The genus Lycæna is much more extensively represented in California than in the Atlantic States, where, with the exception of a few Arctic species, only the most cosmopolitan types are represented, such as that of Argiolus and that of Amyntas.
California has about the same number of species as a corresponding area in the Mediterranean basin. The species are never identical with gerontogeic forms; but there is scarcely a single European type that does not find its analogue on the Pacific coast: a circumstance of which the celebrated lepidopterologist, Dr. Boisduval, has made good use in naming many Californian species with reference to the best known European species of the same type, thus:
| Europe. | California. |
|---|---|
| Pheretes, | Pheres, |
| Acis, | Antiacis, |
| Aegon, | Antægon, |
| Icarius, | Icarioides. |
1. Lycæna Pardalis, Behr.
Alæ ♂ ris superne omnes cæruleæ, marginem versus fuscescentes, limbo albido cinctæ.
Alæ ♀ næ superne omnino fuscæ, marginem versus magis obscuræ, anticæ linea discoidali instructae.
Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali serieque punctorum atrorum, halone parum distincto cinctorum signatæ. Posticæ marginem versus lunulas exhibent pallidiores quam puncta seriei et lineæ discoidalis.
This species is the only Californian yet known that approaches the type of the European species L. Arion, L. Euphemus, L. Iolas, L. Alcon, L. Erebus. It approaches most nearly to L. Alcon of Europe, and is intermediate between that and the European L. Acis.
The only habitat of this species yet known to me, is in the Contra Costa Coast Range, in the vicinity of San Antonio, where it frequents steep, grassy hill-sides. It is found at the end of May and beginning of June, and is rather rare.