The Insect World / Being a Popular Account of the Orders of Insects; Together with a Description of the Habits and Economy of Some of the Most Interesting Species

by Louis Figuier

Fig. 150.—Thecla pruni.

In the meadows are found the Copper Butterflies; butterflies with wings of a bright, tawny colour, with black marks on the upper side. Such is the Polyommatus (Lycæna) phlæas ([Fig. 152]), which is very common from the end of May until late in the autumn. The upper part of the wing is coppery, spotted with black, the under side of a grey colour, sprinkled with small eyes, and bordered by a zone of tawny spots. Linnæus counted forty-two little black eyes on the under side of the wings.

Fig. 151.—Thecla rubi.

We also figure Polyommatus (Lycæna) virgaureæ ([Fig. 153]), and Polyommatus (Lycæna) gordius ([Fig. 154]), neither of which occurs in this country.

Fig. 152.—Small Copper (Polyommatus [Lycæna] phlæas.)

In the meadows, the gardens, and the lucerne and clover fields, are found the charming Blue Butterflies, the wings on the upper side, in the majority of instances, blue in the case of the males, brown in the females.