>6o 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



The silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus tttyrus. — This is one of the 

 largest of our common skippers, having a wing-expanse of nearly or quite 2 

 inches. It is dark chocolate-brown, 

 with a row of yellowish spots ex- 

 tending across the fore wing and 

 with a large silvery-white spot on 

 the lower si< le of the hind wing (Fig. 

 454). It is found in nearly the whole 



Fig. 453. — Epargyreus tityrus, larva. 



Fig. 454. — Epargyreus tityrus; under surface at 

 left. (From Scudder.) 



United States and in southern Canada. The larva (Fig. 453) feeds upon 

 various papilionaceous plants. It is common on locust. It makes a nest, 

 within which it remains concealed, by fastening together, with silk, the 



Fig. 455. — Nest of larva of Epargyreus tityrus. 



leaflets of a compound leaf (Fig. 455). This is one of the very few skip- 

 pers that winter in the pupa state; most species winter as larvae, either 

 partly grown or in their cocoons. 



The bean leaf-roller, Goniilrus prdteus. — This skipper by the shape 

 of its wings reminds one of a swallow-tail butterfly, the hind wings being 

 furnished with long tails. It expands about if inches and the greatest 

 length of the hind wings is about \\ inches. The wings are very dark 

 chocolate-brown. The front wings contain several silvery-white spots; 

 and the body and base of the wings bear metallic-green hairs. The larvae 

 feed upon both Leguminosae and Cruciferae. In the South it is sometimes 

 a pest in gardens, cutting and rolling the leaves of beans, turnips, and 

 cabbage, and feeding within the rolls thus formed. It is found on the 

 Atlantic border from New York southward into Mexico. 



The northern cloudy- wing, Thorybes pylades. — This is a common 

 skipper with dark brown wings. The fore wings are flecked with tiny 

 white spots while the hind wings are crossed beneath by two rather 

 narrow, parallel, inconspicuous, dark bands. The species is found in nearly 

 all parts of the United States. The larva commonly feeds on clover. 



The genus Hesperia includes a considerable number of small skippers, 

 which are easily recognized by their checkered markings of white upon a 

 dark brown ground. In this genus the white spots are unusually large, so 



