COLIAS L 



COLIAS ALEXANDRA. 1—4. 



Colias Afe.ia>t(/ni. I 9 . Edwards, Proo. Eiit. Sue. Phila. ii, p. 14. 18G3. 



Male. Expauds from 1.9 to 2.2 iiiclies. 



Upper side bright lemon-yellow, with a greenish tinge on the inner half of 

 secondaries ; base of wings and costa of primaries slightly powdered with black 

 scales ; frino-e vellow. 



Primaries have a bioad l)lack marginal band, the inner edge of which is usu- 

 ally not crenated, but is parallel to the margin, with a small angular projection upon 

 the submedian interspace ; at the apex it curves slightly and extends a little way 

 along the costal margin, less than in C. Fhilodice ; on the inner margin it termi- 

 nates as in that species ; this band is crossed to the fringe by the yellow nervules ; 

 on the arc is a naiTow black mark, in length not exceeding half the arc, sometimes 

 a little dilated and then enclosing a yellow point. 



Secondaries have a narrow margin terminating acutely before the anal angle, 

 crenated within and crossed by the yellow nervures ; sometimes on the arc is a mi- 

 nute spot of paler color, but this is usually wanting. 



Under side : primaries same yellow as above, pale at apex and on inner mar- 

 gin ; costal margin slightly powdered with minute black scales and edged with pale 

 roseate ; discal spot as above ; otherwise immaculate. Secondaries whollv greenish- 

 yellow, covered with black scales ; discal spot small, rounded, silver-white, Avithout 

 a border ; otherwise immaculate ; nor is there a pink tinge at base as in Philodice 

 and many species of Colias ; edge of costa pale roseate to the end of the costal ner- 

 vure only ; fringe of both wings yellow. 



Palpi pale yellow ; legs and antennte pale roseate ; club blackish above, brown- 

 ish-yellow below and at tijj. 



Female. Expands 2.3 inches. 



Upper side less brightly colored, ha\nng a greenish tinge throughout, and with- 

 out a marginal band ; fringe yellow and otherwise as in the male. 



Variety a. Female ; expands 2.1 inches. 



Primaries have the apex bluish-white, and an obsolete macular band, indica- 

 ted only by clusters of scales along the margin and apex and by a line of scales 

 anterior to these ; on the under side of secondaries the hind and inner margins have 

 a bluish tint. 



