BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



CHAPTER I. 



FAMILY HABITS IN BUTTERFLY LARY.E THE CH UY S OP II A XID S . 



In continuation of the opening chapters in the preceding volume 

 on the " Family habits of butterfly larvae," we propose to deal with 

 those groups not yet attempted. The first of these are the " copper " 

 butterflies. Closely as are the " coppers " and " blues " allied in 

 most of their structural features, similar as they are in many of their 

 habits both as larvae and imagines, yet in other of their larval habits 

 they exhibit considerable differences. A noteworthy feature of the 

 Chrysophanid larvae is the way in which the head and limbs are com- 

 pletely roofed over. In this respect they differ considerably from 

 most Lycaenid larvae. It may be also noted that, whilst many Lycaenid 

 larvae are flower- and seed-eaters, the Chrysophanid larvae appear to 

 strictly confine themselves to leaves. 



We have already dealt with the larval habits of the " hairstreaks " 

 (in the preceding volume, p. 61) and "blues" (p. 66), to which 

 reference should be made for comparative purposes. One may note 

 here that, so far, the symbiotic connection that appears to be so fre- 

 quent (if not universal) between ants and Lycaenid larvae appears not 

 to exist with regard to Chrysophanid larvae. 



Perhaps the most remarkable family-habit of the larvae of the 

 " coppers " is the food-habit. True it is that Linne considered that 

 the larva of Heodes virgaureae fed on golden-rod and that this has 

 been, and still is, quoted by lepidopterists without personal knowledge 

 of its accuracy or inaccuracy, but one suspects that the original 

 observation was founded on error. In the Saas-Thal the imagines 

 swarm on golden-rod flowers, but the larvae feed on Ritmex. Yet one 

 must not forget that MoncreafT records (Ent., iii., p. 41) finding, on 

 December 17th, 1865, a number of larvae of Rumicia phlaeas feeding 

 on "dock" and "ragwort," a record that has not been, we believe, 

 confirmed or denied since so far as " ragwort " is concerned. The only 

 other genuine recorded instance of a Chrysophanid larva not feeding on 

 a Polygonaceous plant is that of the Nearctic Epidemia epixanthe, 

 which Cook records (Can. Ent., xl., pp. 85 et seq.), as choosing 

 Vaccinium macrocarpus. This choice of Vaccinium is interest- 

 ing, see our remarks on the Vacciniiim-iee&mg Coliad (preced- 



