738 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Fig. 943. — Atryone con 

 spicua. 



In the majority of our species the males can be recognized at a glance 

 by a conspicuous j^atch crossing the disk of the fore wings, which 

 usually appears to the naked eye like a scorched, 

 oblique streak, and which on this account is 

 termed the brand (Fig. 943). The brand is a 

 complicated organ, composed of tubular scales, 

 the androconia, that are the outlets of scent- 

 glands, and of other scales of various shapes; 

 in some species the brand is wanting. In this 

 subfamily vein M2 of the fore wings arises much 

 nearer to vein M3 than to Mi, the base of the 

 vein usually curving noticeably toward vein JMa 

 (Fig. 944). 



This subfamily is an exceedingly difficult one to study. One 

 hundred and twenty-five species have been described from America 

 north of Mexico; and in many cases the differences between allied 

 bpecies are not well marked. 

 The following two are 

 named merely as examples. 

 The first one is easily recog- 

 nized. 



The least skipper, Ancy- 

 loxipha numitor .■ — This 

 skipper is the smallest of 

 our common species, and is 

 also remarkable for lacking 

 the recurved hook at the 

 tip of the antennae. The 

 wings are tawny, broadly 

 margined with dark brown. 

 In the females the fore 

 wings are almost entirely 

 brown. The larger indi- 

 viduals expand about 25 

 mm. The larva feeds upon 

 grass in damp places. 



The black -dash, Atry- 

 ione consptcna.- — The male 

 of this species is represented 

 by Figure 943. It is black- 

 ish brown, with consider- 

 able yellow on the basal 

 half of the fore wings. The 

 brand is velvety black. This 

 species is distributed fr®m 

 Massachusetts to Nebraska. Fig. 944. — Wings of Pamphila sassacus. 



