INSECT ENEMIES OF WESTERN FORESTS 



165 



Mexico. The adults are large moths with reddish, brown, or black 

 bodies and buff or clay-colored wings. The caterpillars are yellow, 

 gray, or black and have numerous coarse, poisonous spines. 



The California tortoise-shell butterfly (Aglais calif ornica Bdv.) 

 (fig 83) is found throughout all the Western States and often ap- 

 pears in such numbers as to attract public attention. The caterpillars 



..^r^ 



\ J^ii 



^ 



Figure 83. — California tortoise-shell butterfly (AyJais californica) : A, Adults; B, cater- 

 pillar; and C, pendulous chrysalids. (Above) about natural size; (below) about half 

 size. (Drawings by Edmonston.) 



feed on different species of Ceanothus^ and during severe epidemics 

 other shrubs and trees may be attacked. The adults are medium- 

 sized butterflies with a wing expanse of 2 to 214 inches. The wings 

 are brown^ with orange above, marked with black spots and black 

 borders, with a single black spot and a marginal row of purple spots 



