174 



LEPIDOPTERA (BUTTEEFLIES). 



Butterflies (Rhopalocera). 



Amongst the seventy British Butterflies only tliree (Pieridx 

 or AVhites) can be considered of economic importance. The 

 clubbed antennai always identify a butterfl}'. Tlie larva3, too, 

 are often spiny, and the pupa or chrysalis (4) is angulated, 



Fig. 77. — Green-veined White (Picris Twpi), 



1, Imagi) ; 2, ovmii ; 3, larva ; 4, clirysalis ; 5, Iclmeumon Fly (Hemitdes rmlml- 

 ariiis) ; (5, natural size. (Curtis.) 



and generally pale in colour. No cocoon is formed, the chry- 

 salids either hanging with the head downwards and attached by 

 a lump of silk at the tail, or suspended head upwards, when 

 they are girdled by a small band of silk as well as a caudal 

 attachment. In England all Butterflies are day-fliers. 



The Lmye TV/die (Pieri^- hrassica'). 



We may take the Large or Cabbage Wliite (Pie/-lt hrassim) 

 as our type. The fore -wings of this species are creamy- 

 white, with a broad black patch at the tip in the male; in 

 the female there are also two black spots in the middle of 

 the wings. The under-side of the front wings of both male 

 and female is white, witli two black spots; the posterior pale 

 yellow with a fine dusting of black. The eggs are laid on the 

 undcr-surface of cruciferous plants, are yellow in colour, and 



