LYCiENA I. 
/ $7 
f’-'T 
LYCLENA violacea. 
1 — 4„ 
Lycsena violacea, Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. 1866. 
Male. Expands .9 to 1.2 inch,. 
Upper side usually deep glossy violet blue, but sometimes with a pink tinge ; 
costal margin of primaries silvery; hind margins of both wings edged by a black 
line which is expanded on the apical half of primaries into a border ; on this part 
of the wing the fringe is black, but on the lower half and on secondaries it is white 
with black at the ends of the nervules ; occasionally on secondaries it is entirely 
white ; in many cases the black marginal line turns the anal angle and there thick- 
ens so as to make a conspicuous spot ; as often there is an elongated spot at the out- 
er angle and sometimes five or six dots between these two spots along the margin. 
Under side of both wings greyish- white, of uniform color entirely to the mar- 
gin ; primaries have a dark grey discal streak, a sub-marginal transverse row of 
six rather broad, mostly elongated black spots, the first next costa in advance of the 
line, the others parallel to the margin, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th standing obliquely ; 
along the margin a row of six points, often partly obsolete, each preceded by a dis- 
tinct dark-grey crescent, these last uniting so as to make a crenated line. 
Secondaries have a discal streak; three black spots in a row between the 
streak and base, one being on either margin, the third midway between them ; a 
transverse row of eight clear black spots across the disk, the two next costa largest, 
much in advance of the others and over against the streak, with which and the 
eighth spot they form a direct line ; the third is separated from the second by a con- 
siderable space, the fourth is turned obliquely ; the seventh is long, lunular and 
back of the line ; eighth, near the margin, elongated ; along the margin is a row of 
six blackish dots, palest at outer angle, that next anal angle double, the one pre- 
ceding largest ; each spot surmounted by a crescent as on primaries. 
Body above blue, beneath white; palpi white; antennae black ringed with 
white ; club black tipped with ferruginous. 
Female a. Same size ; paler and dull colored ; the hind margin and apex of 
primaries with a broad blackish border; costa of both wings obscured by same 
color. 
b. Upper side uniform blackish-brown ; under side like the male. 
On the Kanawha River this is the earliest butterfly of the year. After the 
stormy weather of March is past, usually about the 20th, on the first sunny day, 
