244 



AiV ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



(irapta prognc.—W'm^s of right side detached 

 to show under side; this is almost like G. 



We have many species of considerable size belonging to the 

 genus Argynnis, which resemble each other more or less by 



their tawny upper sides 

 Fi'^- 254- marked with black spots, 



and by having the under 

 sides more or less marked 

 with silvery blotches, es- 

 pecially on the hind wings. 

 None of them are injurious, 

 the larvae feeding upon vio- 

 lets. In the genus G rapt a 

 there are species with 

 strongly and irregularly 

 angulated and toothed 



comma. ■ -^ j i i_ 



wmgs, quite dark brown 

 in color, with irregular black or blackish blotches, spots, and 

 lines, and a little silvery mark resembling a comma or semicolon 

 on the hind wings beneath. Of these the caterpillar of G. com?na 

 feeds upon the hop-vine, although it rarely does any serious 

 injury. It is reddish or yellowish in color, with a black head 

 and black branched spines, and forms an angular chrysalis which 

 is suspended by the tail. The chrysalis is yellowish green in 

 color, with prominently marked segments, and has the thorax 

 produced into a somewhat acute process. 



Another very common, almost cosmopolitan butterfly, is the 

 Vanessa antiopa, popularly known as the "mourning-cloak." 

 It is of a very dark, rich-brown color, with a broad yellowish 

 border on both wings. It winters in the butterfly stage, and 

 may often be seen on warm days in midwinter, fluttering about in 

 the woods, while it is the earliest of the butterflies to make its 

 appearance in spring. The caterpillars feed upon quite a variety 

 of plants, notably willow and poplar, and often in great colonies. 

 When full grown they are two inches or more in length and black, 

 with red-marked, branched spines. The chrysalis is suspended 

 by the tail, and of a somewhat mouse-gray color, the segments 

 marked with acute spines. This may under circumstances be- 

 come a troublesome insect, but it is easily controlled, either by 

 arsenical poisons, as the caterpillar feeds exposed, or by hand- 

 picking, which is easy because of the gregarious habit when 



