Genus Basilarchia 
Fig. 108.—Hibernaculum, or 
winter quarters, of larva of Ba¬ 
silarchia. 
The caterpillars feed upon the leaves of various species of oak, 
birch, willow, and linden. The eggs are laid upon the extreme 
tip of the leaves, and the infant caterpillar, feeding upon the leaf 
in immediate proximity to the point where it has been hatched, 
attaches bits of bitten leaf by strands of silk 
to the midrib, thus stiffening its perch and - ^ / / / ZJ 
preventing its curling as the rib dries. Out 
of bits of leaves thus detached it constructs a Fig I07 . — Leaf cut 
packet of material, which it moves forward away at end by cater- 
along the midrib until it has completed its j^ r of Basilarchia ( Rl " 
second moult. By this time winter begins 
to come on, and it cuts away for itself the material of the leaf 
on either side of the rib, from the tip toward the base, glues 
the rib of the leaf to the stem by means of silk, draws together 
the edges of the remaining portions of 
the leaf, and constructs a tube-like hiber¬ 
naculum, or winter quarters, exactly 
fitting the body, in which it passes the 
winter. 
There are a number of species of the 
genus found in the United States, the 
habits of which have been carefully studied, and they are among 
our most interesting butterflies, several species being mimics of 
protected species. 
(i) Basilarchia astyanax, Fabricius, Plate XXII, Fig. i, 3 ; 
Plate III, Figs. 17, 21, 25, larva; Plate IV, Figs. 12, 13, chrysalis 
(The Red-spotted Purple). 
Butterfly .—This common but most beautiful species is suffi¬ 
ciently characterized by the plate so far as the upper surface is 
concerned. On the under side the wings are brownish, banded 
with black on the margins; the lunules are on this side as above, 
but the inner band of spots is red. There are two red spots at 
the base of the fore wings, and four at the base of the hind wings. 
The palpi are white below, and the abdomen is marked with a 
lateral white line on each side. Expanse, 3.00-3.25 inches. 
Egg .—The egg, which resembles somewhat closely that of 
B. disippus (see p. 3, Fig. 1), is yellowish-green, gradually turn¬ 
ing dark brown as the time for the emergence of the caterpillar 
approaches. 
Caterpillar.— The caterpillar is so well delineated in Plate III, 
183 
