^54 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



different species resemble each other closely, making this a difficult 

 group for the beginning student. Figure 959 represents a common 

 species. 



The larvse feed on asters and other Compositas. 



III. THE ANGLE-WINGS 



To this group belong many of our best-known butterflies ; there 

 are twenty-five species in our fauna. With these the outer margin 

 of the fore wings is usually decidedly angular or notched as if a part 

 had been cut away. A large proportion of the species hibernate in 

 the adult state, and some of them are the first butterflies to appear 

 in the spring. Some of the hibernating species, however, remain in 

 concealment till quite late in the season. 



The red admiral, Vanessa aialdnta. — The wings are purplish black 

 above. On the fore wing there is a bright orange-colored band begin- 

 ning near the middle of the costa, and extending nearly to the inner 

 angle ; between this and the apex of the wing are several white spots 



as shown in Figure 961 ; on 

 the hind wing there is an 

 orange band on the outer 

 margin inclosing a row of 

 black spots. 



The larva feeds chiefly 

 on elm, nettle, and hop. 

 When first hatched it folds 

 together a half -opened leaf 

 at the simimit of the plant ; 

 when larger it makes its nest 

 of a lower expanded leaf. 

 There are two broods ; both 

 butterflies and chrysalids 

 hibernate. This butterfly occurs over nearly the whole of the European 

 and North American continents. 



The painted beauty, Va- 

 nessa virginiensis. — Figure 962 

 represents the upper side of 

 this butterfly. The darker 

 parts of the wings are very 

 dark brownish black, the light- 

 er parts a golden orange, some- 

 times with a pinkish tinge. 

 In the apical portion of the 

 fore wings there are several 

 white spots as shown in the 

 figure; the largest of these, 

 the proximal one, is salmon or 

 flesh-colored in the female. A characteristic feature of this species 

 is the presence of two submarginal eye-like spots on the lower side 



Fig. 961. — Vanessa atalanta. 



Fig. 962. — Vanessa virginiensis 



