5G 



BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA. 



THE LETO BUTTERFLY. 

 Argynnis leto, Edwards. Figs. 38, 43, 44, 45. 



Fig. 44. Argynnis leto, male. 



Butterfly — The male on the upper side is a dull fulvous with the 

 characteristic black markings of the genus; the basal area is darker. 

 The under side of the fore wings is plae fulvous upon which the mark- 

 ings of the upper side reappear. Both wings on the under side, are 

 shaded with brown toward the base; the hind wings are traversed by a 

 sub-marginal band of light straw yellow. The female is marked as the 

 male, but the general color is pale straw yellow, and all the darker 

 markings are deep blackish brown, those at the base of both wings being 

 broad and running into one another, so that the inner half of the wings 

 appear to be broadly brownish black. On the under side it is also marked 

 the same as the male, but with the dark portions blacker and the lighter 

 portions pale yellow. The marginal row of light spots on the hind wings 

 appears on the under side as silver crescents; there are three rows of 

 silver spots on the brown part of the wing. Expanse 2.50 to 3.25 inches, 

 64 to 83 mm. 



Early Stages — Unknown. 



Distribution — It occurs in California, Oregon and Montana. In Mon- 

 tana it is found on both sides of the mountains. In the western part it 

 is abundant about Flathead lake. It is a beautiful insect, demanding 

 the attention of the collector, frequenting the more open woods, skirting 

 the bushes by the roadsides, or frequenting the sunny open places in the 

 woods. It has been taken, in addition to that mentioned, at Mount Lolo, 

 Missoula, the Mission Mountains, and the Yellowstone Park by Elrod, 

 at New Chicago by Douglass, at Helena by Brandegee, and at Miles City 

 by Elrod. A male was collected at Miles City in July, 1893, and a female 

 in Yellowstone Park in September, 1894, both identified by Edwards. It 

 is likely to be found in most parts of the state, and will ornnament any 



