260 



LEPIUOPTERA. 



with a spot of dark yellow at tlieir base ; and on tlie fourth 

 segment are four spines, as tliere are on all tiie others, except- 

 ing the terminal, which has two pairs, one posterior to the 

 other. The spines are yellow, with Ijlackish branches, except- 

 ing the termiual pair which is black ; and there is a row of 

 reddish ones on each side. The under surface is yellowish grey, 

 darker on the anterior segments, Avith a central line of blackish 

 and many small, black dots." The chrysalis state lasts from 

 twelve to fourteen da3's. It is ash brown, with the head deeply 

 iiotclied, and eight silvery spots on the back. Grapia c-arcjcn- 

 ieum Kirby (Fig. 188, G. Progne Harris) is a small species 

 with a silvery L in the middle of the under side of the hind 

 wings. It is our most common species northward. It appears 

 •lie last of summer. The larva lives on the hop and elm. 



Grapta comma Double- 

 da}' is more common 

 southward. It is known 

 by having a silvery 

 connna in the middle 

 of the hinder Avings. 

 T!ie caterpillar lives on 

 the hop and elm. Mr. 

 W. II. Edwards has 

 Fig. 188. found the larvixi on the 



])road-leaved nettle. He says "my attention was lirst attracted 

 ]»y observing cei'tain leaves drooping, and more or less eaten. 

 On the under side of these I usually found the caterpillar 

 inactive, and never more than one upon tlie same plant. The 

 half-grown larvaa were black, with a yellowish stripe along the 

 side from the third segment to the tail, and Avitli yellow stripes 

 across the back, and spots of the same color at the base of 

 the dorsal spines, which were yellow, tipped with black. The 

 mature larvffi were white, mottled or striped with grey or 

 ashen, and with red spiracles." 



The chrysalis is brownish gray or white, variegated Avitli 

 l^ale brown, and ornamented Avith gold on the tubercles. The 

 tly appears in May, July, August and September. In the colder 

 and mountainous portions of New England and Ncav York, 

 these species are replaced by the Grapta Faunus of P^dAvards, 



