14 



Next to Colias phUodice, Godt , this is the most common butterfly in 

 Indiana from May 20 until September. In any clover field in June vast 

 numbers may be seen gathering honey and chasing one another from 

 bloom to bloom. In July and August they are to be found wherever 

 there are thistles and ironweeds. During the latter month the eggs are 

 laid, and by the middle of September the butterfly has almost wholly 

 disappeared. The larvae pass the winter beneath sticks and pieces of 

 bark in the vicinity of the food plant. 



25. (108.) ARGYNNIS APHRODITE, Fab. Aphrodite Butterfly. The 



Silver Spot Fritillary. 



Argynnis aphrodite, Harris, Ins. Inj., 1862, 285, fig. 111. 

 Morris, Lep. N. A., 1862, 43. 

 Edwards, But. N. A., I, 1868, 71, pi. 22. 

 French, Sev. Rep, St. Ento. 111., 1878, 150. 

 Id., But. E. U: S., 1886, 157, fig. 40. 

 Packard, Guide, 8th- Ed., 1883, 253, fig. 183. 

 Scudder, But. E. U. S., 1889, I, 563; in, 



pis. 4, 12, 21, 64, 72, 84. 



A. aphrodite has been noted in but five counties, but probably occurs 

 throughout the State, being confounded Avith cybele, which it closely re- 

 semblesi. It may, however, be easily told from that species by the fol- 

 lowing characters : 



Smaller size ; less brown on the bases of the upper side of wings ; nar- 

 rower pale band near outer margin of under side of hind wings ; nar- 

 rower space between black bands on outer margin of fore wings above ; 

 and deeper tint of ground color, approaching a red It frequents the 

 same localities as A. Cybele, and is most abundant, where found, from 

 June 25 till August. 



26. (109.) ARGYNNIS ALCESTIS, Edw. Alcestis Butterfly. 



Argynnw alcestis, French, Sev. Rep. St. Euto. 111., 1878, 150. 

 Id., But. E. U. S., 1886, 158. 

 Blatchley, Ind. Farm., Nov. 6, 1886. 

 Id., Hoos. Nat, II., Nov. 1886, 12. 

 Scudder, But. E. U. S. and Can., Ill, p. 1802. 



In Indiana this species has been collected in but two counties Lake, 

 where Worthiugton reports it as common ; and Monroe, where a single 

 specimen was taken from a meadow July 1, 1886. From above it 

 closely resembles A. cybele, but on the under side the hinder wings are 

 dark cinnamon brown, without a submargiual yellow band. 



It is probably quite common on the prairies in the northern part of 

 the State, and has been overlooked heretofore. 



