BUTTERFLIES OF MONTANA. 



6 I 



Distribution — Found in Colorado, Montana and British America. In 

 the state talven at Bozeman by Cooley. one specimen, and at Bear Paw- 

 Mountains Ijy Coubeaux. 



Genus RUSTICUS Hubner. 

 Key to Species. 

 Orange red or i)inkish band on the hind wings acmon 



Darlv crescents of the under side showing as spots on the upper side 



glaucon 

 Male with narrow black marginal line and white fringes melissa 



Male with wings colored dirty gray below, with black spots shasta 



THE ACMON BLUE, Rusticus acmon Doubleday and Hewiston. 



Butterfly — ^Male blue; female brown. It may be distinguished by the 

 broad orange-red or pinkish band on the hind wings, marked by small 

 black spots. On the underside it is marked much like L. melissa. Ex- 

 panse, .90-1.10 in. 



Early Stages — Unknown. 



Distribution — It is found from Arizona to Washington and Montana. 



The University of Montana collection contains two specimens from 

 the Yellowstone National Park. Brandegee has it in his collection from 

 Helena. 



THE COLORADO BLUE, Rusticus glaucon, Edwards. 



Butterfly — Purplish blue, having the dark crscents of the underside 

 showing as spots on the upper side. The female has a band of orange 

 spots on the margins of the secondaries. Expanse 1.00 inch, 25 mm. 



Early Stages — Unknown. 



Distribution — It ranges from Washington to California and eastward 

 to Colorado, where it is juite common in the mountain valleys. The Uni- 

 versity of Montana collection contains 3 specimens; 1 from Missoula, and 

 2 from Geyser Basin. 



THE ORANGE-MARGINAL BLUE, Rusticus melissa, Edwards. 

 Plate XI, 5, 6 and 7, and Fig 102. 



Fig. 102. Rusticus melissa, male, upper and lower surfaces. 



Butterfly — The male on the upperside is pale blue, with a narrow 

 black marginal line and white fringes. The female is brown or lilac- 

 gray, with a series of orange red crescents on the margins of both wings. 



