THE TRIBE OF THE FRITILLARIES 117 



This butterfly is a southern rather than a northern spe- 

 cies, but it is found occasionally from Montana to Massa- 

 chusetts and southward to Arizona, Mexico, and Florida. 

 Even in northern Indiana it is very seldom found and is 

 considered rare in the southern part of that state. Around 

 Buffalo, New York, it is also rare and is not common in the 

 vicinity of New York City. In the more Southern states^ 

 however, it is abundant and extends well through the con- 

 tinent of South America. 



There is considerable evidence to indicate that this 

 butterfly hibernates as an adult. In the more southern 

 regions it probably also hibernates in other stages, es- 

 pecially the chrysalis and the larva. In regions where it 

 is double-brooded, as it appears to be in the latitude of 

 New York City, the seasonal history seems to run some- 

 thing like this: the partly grown caterpillars which have 

 passed the winter in shelter at the surface of the soil feed 

 upon the leaves of violets and certain other plants. They 

 change to chrysalids, probably in May, and emerge as 

 butterflies in June. These butterflies lay eggs for a sum- 

 mer brood of caterpillars which may feed upon the leaves 

 of violets. May apples, portulaca, and stonecrop. They 

 grow into cylindrical worms of a general reddish yellow 

 color, marked by longitudinal stripes of brown upon the 

 sides and a row of whitish dots upon the back. They 

 become matured in time to disclose the butterflies of the 

 second brood in August and September. Presumably 

 these butterflies lay eggs that develop into caterpillars 

 which hibernate when partially grown. 



Farther south there are probably three broods a year 

 and hibernation may take place in various stages. There 

 is good opportimity for careful work in determining the 



