474 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



FIG. COO. Pyrrhopyge. 



one hundred and fifty, of which over fifty belong to the genus PampJdla. The 

 colors of the perfect insects, except in very rare instances, are not bright or striking, 



brown, black, or purplish, with series of pellucid 

 spots, being the prevailing tints. Many of the 

 genera have long tails to the hind wings. The 

 body is short, very robust, the nerves of the wing 

 unusually strong, and the flight so rapid and 

 peculiar, that they have obtained the name of 

 " skippers," from their short, jerking motion 

 when on the wing. They frequently settle on 

 flowers, leaves, or branches, as well as on the 

 ground, with which their dull colors well asso- 

 ciate. In one genus, Pyrr/iopyge, the wings are marked with red and orange spots. 



The genus jEuschemon has but one species, E. rafflesii, a most remarkable insect 

 from northeastern Australia. Though known for over fifty years in collections, it is 

 still extremely rare, and little, if anything, has been placed on record with reference 

 to its habits. Its antenna are furnished with a very long and distinct hook, while the 

 abdomen is transversely banded, as is the case in many species of moths, especially in 

 the Australian genus Agarista, which, in many superficial respects, E. rafflesii 

 resembles. The wings are jet black, with canary-yellow blotches, the tip of the 

 abdomen being bright orange. It is about two and a quarter inches in expanse, and 

 may be regarded as a beautiful and remarkable insect. Helias is composed of rather 

 large insects somewhat moth-like in appearance, as the names H. phalenoides and 

 II. noctua would indicate. They are all South American. One of the most remark- 

 able genera of the family is Pegathymus, of which the larvaB are internal feeders, and 

 from this and other peculiarities the insects were placed by Walker and others among 

 the Castniada?. The larva of the best-known species, M. 

 yucca, feeds within the stems of the various species of 

 Yucca. 



Hesperia (= Pyrgns) is composed of small species, 

 mottled equally witli black and white, of which H. tes- 

 selata is common in the Atlantic States. In Nisoniades 

 (= Thanaos) the species are dull colored, either black or 

 brownish, with white spots, and the fringes of the wings 

 occasionally white also. Such are N. tristis from California, and N. funeralis from 

 Texas. N. brizo is a very common eastern species. 



Pamphila, as now accepted, is the largest genus, containing over two hundred and 

 sixty species. It is very widely distributed, certain forms being found in every quarter 

 of the globe, the American continent, however, surpassing all others in point of 



numbers. Our best known and commonest forms are P. ahaton, 

 P. fieckius, and P. cernes. These are found everywhere in the 

 eastern states during the summer, while P. agricola, P. nemorum, 

 and P. sabuleti take their places on the Pacific side of the con- 

 tinent. P. massasoit, a very pretty and local species, is found 

 wherever the black alder (Prinos vert id Hat us) grows, the cater- 

 pillars probably feeding on that plant. The largest of the genus 

 is P. ethlins, which is common in the gulf states, occasionally reaching as far north as 

 Pennsylvania. It is fully two inches in expanse. The European forms of this genus 



FIG. 601. NisaniadKS brizo. 



FIG. 602. Pamphila 

 ahaton. 



