51 



ON SOME INNOXIOUS INSECTS 



Bt W. Saunders, London, Ontabio. 



Under the above heading it is proposed to give our readers the life history of several of 

 our more common insects, which arc neither injurious nor beneficial to the farmer or fruit 

 gorower, but which from their great abundance, or else from some peculiarity in their appear- 

 ance, habits or size, excite curiosity and claim our attention. 



The Archippus Butterflt {Danais Archippus, Pabr.) 



The first insect of which we propose to treat is one of our commonest butterflies, known 

 as the Archippus Butterfly (Dniwis Archippus.) Its first appearance on the wing is usually 

 about the middle of IMay, but it is not very common until later in the sea.son. It is said that 

 it passes the winter in a state of torpidity, hidden in some sheltered spot where it sleeps 

 securely till awakened by the warmth of spring. The few individuals which thus early 

 appear, lay their eggs on the lender leaves of the young milkweed plants (Aadepias cornuti) 

 and other species of Asclepias, and also on the bitter root (apoci/num AndroswmefoliumJ ; this 

 takes place during the latter part of May or the beginning of June. 



The eggs when first laid are white, but in two or three days they become yllow, and 

 hen dull grey just before the time of hatching. They are J^th of an inch long, conical 

 Fig. 39. in form, flattened at the base. When viewed 



with a magnifying glass they appear very 

 *^ beautiful, (see figure 39) where a represents 

 the egg much enlarged, while at c it is shown 

 of the natural size, and in its usual rosition on 

 the under side of the leaf. On each egg there 

 are about twenty-five raised longitudinalc lines 

 or ribs, and about the same number of pross- 

 lines between each, so that the whole apweara 

 covered with a regular and beautiful ncts-ork 

 as shown in the figure, which has been drawn 

 from uatn;c, as those also have which are to 

 follow by our esteemed friend, Prof. C. V. Riley, of St. Louis, Mo. In about .six or seven 

 days the egg matures, producing a very small caterpillar, one tenth of an inch long, with a 

 large black head and yellowish white body, with a few black hairs on each segment or ring, 

 as shown at c and / ( Fig o9 ) Thjs catcriiillar grows very rapidly, and soon finds that its 

 skin, although very elastic, will bear no further stretchinir, when it conveniently disrobes 

 it.sclf and appears in cnlour.-i fre.-^h and gay, by simply crawling out of its skin through a rent 

 down the back, which takes place just at the proper time. This process, which is called 

 moulting, is rejieated three times during the growth of the larva, and requires no other 

 preparation for its accom]ilishmont than tliat of a short fast. Any abstemiousness shown at 

 these critical periods in the creature's history is however soon compensated for by the enor- 

 mous appetite with which it is furnished as soon as the crisis is past. At h (Fig. 39) the 

 bead and anterior segments of the larva just before its last moult, is figured for the purpose 



