FAMILY VI 



THE HELICONIANS 



Family Heliconidae (Hel-i-con'i-dse) 



This family consists chiefly of tropical butterflies ; a single 

 species, however, extends into the United States. The heli- 

 conians are of medium or rather large size ; they have narrow 

 and elongate fore wings, which are usually more than twice 

 as long as broad. The fore legs are very feebly developed in 

 both sexes. The following is our only species. 



The Zebra 



Apostraphia charithonia (Ap-o-stra'phi-a char-i-tho'ni-a) 



Plate XXXII, Fig. i 



Wings black, banded with lemon yellow, as follows : On 

 the front wings a curved band arises at the base, follows the 

 cubitus, and extends about three-fourths the length of cell Cu ; ; 

 a second band arises near the costal margin, crosses the apex 

 of cell R + M, and extends to near the end of cell M 2 ; there 

 is a third transverse band near the apex of the wing. On the 

 hind wings there is a broad band parallel with the front wings 

 when they are spread, a submarginal row of about fifteen 

 spots, and a row of clots on the outer margin near the inner 

 angle. Expanse of wings two and one-half to four inches. 



Caterpillar. — Greenish white in the earlier stages and 

 porcelain white in the last stage, with transverse markings of 



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