THECLA I. 
m 
, 
THECLA LAETA. 1—4. 
Thecla fata, Edwards, S , Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862. $ , Theda Clothilde , Edw. Proc. 
Ent. Soc. Phil. 1863. 
Male. Expands .9 inch. 
Upper side black ; near base of primaries a few scales of deep metallic blue ; 
next anal angle of secondaries a band of same color, which extends half way along 
the hind margin, many of the scales being replaced by black ; beyond this band a 
fine line of blue scales follows the margin to outer angle ; anal angle edged with 
red ; fringe grey. 
Under side of secondaries and apex and costal margin of primaries slate blue 
with a green reflection ; costal edge of primaries red ; disk of same wings smoke 
color ; beyond the cell, on costal margin, a transverse, abbreviated series of five 
small red spots, edged posteriorly with white, the last two obscured by the smoky 
hue of the disk. 
Secondaries have two series of red spots parallel to the hind margin ; those of 
the exterior small and towards the outer angle minute, each more or less surrounded 
by a delicate white border, in which are a few black scales ; the inner series crosses 
the middle of the wing, is sinuous, the spots large, brighter red and crescent 
shaped, bordered posteriorly with white in which are a few black scales ; edge of 
the wing at anal angle and at the intersection of the adjoining nervures red; thorax 
and abdomen above black, beneath white ; legs and antennae annulated white and 
black ; palpi white ; club black, red at tip. 
Female. Expands 1.1 inch. 
Upper side black ; the base of primaries, and inner margin for two-thirds its 
length, and all of secondaries, except the costa, dark metallic blue. Under side 
greenish-grey, losing the green tinge on inner margin of primaries ; in addition 
to the five spots on disk of male are two blackish, rather indistinct spots, below the 
others, nearer the base. 
Canada ; Maine ; West Virginia. 
The male of Iceta originally described was one of two taken near London, 
Canada, by Mr. Saunders in 1861. In April of the present year (1868) at Coal- 
burgh, Kanawha Co. W. Va., I was called by a laborer to look at a “ fly ” in a post 
hole that he was digging beneath a hop vine, which “ fly ” he supposed he had 
brought to light in his operations. I took the insect between thumb and finger. 
