2.S 



ful : hsnce it is difficult to capture, and even wbea takea will often flutter with such foroe as 

 to S'jriousl)- damige the covering and structure of its beautiful wings. When its wings are 

 fully spreail they measure from three to three-auda-half inches across, (see Fig. 27. after 

 Riley;. The ground colour is a rich greenish olive. On the fore wings there is a palebmd 

 about the middle, extending from near the base to the tip, and along the outer m.'irgin 

 runs another bind ne:irl_v equal in width, but darker and less distinct ; the veins also are 

 lined with white. The hind wings which are small, are nearly covered by a wide central 

 ro-!y bind, bjcoming paler as it appro.iches the body, the hinder edge is fringed with white. 

 On the anterior portion of the body there are six longitudinal stripes or lines, while the bind- 

 er part is alternately spotted with white and black. The entire under surface is much paler 

 and duller in colour than the upper. ' ' 



"The larva," Mr. Riley says, " feeds upon purslane, turnip, buckwheat, water melon, 

 atid even apple and grape leaves, upon any of which it may be found in the month of July. 

 It de.scends into the ground, and within a smooth cavity, changiS into a light brown chrysalis, 

 from which the moth emerges during the month of September." 



•• The most coiimon form of the larva is that given at Fig. 28. Its colour is yellowish 

 gi-een, with a prominent subdorsal row of elliptical spots, each spot consi -sting of two curved 



Fig. 2.5. 



black lines, enclosing superiorly a bright crimson space, and inferiorly a pale yellow line — 

 the whole row of spots connected by a pale yellow stripe, edged above with black. In some 

 specimens these eyelike spots are disconnected, and the space b-jtween the black cre,scents is 

 of a uniform cream colour. The breathing holes are either surrounded with black or with 

 black edged with yellow. The other form is black, and characterized chiefly by a yellow 

 line along the back, and a series of pale yellow spots and darker yellow dots, as represented 



Fi'.' :■"> 



in the illustration Fig. 29, even this dark form is subject to great variation, some specimens 

 entirely lacking the line along the hick, and having the spots of difi'erent shape." 



" This insect his a wide range, as it occurs in the West Indies, Mexico and Canada, as 

 well as throusrhout the United Stites. Feeding as it does, principally on plants of but little 

 value, and bcins very commonly attacked by the larvfe of a Tachina fly, this insect has never 

 become sufficiently common to be classed as injurious." 



