BUTTERFLIES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 



into the following subfamilies: Euploeinse, Nymphalinae, Satyr- 

 inae and Libythenae. 



Subfamily Euploeinse. 

 This subfamily is almost entirely confined to the equatorial 

 regions of America and Asia. The butterflies average far above 

 medium size, and have rounded, somewhat elongate wings. 

 Their flight is powerful and sustained, although usually slow. 

 They often sail high in the air on expanded wings. The eggs 

 are slender obconic, vertically ribbed and transversely striate, 

 and are laid singly on the food-plant. The caterpillars have two 

 or more segments each with a pair of long, slender, flexible 

 filaments above. The chrysalids are always suspended from a 

 silken button at the hinder part. Only a single species of this 

 family is found in this vicinity — the Milkweed Butterfly. 



17. Milkweed or Monarch Butterfly (Anosia plexippus). 



Very common in this vicinity, appearing in May and June, but 

 becoming more numerous in August and September. In years when 

 conditions have been favorable to the insects' increase, immense 

 swarms of the butterfly may often be seen in autumn migrating 

 southward. It inhabits North America, South America, West Indies, 

 Sandwich Islands, Australia, New Zealand and the Malay Archipelago. 

 The caterpillar lives on milkweed, and the chrysalid is pale green with 

 golden markings. 



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