EASTERN UNITED STATES. 277 



Food-plant, pine. 



Atlantic and Western States, Colorado. 



114. Thecla L^ta, Edw. 



Expanse of wings from .9 inch to 1.1 inches. 



Male. — Upper side black, near the base of the fore 

 wings a few scales of deep metallic blue ; next the anal 

 angle a band of the same color, which extends half-way 

 along the outer margin, sprinkled with black. Beyond 

 this a fine line of blue scales follows the margin to the 

 outer angle. Anal angle edged with red ; fringe gray. 



Under side of hind wings and apex and costal margin 

 of fore wings slate-blue, with a green reflection ; costal 

 edge of fore wings red ; disk of same wings smoke-color. 

 Beyond the cell, on the costal margin, a transverse, ab- 

 breviated series of five small red spots, edged outwardly 

 with white, the last two obscured by the smoky hue of 

 the disk. 



The hind wings have two series of red spots parallel 

 to the outer margin, those of the exterior small, and 

 towards the outer angle minute, each more or less sur- 

 rounded by a delicate white border, in which are a few 

 black scales ; the inner series crosses the middle of the 

 wing, is sinuous, the spots large, brighter red and cres- 

 cent-shaped, bordered outwardly with white in which 

 are a few black scales. Edge of wing at anal angle and 

 at the intersection of the adjoining venules red. Body 

 black above, beneath white. Antennae annulate white 

 and black ; club black, red at tip ; palpi white. 



Female. — Upper side black, the base of fore wings 

 and hind margin for two-thirds its length, and all of 

 hind wings except the costa, dark metallic blue. Under 



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