HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES 



The Red-spotted Purple 



Basilarchia astyanax (Bas-i-lar'chi-a as-ty'a-nax) 



Plate XXVII, Fig. 3 



The upper surface of the wings is velvety indigo-black 

 tinged with blue or green. There are three rows of blue or 

 green spots on the outer third of the hind wings ; the spots of 

 the inner row vary greatly in width in different individuals. 

 On the lower surface there is a reddish orange spot in cell 

 R + M of the fore wings, and one on the medial cross-veins ; 

 on the hind wings there are two orange spots similarly situ- 

 ated, a third at the base of cell R t , and a row of seven spots 

 just within a double row of submarginal blue or green spots. 



Caterpillar. — Length one and one-half inches. The 

 body is naked and humpy and bears various tubercles. In 

 color it is mottled and streaked and blotched with brown and 

 green and buff. The large tubercles on the second thoracic 

 segment are thorny, and dark in color. 



Food-plants. — Plum, thorn-apple, and other rosacea?. How- 

 ever, it is a general feeder. 



For beautiful and rich iridescence nothing can 

 surpass the upper side of the wings of the red- 

 spotted purple when it is flitting about in the 

 sunshine. The front wings are velvety, reddish 

 at the tips and purple black at the middle. The 

 hind wings show a dark metallic green, while the 

 triple rows of spots near the edge take on various 

 hues of blue and green and purple. The under 

 side of the wings is olive brown with rather con- 



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