My specimens are all from Montana and Nevada. It is also reported from northern California, Oregon, and Kansas, though I question the latter locality.
(24) Lycæna melissa, Edwards, Plate XXXI, Fig. 25, ♂; Fig. 26, ♁ (The Orange-margined Blue).
Butterfly.—The male on the upper side is pale blue, with a narrow black marginal line and white fringes. The female is brown or lilac-gray, with a series of orange-red crescents on the margins of both wings. On the under side the wings are stone-gray, with the usual spots, and on the secondaries the orange-colored marginal spots are oblong, tipped inwardly with black and outwardly by a series of metallic-green maculations. Expanse, .90-1.15 inch.
Early Stages.—We know very little about these.
It is found from Kansas to Arizona, and northward to Montana.
(25) Lycæna scudderi, Edwards, Plate XXX, Fig. 48, ♂; Fig. 49, ♁; Plate V, Fig. 41, chrysalis (Scudder's Blue).
Butterfly.—The commonest Eastern representative of the group to which the preceding four or five and the following three species belong. On the upper side the male cannot be distinguished from L. melissa; the female is darker and has only a few orange crescents on the outer margin of the hind wing. On the under side the wings are shining white, the spots are much reduced in size, the large orange spots found in L. melissa are replaced by quite small yellowish or ochreous spots, and the patches of metallic scales defining them externally are very minute. Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch.
Early Stages.—These are accurately described by Dr. Scudder in his great work, "The Butterflies of New England," and by others. The caterpillar feeds upon the lupine, and probably other leguminous plants.
It is widely distributed through the basin of the St. Lawrence, the region of the Great Lakes, and northward as far as British Columbia, being also found on the Catskill Mountains. I have found it very common at times about Saratoga, New York.
(26) Lycæna acmon, Doubleday and Hewitson, Plate XXXI, Fig. 27, ♂; Fig. 28, ♁ (Acmon).