another row of lemon-coloured round spots. The wings are entire.
Under Side. Anterior wings black, with a red indented margin; within the external edge is a row of lemon-coloured crescents. Near the costa, about the middle of each wing, are two larger red spots, and a smaller one at the corner, next the shoulders. The remainder of the wings is sprinkled with lemon-coloured spots, of different shapes and sizes, in all about twenty-six on each. Posterior wings black, having their external edges margined with triangular red spots; above which is a row of lemon-coloured crescents; and over these is a row of round lemon-coloured spots. The remaining part of the wings is covered with lemon-coloured and red spots; the former very small, and the latter rather large, and angularly shaped.
MELITÆA THAROS.
Plate [XXI]. fig. 5. 6.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Sw.
Genus. Melitæa, Fabr. Argynnis, Latr. et God. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.) Drury.