770 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Southern individuals have much longer tails than the one shown 

 ill the figure; and there is a variety, patersonia, in which the upper 

 surface of the wings is all dark brown. 



The larva feeds on red cedar and smilax. This species occurs 

 from Massachusetts to Florida and westward to Dakota and Texas. 



The banded elfin, Incisdlia ntphcn.- — In the butterflies of the genus 

 Incisalia the fringe of the outer margin of the hind wings is slightly 

 prolonged at the end of each vein, giving the wings a scalloped out- 

 line ; they also lack tail-like prolongations of the hind wings. 



There are several species occurring on both sides of the continent. 

 One of these, the banded elfin, is represented in Figure 960, 4. In 

 this species there is a distinct white or whitish edging near the base 

 of the under side of the hind wing which limits a darker band that 

 occupies the outer two-thirds of the basal half of the wing. 



This species occurs in the Eastern and Middle States. The larva 

 feeds on pine. 



The hair-streaks desci ibed above are of moderate size and modest 

 colors. The two following will serve to illustrate a somewhat differ- 

 ent type. 



The great purple hair-streak, Atlides halesus. — This is the largest 

 of our eastern hair-streaks, the larger individuals expanding 50 mm. 

 In the male the greater part of the upper surface of the wings is bright 

 blue; the discal stigma, the outer fourth of the fore wings, the apex 

 of the inner margin of the hind wings, and the tails are black. In the 

 female the outer half of the wings is black. 



This species occurs in the southern half of the United States and 

 southward. It has been found as far north as Illinois. The larva is 

 said to feed on oak. 



The white-m hair-streak, Thecla m-alottm. — This is a smaller 

 species, expanding about 37 mm. The upper surface of the disk of 

 the wings is a rich, glossy dark blue, with green reflections; a broad 

 outer border and costal margin are black. The hind wing has two 

 tails, and a bright dark orange spot preceded by white at the anal 

 angle. The under surface is brownish gray, and on this surface both 

 wings are crossed by a common, narrow white stripe which forms a 

 large W or reversed M on the hind wings. 



This species occurs in the southern half of the United States. The 

 lar\^a feeds on oak and on milk- vetch. 



II. THE COPPERS 



The coppers, as a rule, are easily distinguished from other gos- 

 samer-winged butterflies by their orange-red and brown colors, each 

 with a coppery tinge, and conspicuous black markings. Ihey are 

 the stoutest of the Lycaenidae. Among the exceptions to the more 

 common coloring of these insects are the following: In the male of 

 Heodes epixanthe, a small species which frequents cranberry bogs, 

 the wings have a purple tinge; and in Heodes heteronea, a species 

 found from California to Colorado, the male is blue. 



Eighteen species of the group are now listed in our fauna ; the two 

 following will serve as examples: 



