While students of this group have subdivided extensively, and with scientific propriety have erected a number of genera which are acceptable to specialists, there seems to the writer no need for going into these things in this book, as most of the distinctions drawn are too fine to be appreciated by any but specialists.
(1) Thecla halesus (Cramer), [Plate LXXIX], ♂ (The Great Purple Hair-streak).
The upper side is deep purplish blue, as shown in our figure; on the lower side the thorax is black spotted with white, the abdomen orange-red; the wings warm sepia spotted with crimson at their bases, in the males glossed with a stripe of metallic green on the fore wings, and in both sexes adorned at the anal angle by spots of metallic green, red, and iridescent blue. Expanse 1.35-1.50 inch.
Common in Central America and Mexico, ranging north through the hotter parts of the Gulf States, and has been recorded from southern Illinois. Occurs in southern California and Arizona. The larva feeds on mistletoe.
PL. LXXX
(2) Thecla m-album Boisduval & Leconte, [Plate LXXX], Fig. 1, ♂ (The White-M Hair-streak).
Smaller than the preceding species, bluer, and not inclined to greenish at base of wings on upper side; on under side fore wing crossed by a submarginal and a median line of white, continued on the hind wings, zigzagged at anal angle so as to look like an inverted M; near this is a rounded crimson patch; anal angle black glossed with blue. Expanse 1.35-1.45 inch.
Ranges from New Jersey and Wisconsin to Venezuela.
(3) Thecla crysalus Edwards, [Plate LXXX], Fig. 2, ♂ (The Colorado Hair-streak).