Genus Lycaena 



ascertain the facts and instruct the people as to the best manner 

 in which to ward off the attacks of the insect swarms, which are 

 respecters neither of size nor beauty in the vegetable world, at- 

 tacking alike the majestic oak and the lowliest mosses. 



Genus LYCjENA, Fabricius 

 (The Blues) 



" Bright butterflies 

 Fluttered their vans, azure and green and gold." 



Sir Edwin Arnold. 



Butterfly.— Generally small, for the most part blue on the 

 upper side of the wings, white or gray on the under side, vari- 

 ously marked with spots and lines. 



What has been said in reference to the subdivision of the 

 genus Tbecla may be repeated in regard to the genus which we 

 are considering. It has been in recent years subdivided by 

 writers who have given close attention to the matter, and these 

 subdivisions are entirely defensible from a scientific standpoint. 

 Nevertheless, owing to the close resemblance which prevails 

 throughout the group, in this book, which is intended for popu- 

 lar use, the author has deemed it best not to separate the species, 

 as to do so presupposes a minute anatomical knowledge, which 

 the general reader is not likely to possess. 



Egg. — The eggs are for the most part flattened, turban- 

 shaped (see p. 4, Fig. 7). 



Caterpillar. — Slug-shaped, as in the preceding genera, feed- 

 ing upon the petals and bracts of flowers, or upon delicate ter- 

 minal leaves. 



Chrysalis.— Closely resembling the chrysalids of the preceding 

 genera. 



This genus is very widely distributed in the temperate re- 

 gions of both hemispheres. Many of the species are inhabitants 

 of the cold North or high mountain summits, while others are 

 found in the tropics. 



(1) Lycaena fuliginosa, Edwards, Plate XXX, Fig. 16, 8, 

 under side (The Sooty Gossamer-wing). 



Butterfly. — Dark gray on the upper side in both sexes. On 



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