The Butterfly Book / A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North America

by W. J. Holland

(7) Thanaos martialis, Scudder, Plate XLVIII, Fig. 4, ♂; Plate VI, Fig. 37, chrysalis (Martial's Dusky-wing).

Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings is paler than in most species, and has a distinctly purplish-gray cast. The fore wings are crossed by irregular bands of dark spots. The hind wings on the outer half are profusely mottled with small pale spots. All the light spots are repeated on the under side of both wings, and are more distinct on this side than on the upper. Expanse, 1.25-1.40 inch.

Early Stages.—These are partly known. The caterpillar feeds on Indigofera and Amarantus.

The species ranges from Massachusetts to Georgia, and westward to Missouri and New Mexico.

(8) Thanaos juvenalis, Fabricius, Plate XLVIII, Fig. 11, ♁; Plate VI, Fig. 33, chrysalis (Juvenal's Dusky-wing).

Butterfly.—Larger than the preceding species. The wings have a number of translucent spots arranged as a transverse series beyond the middle of the wing. They are far more distinct and larger in the female than in the male. The under side of the wings is paler than the upper side, and profusely but indistinctly marked with light spots. Expanse, 1.35-1.60 inch.

Early Stages.—For a full knowledge of these the reader may consult the pages of "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on oaks and leguminous plants of various species.

This insect ranges from Quebec to Florida, and westward as far as Arizona, where it appears to be common.

(9) Thanaos petronius, Lintner, Plate XLVIII, Fig. 7, ♂ (Petronius' Dusky-wing).

Butterfly.—Allied in size to the preceding species, but the translucent spots of the transverse band are not, as in that species, continued toward the inner margin, but terminate at the first median nervule. The outer third of the primaries is pale, the inner two thirds very dark. The under side of the wings of the male is uniformly dusky, slightly, if at all, marked with lighter spots. The under side of the wings of the female is less distinctly marked with light spots than is the case in allied species. Expanse, 1.50-1.75 inch.