28 



BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA. 



3. Under side of hind wings plain yellow. No marks along the veins, 



rapae. 

 Under side of hind wings marked along the veins, 4. 



4. Black border to both wings, monuste. 



No black border to wings, 5. 



5. Under side of hind wings pale yellow, with brownish along the veins, 



napi. 



THE PROTODICE BUTTERFLY, OR SOUTHERN WHITE. 



Pontia protodice Bois. and LeConte. Fig. 24. 



Summer form, protodice, Bd. and Lee. Expanse of wings from 1.6 

 to 1.8 inches, 40 to 45 mm. 



Male. Upper surface white, fore wings with a broad black dash or 

 bar across the end of the discal cell, and a sub-marginal row of three 

 more or less distinct spots, the last almost 

 or quite touching the hind margin. Traces 

 of rays run from this row to the outer 

 edge. Hind wings without spots. Bars 

 and spots are repeated on the under side. 

 Veins of hind wings are broadly marked 

 with greenish yellow sprinkled with brown 

 seals, and the tips of the fore wings 

 tinged with greenish yellow. 



Female. Color and spots as in male, 

 but the spots have a tendency to blend, 

 and the outer margin supports a border 

 of triangles connecting with the sub- 

 terminal row of rays. Hind wings with 

 subterminal zigzag blackish line, outer 

 portions sending rays to the margin, 

 where they are somewhat expanded. The 

 base of both wings are more sprinkled 

 with dark scales than in the males. Under 

 side similar to that of the male. 



Winter form, vernal is, Edw. Smaller 

 than summer form, the dark colors more 

 prominent. Spots of subterminal row of 

 fore wings more inclined to be connected. 

 Expanse scarecely 1.6 inches. Body black, 

 with some white hairs and scales. 



Distribution This insect is usually known as the Southern Cabbage 

 butterfly, though it is to be found everywhere east of the Rocky moun- 

 tains. It is injurious in the larval state in the southern states. In the 

 northern states P. rapae is more common, in many places driving out 

 protodice. There are several broods during a season. 



Wiley has taken it at Miles City; Brandegee has collected it at 

 Helena; Cooley has it from Bozeman; Douglass collected it in the 

 Ruby Mountains and Madison Valley; Elrod has taken it at Missoula, 

 Flathead Lake, and in the Mission Mountains, Coubeaux has it from Big 

 Sandy. Collected by Coues along the 49th parallel in 1874. 



