Of Illinois Nephele the stages were:
| 1st moult passed | 8th March. | ||
| 2nd ” ” | 21st ” | 1st to 2nd— | 13 days. |
| 3rd ” ” | 9th April. | 2nd to 3rd— | 19 ” |
| 4th ” ” | 26th ” | 3rd to 4th— | 17 ” |
| In chrysalis | 17th May. | 4th to chry.— | 21 ” |
| Imago issued | 30th ” | chry. to im.— | 13 ” |
The eggs of all these forms are alike, not to be distinguished from each other. They are conoidal, truncated at top and slightly arched; marked by about 18 vertical ridges running from base to top, the spaces between excavated roundly, and crossed by fine striæ; the top is covered with shallow cells, the outer ones irregularly hexagonal, the inner long and narrow about a central oval cell.
Nor can the larvæ of these forms be distinguished from each other up to second moult. The young, of first stage, are very peculiar and quite unlike what they become after first moult, as well as unlike all other Satyrid larvæ which I have bred. Under the microscope they look like the vertebræ of a fish, by reason of the many rows of long hooked bristles, those of upper and lower rows being curved back, the middle row forward. General color carnation, with a medio-dorsal line, and three lines on each side, all of crimson. After 1st moult the color is green, and the stripes, which are the same in number and position as the lines of first stage, are dark green; the hairs short and straight.
After 2nd moult the color becomes yellow-green and the stripes are changed. There is now a dark green one on middle of dorsum and a yellow one covering the ridge over the feet. On 24th March, I compared Hoboken Alope, Hunter and Illinois Nephele, of same age, all lately past second moult, and could see no difference whatever between them. Some Alope and Hunter Nephele were much covered with long hairs which were bent to the surface and gave them quite a shaggy appearance. But others did not show this peculiarity.
On 18th April, I compared Coalburgh Alope and Nephele from both localities, all past 3rd moult; length from .68 to .75 inch. All were yellow-green and in general alike; all had the yellow basal ridge, but in addition to this, the Illinois Nephele had a distinct longitudinal yellow stripe on upper part of side, and on either edge of the green dorsal stripe was a fine yellow line. The Hunter Nephele showed very faint traces of the yellow side stripe; the Alope none at all.
Comparing another Coalburgh Alope and Hunter Nephele a few days later, both past 3rd moult, neither showed traces of these lines and I could see no difference between the two.
At 4th moult all the Illinois Nephele, now .7 inch long, showed same peculiarities as at last stage. No other larva of the several lots presented the yellow lines so plainly at the same age, that is, just after the moult; but there were one or more Alope and Hunter Nephele which gave indications of the side line, and this came out more distinctly as the stage progressed. But most were without the side line.
Comparing mature larvæ:
One Albany Alope, length 1.25 inch, greatest breadth .16 inch; color very yellow-green, no yellow side or dorsal stripes or lines.