COLOR AND COLORATION 



181 



and the genitalia. In New England fabricii hibernates and produces 

 umbrosa, as a rule, while umbrosa usually yields fabricii. 



The little blue butterfly, Cyaniris pseudargiolus (Fig. 234), is poly- 

 morphic to a remarkable degree. In the high latitudes of Canada a 



FIG. 234. Cyaniris pseudargiolus; A, form lucia; B, violacea; C, pseudargiolus proper. 



Natural size. 



single brood (lucia) occurs. About Boston the same spring brood ap- 

 pears, but under two forms: an earlier variety (lucia), which is small, 

 with large black markings beneath; and a later variety (violacea), 

 which is typically larger, with smaller black spots, though it varies 

 into the form lucia. Finally, 

 in summer, a third form 

 (pseudargiolus proper) 

 appears, as the product of 

 lucia or else the joint prod- 

 uct of lucia and violacea, and 

 this is still larger, but the 

 black spots are now faint. 

 In the warm South the spring 

 form is violacea, but while 

 some of the males are blue, 

 others are melanic, as just 

 mentioned a dimorphic con- 

 dition which does not occur 

 in the North. Violacea then 

 produces pseudargiolus, in 

 which, however, all the males are blue. 



Iphiclides ajax (Fig. 235) is another polymorphic butterfly whose 

 life history is complex. The three principal varieties of this species, 

 known respectively as marcellus, telamonides and ajax, differ not only in 

 coloration, but also in size and form; marcellus appears first, in spring; 

 telamonides appears a little later (though before marcellus has disap- 

 peared); and ajax is the summer form; as the season advances the 



PIG. 235. Iphiclides ajax, form telamonides, on 

 flower of button bush. Reduced. 



