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DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EARLY STAGES OF SOME 

 MEXICAN LEPIDOPTERA. 



BY WILLIAM SCHAUS, JR. 



Papilio Thymbr.^us. Boisd. 



Feeds on chirimoya. Length when mature, i^ inches; head small, 

 sHghtly flattened, white, with black markings. The body is rather stout, 

 and segments contracted. The skin is velvety in appearance, and 

 owing to the variety of color, the larva is very handsome. Retractile 

 tentacles red. Segments one and two are dorsally black, with numer- 

 ous small turquoise blue spots, some of these having a yellow centre. 

 Laterally these segments are white, with a small bright orange spot on 

 each, above which is an irregular black line. Segments 2 and 3 

 are considerably enlarged. Segment 3 is black dorsally, with two sub- 

 dorsal blue points placed one before the other. On either side of the 

 anterior blue point is a large yellow spot, and again beyond this three 

 smaller spots, two white and one blue, with orange centre. To either 

 side of the posterior blue point are three white spots. Laterally this 

 segment is pale blue, with three orange spots, one anteriorly and two 

 posteriorly, and separated from one another by a black line. Seg- 

 ment four is very similar to the third segment, but differs in having 

 anteriorly only two spots beyond the large yellow one, and posteriorly 

 in having a sub-dorsal white band, which continues to 12th 

 segment. This is edged with black, and then to either side comes 

 another white dorsal band; beyond these comes a rather broad black 

 band, then a dark green one, and finally a narrow black one. In the 

 sub-dorsal white band on each segment is anteriorly a pale blue spot 

 and posteriorly a yellow one. In the other two white dorsal bands on 

 each segment is a central yellow spot. These last two white bands are 

 replaced on segments ten, eleven, twelve anteriorly by a yellow spot 

 edged with black, and posteriorly by a few pale blue spots. Laterally, 

 beginning at fifth segment, the larva is turquoise blue, which is formed 

 into four bands by three black lines. The blue ground color is more 

 or less spotted with yellow and green. Prolegs and abdominal legs 

 vermilion red, with an orange spot near base. Larva, when about to 

 transform, fastens itself at anal segment by a silken thread passed 

 around shoulders, and in 48 hours becomes a chrysalis. Length of 

 latter, three-fourth to seven-eighth inch, stout, especially abdomen, but 

 tapering to a point at anal segment. At ist seg. the body is greatly 

 compressed as though a string had been passed around it and then 

 tightly pulled. On thorax is a long cylindrical protuberance. Surface 

 slightly rough. Color, pale green, with a few brown spots on thorax, 

 and dorsally on segments. In the winter, the chrysalis state lasts four 

 months, and in summer from one to two months. The butterfly is 

 only found in the open country, and here chiefly frequents Macuilte- 

 pec, a high hill near the town, and covered with very low vegetation. 

 It is to be found the entire year. 



