662 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



from Fort George, Fla. lu coutiuouieiit the larv;e occupied thirty days in attaining 

 their full growth, and remained two weeks in the chrysalis state before giving forth 

 the butterfly. 



The young caterpillars are almost precisely like the full grown ones in form and 

 color, except that the gray markings are darker and the white blotches not so exten- 

 sive as at a later stage of growth. 



Larva. — The full-grown larva is something over 2i inches in length, and is very 

 peculiarly marked. The belly and legs are brownish ; the first four segments have 

 upon each side a longitudinal white band ; between these two bauds above, the 

 body is brownish, with large spots of a darker color; upon the middle segments, 

 beginning with the fourth and ending with the eighth, there is a large white space 

 shaped like a lozenge, one of its corners reaching to the first pair of prolegs on each 

 side ; several brownish dots are to be seen upon this band ; another similar white or 

 cream colored blotch covers the posterior part of the body ; this blotch also contains 

 some brownish dots; the sides of the body between these white spots are of a uni- 

 form dull brown. One of the most striking points connected with these larvae is one 

 which they hold in common with other members of the genus, namely the possession 

 of two long red fleshy filaments or " tentacles" upon the first thoracic segment, and 

 the power to withdraw or extrude them at will. Upon being disturbed the larva 

 always protrudes these organs, which, by the way, have a very disagreeable odor, 

 and directs them towards the place of disturbance. It is considered that these organs 

 are a protection to the caterpillars against the attacks of ichneumon flies and other 

 parasitic and predaceous insects. 



Pupa. — The chrysalis of this insect affords one of the most marked instances of pro- 

 tective resemblance which it has ever been our good fortune to see. It is nearly an 

 inch and a half in length, is irregularly forked at its upper end, has a prominent 

 point upon its breast, and is suspended by a loop of silk around its middle, its tail 

 being also fastened to the supporting twig or leaf. Its color (I have only examined 

 the hibernating chrysalides) is of varying shades of gray and brownish, so exactly of 

 the color of the orange bark that it is extremely difficult to see it. The irregular 

 projections of the head and breast, and sundry markings resembling cracks in the 

 bark, and even minute lichens growing upon it, bear out the striking likeness to a 

 bit of a knotty orange branch most perfectly. It is worthy of remark that Mr. 

 Glover states that the chrysalis is greenish in color, but this discrepancy may be 

 explained by the probability that he was describing the chrysalis of one of the sum- 

 mer broods, or one which had just transformed. 



Butterfly. — The adult insect is one of the handsomest of the southern butterflies. Its 

 spread of wing is from 4 to 5 inches. The ground color above is black, and an irreg- 

 ular triangle of broad yellow spots includes a large part of the wings. The under 

 side of the wings is yellowish with black nervures and a row of crescent-shaped 

 blue spots on the secondaries. 



There are usually four broods of the butterflies iu the course of a 

 season, the last brood wintering in the chrysalis state, and the adults 

 making their appearance the ensuing April. 



From what we have been able to learn these caterpillars have not 

 been abundant enough of late years to do much damage, yet from the 

 statements of Boisduval and Le Conte, and of Glover, referred to before, 

 they have undoubtedly been so in years past. This being the case, the 

 obstacle to free development which has kept them in check is liable at 

 any time to be removed, and we may have them abundantly any year. 



That the scent organs have not succeeded iu making them free from 

 the attacks of parasitic insects is shown by the fact that from chrysalides 

 collected at Jacksonville, Fla., in January, were bred several specimens 



