LEPIDOPTERA. 



3 8i 



Family PiERID^E (Pi-er'i-dae). 

 The Picrids {Pi-cr'ids). 



These butterflies are usually of medium size, but some of 

 them are small; they are nearly always white, yellow, or 

 orange, and are usually marked with black. They are the 

 most abundant of all our butterflies, being common every- 

 where in fields and roads. Some species are so abundant as 

 to be serious pests, the larvae feeding on cultivated plants. 



The characteristic features of the venation of the wings 

 are the following (Fig. 460) : Vein V, of the fore wings is 

 more closely connected 

 with radius than with 

 cubitus, the latter appear- 

 ing to be three-branched; 

 vein V, of the fore wings 

 coalesces with radius for 

 a considerable distance 

 beyond the apex of the 

 discal cell ; and only three 

 or four of the branches 

 of radius remain distinct. 



In this family the fore 

 legs are well developed in 

 both sexes, there being no 

 tendency to their reduc- 

 tion in size, as in the two 

 following families. 



The larvae are usual- 

 ly slender green worms 

 clothed with short, fine 



Fig. 460. — Wings of Pontia protodice. 



hairs ; the well-known Cabbage-worms are typical illus- 

 trations (Fig. 461). The chrysalids are supported by the 

 tail and by a loose girth around the middle. They maybe 

 distinguished at a glance by the presence of a single pointed 

 projection in front (Fig. 461). 



