Caterpillar.—The caterpillar is cylindrical, marked with pale longitudinal stripes upon a darker ground, and adorned with tubercles arranged in regular rows. These tubercles are generally much shorter than in the genus Melitæa. The caterpillars do not, so far as is known, weave webs at any time.
Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is pendant, with the head slightly bifid. The dorsal region of the abdomen is provided with slight tubercles. The color is generally some shade of pale gray, blotched with black or dark brown.
This genus finds its principal development in South and Central America, which are very rich in species, some of them mimicking in a most marvelous manner the butterflies of the protected genus Heliconius and its allies. The species found in the United States and Canada are for the most part not very gaily colored insects, chaste shades of brown, or yellow, and black predominating.
(1) Phyciodes nycteis, Doubleday and Hewitson, Plate XVII, Fig. 28, ♂, under side; Fig. 29, ♂; Fig. 30, ♁; Plate V, Fig. 19, chrysalis (Nycteis).
Butterfly.—On the upper side very closely resembling Melitæa harrisi, for which it may easily be mistaken upon the wing. The under side of the hind wings is very different, and may at once be distinguished by the lighter color of the base of the wing, and the pale, silvery crescent on the outer margin. Expanse, ♂ 1.25-1.65 inch; ♁, 1.65-2.00 inches.
Egg.—The egg is half as high again as broad, marked with sixteen or seventeen vertical ribs above, and pitted about the middle by hexagonal cells. It is pale green in color.
Caterpillar.—The caterpillar undergoes four moults after hatching. In the mature stage it is velvety-black, with a dull orange stripe along the back, and purplish streaks on the sides. The body is studded with whitish spots, each giving rise to a delicate black hair, and is further beset with rather short, black, hairy spines.
Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is pearly-gray, blotched with dark brown.
The life-history of this species has been carefully worked out, and all the details may be found described in the most minute manner by Edwards and by Scudder.
The insect ranges from Maine to North Carolina, and thence westward to the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.