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^T^ SATYRIDAE. By G. Weymer. 173 



4. Family: Satyridae. 



This family, which is very rich both in genera and sjiecies, is well distinguished by several charac- 

 ters not only in the perfect insect but also as larva and pupa, so that Satyrids are easy to recognise in 

 all stages. 



One of the chief characteristics of the butterflies consists in the basally swollen veins of the fore- 

 wing. In most cases it is only the costal vein which shows this bladder-like thickening, in many cases the 

 median likewise has it, but in some genera also the submedian, e. g. in Oressinoma, Coeno7iympha, and to 

 a less extent in Pierella. The first three genera Callitaera, Haetera and Pierella have the submedian of the 

 forewing, apart from the above-mentioned bladder-like thickening, also basally forked and form in this the 

 transition to the Ithomias, which is also indicated by the partly thin, hair-like scaling and the trans- 

 parency of the wings. Of the subcostal veins 2 mostly arise before and the rest behind the end of the 

 cell of the forewing, but several genera differ in that the 2. subcostal vein only arises at the end of the 

 cell or behind it. The middle cell of both wings in all the Satyrids is closed, the lower discocellular vein 

 of the hind-^-ing moreover in almost all the genera runs into the curve of the upper median; only in two 

 of the first genera, in Haetera and Pierella, is this not the case. In Haetera the lower discocellular and 

 the median meet at the origin of the middle median vein, in the genus Pierella on the other hand between 

 the origin of the middle and that of the lower median. 



The shape of the wings is rather variable. Sometimes both wings are rounded, sometimes only the 

 fore^^'ing, whilst the margin of the hindwing is undulate or dentate. Often the forewing also shows angles 

 at one of the racUals, sometimes the apex of this wing is sickle-shaped or the costal margin itself is pro- 

 duced into a sharp point. Moreover sharper angles and points occur at the three median veins and at the 

 submedian of the hindwing or the lower median vein is prolonged into a rather long tail {Corades and Bia). 



The inner margin of the forewing in the greater number of species is straight or deviates but little 

 from the rectilinear, only in the (J(^ of the genus Antirrhaea and in one species of Caerois is it so much 

 outciu'ved that the anterior part of the hindwing is covered by it. In this expansion is placed on the 

 under surface between median and submedian the so-called scent-organ, consisting of a row of closely 

 approximated, stiff hairs, which often form a semicircle or a wedge-shaped, pointed ellipse, the curlj^ tips 

 of the hairs bending over towards one another. In addition to the genus Antirrhaea the scent-organ is 

 only found in the ^^ of the Caerois-species. In one species of this latter genus, however, it is placed 

 close to the inner angle on the underside of the forewing, so that it is not covered by the hindwing. 

 Tufts of hair are also found in the genus Bia on the upperside of the hindwing, smaller hair-pencils in 

 some Euptychia. Perhaps these may likewise be regarded as scent-organs, as they only occur in the ^^. 



The greater proportion of the species of Satyrids are above uniform dark brown, so that the 

 markings are confined to the under surface. Here belong most species of the genera Taygetis, Euptychia, 

 Lymanopoda, Pedaliodes and Pronophila. But all these genera show at the same time a number of species 

 which are brightly coloured also on the upper surface and have striking and beautiful markings. On the 

 underside the ocellated markings are represented in a variety of ways. Several species have also beneath 

 larger or smaller silver spots or silver stripes and dots. Some Chilian species have the wings entirely 

 silver-coloured above. 



The antennae of the Satyrids are mostly thin and delicate, at the same time rather short, not 

 reaching half the length of the forewing. The shaft widens very gradually into the little-thickened club, 

 only a few genera have a short, broad club. The palpi are usually densely and strongly haired, sometimes 

 the eyes are also hairy, the forelegs in both sexes aborted. 



The eggs of the American Satyrids, as far as they are known, have a rather spherical or hemi- 

 spherical form, ■with the sides ribbed or regularly divided by raised transverse ridges. 



The larvae are spindle-shaped, thicker in the middle, narrowed towards each end, but the head in 

 several species is thicker than the anterior segments, also sometimes with 2 short, obtuse horns above, in 

 others also at the sides provided with conical protuberances on which are placed short bristly hairs. The 

 smooth or finely granulated, spineless body terminates at the posterior end in 2 points, which are mostlj^ 

 straight, but sometimes also curved upwards. The colour is mostly green, but there occur also longitu- 

 dinal stripes of various colours. They live on grasses, reeds, species of bamboo, sugar-cane and palms, 

 remain bidden by day and come out at dusk to feed. 



The pupae are comparatively short and thick, without strikingly projecting angles. They are either 

 attached at the tail-end or lie free on the earth or are hidden under stones. 



Many of the tropical Satyrids are dusk-butterflies, i. e. they remain at rest all day and fly about 

 near the ground in the early morning and the dusk of evening with unsteady, sometimes jumpy flight in 

 woods or thickets. Here belong the dark-coloured species of Taygetis and Euptychia. All day long we 

 find single Taygetis in the dense timber-forests, resting with closed wings on the ground, where they can 



