120 BULLETIN UNIVERSITl OF MONTANA. 



THE CHRYXUS BUTTERFLY. Oeneas chryxus, Westwood. Plate X, 



also Plate 1. 



Butterfly— Expanse, 1.75 to 2.25 inches. 44 to 57 mm. Light brown 

 above, usually with darker color on the basal and median areas of both 

 fore and hind wings, leaving a broad band of lighter color. A narrow dark 

 brown or brownish black outer margin on both pairs of wings. Outer 

 edges fringed with dashes or crescents. Edge of costa usually mottled. 

 Wings on under side beautifully mottled with white and dark brown, a 

 heavier band of almost black crossing both wings near the center, making 

 an acute angle toward outer edge near the middle of fore wing. One to 

 several eye spots, some pupiled with white, which show above as dark 

 brown or black. The plate shows some of the variations of the species. 



Distribution— The insect is found over a wide territory, from Hudson 

 Bay and British Columbia to Colorado, the light colored variety invalida 

 in Nevada and California. It has been taken in the state by Cooley in 

 Gallatin county at 9,400 feet, and at Missoula; by Brandegee at Rimini 

 near Helena and at Cascade on the Missouri river; Douglas collected it 

 in the Tobacco Root range; Elrod has specimens from Missoula, from 

 Mount Lo Lo, from Geyser Basin in the Yellowstone Park, and from the 

 Swan range. The species is alpine. It has not been taken below 5,000 

 feet at Missoula, and above this is quite common. It has frequently been- 

 seen in the Swan range above G,000 feet. 



Fig. 92A. Oeneas uhleri, var. varuna; lower surface on left, upper surface 



on right; natural size. 



THE VARUNA ARCTIC Oeneas uhleri Reakirt, var. varuna, Edwards. 



Butterfly— Expanse, 1.50 to 1.75 inches, 38 to 45 mm. The butterfly 

 is among the smallest of the Oeneas group. It is light tan colored above, 

 with a narrow dark grown border on both wings. Edges with light fringe, 

 broken by the brown. On the under surface the wings are mottled with 

 brown, strongly marked with blackish blotches or shades. Usually sev- 

 eral (two to five) eye spots, black, mostly pupiled with white, which show 

 through as black. 



Early Stages— Fully described by Edwards in Volume III of his great 

 work "The Butterflies of North America." Eggs chalk-white, conical, 

 truncated, ribbed. Mature larva .90 to .94 inches long, stout, thickest 

 at the middle, a lateral band and several stripes of black, the intervening 

 bands solid green. Under side, feet and legs, green, with a tint of 

 brown. Chrysalis about .50 inch long, greenish yellow, wing cases 



