The butterfly guide

The male never has a costal fold on the fore wing, but in most of the genera has a discal stigma on the fore wing, the only exceptions to this in our fauna being in the case of the three genera Amblyscirtes, Pamphila, and Oarisma. The antennæ are short, in some genera very short, clubbed at the end and provided in many genera with a little finely pointed tip at the end of the club, which sometimes is bent backward. The third joint of the palpi is generally small, inconspicuous, and often pointing forward. The lower radial in the fore wing always is nearer to the median than to the upper radial; the lower radial in the hind wing is generally lacking. When at rest they raise the fore wings, folding them together, while the hind wings are held horizontally. This attitude is characteristic of this subfamily.

(1) Amblyscirtes vialis (Edwards), Plate CXXXVIII, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Roadside Skipper).

Wings below much as on upper side, except that outwardly they are lightly laved with gray. Expanse 1.00 inch.

Ranges from Canada to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

(2) Amblyscirtes samoset (Scudder), Plate CXXXVIII, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Pepper-and-Salt Skipper). (See Plate on p. 208.)

Below wings pale gray, the light spots of upper side reappearing. Hind wing marked by semicircular median band of white spots, a small spot at end of cell, and conspicuous white spot about middle of costa. Expanse 1.00-1.10 inch.

Ranges from Maine to Michigan and south on the Allegheny Mountains to West Virginia.

(3) Amblyscirtes textor (Hübner), Plate CXXXVIII, Fig. 3, ♂, under side (The Woven-winged Skipper). (See Plate on p. 208. )

Easily recognized by means of our figure. Expanse 1.25-1.45 inch.

Ranges from North Carolina to Florida and westward to Texas.

(1) Pamphila mandan Edwards, Plate CXXXVIII, Fig. 4, ♂ (The Arctic Skipper).

Recognizable from our figure. It is totally unlike any other species in the fauna. Expanse 1.10 inch.

Found from Labrador to Alaska, and on the mountains of Idaho and Montana.

(1) Oarisma garita (Reakirt), Plate CXXXIX, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Little Dun). (See Plate on p. 210.)

On the under side both wings are somewhat brighter than on the upper side, the hind wings inclining to leaden gray, with the inner margin bright fulvous. Expanse 0.75-1.00 inch.

Ranges from southern Colorado to Arizona.

(2) Oarisma powesheik (Parker), Plate CXXXIX, Fig. 3, ♂ (The Iowa Dun).

Larger than the preceding species and dark on upper side; on under side fore wings black, edged on costa with light fulvous. Hind wings dusky below, veins and nervules white, conspicuous on darker ground. Expanse 1.00-1.25 inch.

Ranges from Wisconsin to Dakota and Colorado, common in Iowa.

(1) Ancyloxypha numitor Fabricius, Plate CXXXIX, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Least Skipper).

Below fore wings black, bordered on costa and outer margin with reddish fulvous; hind wings pale fulvous. Expanse 0.75-0.95 inch.

Ranges from Quebec to Florida and westward to the Rocky Mountains.

(1) Copœodes procris (Edwards), Plate CXXXIX, Fig. 4, ♂ (The Golden Skipper).

Below wings as on upper side, a trifle paler than on the upper side. The fore wings blackish on inner margin near base. Expanse 0.80-1.00 inch.

Ranges from southern Texas to southern California.

(2) Copœodes wrighti (Edwards), Plate CXXXIX, Fig. 5, ♂ (Wright’s Skipper).

Distinguished from C. procris by dark fringes on both wings and different arrangement of stigma on fore wings. Expanse 0.85-1.07 inch.

Found in southern California and eastward as far as eastern Arizona.

(1) Erynnis manitoba (Scudder), Plate CXL, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Canadian Skipper).

On the lower side all the light spots of the upper side reappear, but more distinctly defined and pearly white in color.

Ranges north of the boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada, descending into the United States as far south as Colorado and northern California upon the high mountain ranges.

(2) Erynnis sassacus (Harris), Plate CXL, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Indian Skipper). (See p. 211.)

Below wings pale fulvous, spots of upper side feebly reproduced as faint lighter spots; fore wings black at base on this side. Expanse 1.10-1.35 inch.

Ranges from New England to Georgia, west to Colorado.

(3) Erynnis attalus (Edwards), Plate CXL, Fig. 3, ♂ (The Wisconsin Skipper). (See p. 211.)

Below both wings are dusky, with the light spots appearing in faint gray. The female is darker. Expanse 1.25-1.45 inch.

Ranges from New England to Wisconsin and Iowa, thence to the region of the Gulf.

(4) Erynnis metea (Scudder), Plate CXL, Fig. 4, ♂ (The Cobweb Skipper). (See p. 211.)

Below wings are brown, much darker than above, the pale marks of upper side repeated as pearly white spots, and on hind wings near base is a curved band of similar white spots. Expanse 1.20-1.30 inch.

Ranges from New England to Wisconsin.

(5) Erynnis uncas (Edwards), Plate CXLVIII, Fig. 4, ♂ (Uncas’ Skipper). (See p. 220.)

Below in both sexes wings beautifully marked with pearly white spots on greenish gray ground, the spots defined inwardly and outwardly by dark olive shades. Expanse 1.30-1.55 inch.

Ranges from Pennsylvania to Montana.

(6) Erynnis leonardus (Harris), Plate CXLI, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (Leonard’s Skipper).

Larger than most of the preceding species. Below wings dark brick-red. Spots of upper side reappearing more or less faintly. Expanse 1.25-1.35 inch.

Ranges from New England and Ontario to Florida, west throughout the Mississippi Valley.

(1) Thymelicus brettus (Boisduval & Leconte), Plate CXLI, Fig. 3, ♂; Fig. 4, ♀ (The Whirlabout).

This insect, which is rare in the Northern States, is common in the South and has a wide range through the American tropics. Expanse 1.15-1.25 inch.

(2) Thymelicus otho (Smith & Abbot), Plate CXLII, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀.

The upper side is sufficiently well shown in our plate. Below the wings are yellowish brown with outer half of the fore wings blackish; spots of fore wing repeated except last. Hind wings below with an obscure yellowish band of five or six spots. A variable species. The northern form, with fewer spots, is called egeremet, and is not very common in New England, but southward the species is abundant. Expanse 1.20-1.25 inch.

Found in New England, Florida, and west throughout the Mississippi Valley.

(3) Thymelicus mystic (Scudder), Plate CXLII, Fig. 3, ♂; Fig. 4, ♀ (The Long-dash).

Upper side of both sexes well shown in our plate. Below fore wings fulvous on costa near base; remainder of wings on this side dark ferruginous, with the light spots of the upper side repeated, greatly enlarged, pale, contrasting strongly with dark ground-color. Hind wings pale brown on inner margin. Expanse 1.10-1.25 inch.

Ranges from southern Canada to Pennsylvania and west to Wisconsin.

(1) Atalopedes huron (Edwards), Plate CXLII, Fig. 5, ♂; Fig. 6, ♀ (The Sachem).

Easily distinguished from the figures we give. Expanse 1.15-1.35 inch.

Ranges from New York to Florida, westward and southwestward into Mexico.

(1) Polites peckius (Kirby), Plate CXLIII, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (Peck’s Skipper).

This small species is dark brown below, with the light spots of the upper side reappearing, greatly enlarged, especially in the middle of the wings, fused together and pale yellow, thus contrasting strongly with the rest of the wings. Expanse 1.00-1.25 inch.

Peck’s Skipper ranges from Canada to Virginia west to Kansas and Iowa.

(1) Hylephila phyleus (Drury), Plate CXLIII, Fig. 3, ♂; Fig. 4, ♀ (The Fiery Skipper).

Easily recognized from our figures. Expanse 1.15-1.25 inch.

Ranges from Connecticut to Patagonia everywhere.

Genus PRENES Scudder

(1) Prenes ocola (Edwards), Plate CXLIII, Fig. 5, ♂ (The Ocola Skipper). (See p. 215.)

This common southern species, which sometimes ranges as far north as the latitude of Pennsylvania, ranges south as far as Bolivia in South America. Expanse 1.45-1.60 inch.

The figure is that of the type.

(1) Calpodes ethlius (Cramer), Plate CXLIV, ♂ (The Brazilian Skipper).

Easily recognized from our plate. Wings below dull olive. Expanse 2.00-2.15 inches.

The larva feeds on Canna. Common everywhere in tropical America and has been known to stray as far north as New York.

(1) Lerodea eufala (Edwards), Plate CXLIX, Fig. 3, ♂ (The Eufala Skipper). (See p. 221.)

On the wing looks like a small specimen of Prenes ocola, from which it may be distinguished at once by the white under side of the abdomen. Expanse 1.10-1.20 inch.

Not uncommon in Florida.

(1) Limochores thaumas (Fabricius), Plate CXLV, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The Fawn-edged Skipper).

Easily distinguished by means of our figures. Below in both sexes wings dull olive, with spots of upper side repeated; costa of male edged with red on this side as well as above. Expanse 1.00-2.07 inches.

Ranges from Canada to the Gulf, west to the Rocky Mountains.

(2) Limochores pontiac (Edwards), Plate CXLV, Fig. 3, ♂; Fig. 4, ♀ (Pontiac’s Skipper).

Well represented in our figures of both sexes. Expanse 1.15-1.25 inch.

Ranges from Massachusetts to Nebraska, being very common about the southern end of Lake Michigan.

(3) Limochores palatka (Edwards), Plate CXLV, Fig. 5, ♂ (The Palatka Skipper). (See p. 217.)

A large and rather showy species, the female expanding as much as two inches. Expanse, ♂, 1.50 inch; ♀, 1.90-2.00 inches.

Found on Indian River, Florida.

(1) Euphyes verna (Edwards), Plate CXLVI, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The Vernal Skipper).

Below wings paler, inclining to purplish red, about middle of hind wings a semicircle of pale spots. Expanse 1.15-1.35 inch.

Ranges from southern New England to Virginia, west to Kansas, and north to Alberta. Very common in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

(2) Euphyes metacomet (Harris), Plate CXLVI, Fig. 3, ♂; Fig. 4, ♀ (The Dun Skipper).

The markings of upper side reappear on lower side, the ground-color below ranging from pale brown to purplish brown. Expanse 1.15-1.30 inch.

Found from Quebec to the Carolinas, west to Texas and Alberta and Assiniboia.

(1) Poanes massasoit (Scudder), Plate CXLVI, Fig. 5, ♂; Fig. 6, ♀ (The Mulberry-wing).

Below hind wings bright yellow, bordered on costa and outer margin with reddish brown; the wings of the female not so brightly colored as those of the male. Expanse 1.15-1.20 inch.

Ranging from New England to Nebraska, but not extending south of Pennsylvania in the east, though occurring in the west in Colorado and northern Texas.

(1) Phycanassa viator (Edwards), Plate CXLVII Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The Broad-winged Skipper).

Below paler than above, the light spots of the upper side reappearing less distinctly; the hind wing traversed from base to middle of outer margin by a light-colored longitudinal ray which is not as plain in the female as in the male. Expanse 1.45-1.60 inch.

Rare in the Northern States from New Jersey to Wisconsin, but quite abundant in the Southern States as far west as Texas.

(2) Phycanassa aaroni Skinner, Plate CXLVII, Fig. 3, ♂ (Aaron’s Skipper). (See p. 219.)

Below fore wings black at base, middle area tawny, paler than above, with the outlines of the borders the same, but their color cinnamon-brown, and not fuscous, as above; hind wings below uniformly cinnamon-brown, without any spots. Female like the male, but larger. Expanse 1.00-1.25 inch.

Found in the salt marshes near Cape May, New Jersey, but probably has a wider range to the south.

(1) Atrytone vitellius (Smith & Abbot), Plate CXLVII, Fig. 4, ♂; Fig. 5, ♀ (The Iowa Skipper).

Below the wings are pale yellow, the inner margin of the fore wings clouded with brown. Expanse 1.25-1.45 inch.

Common in the Gulf States, ranging north to Iowa and Nebraska.

(2) Atrytone zabulon (Boisduval & Leconte), Plate CXLVIII, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Zabulon Skipper).

Very closely related to the following species from which it may be distinguished by its somewhat smaller size and the presence of the heavier dark markings at the apex of the fore wings above. Expanse 1.25-1.50 inch.

Ranges from New England to Georgia and westward to the Rocky Mountains.

(3) Atrytone hobomok (Harris), Plate CXLVIII, Fig. 2, ♂; variety pocohontas Scudder, Plate CXLVIII, Fig. 3, ♀ (The Hobomok Skipper).

In the male the small apical spots are not enclosed by a band of dark color as in the preceding species, and the pale area on the middle of the hind wings is more restricted, the inner margin of this wing being more widely fuscous. The variety of the female called pocohontas by Dr. Scudder is melanic, and is, as shown in our figure, very dark with conspicuous light spots in the fore wing. Expanse 1.25-1.50 inch.

Ranges from New England southward and westward over the greater part of the Atlantic region and the valley of the Mississippi.

(1) Lerema accius (Smith & Abbot), Plate CXLIX, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Grimy Skipper).

The wings on the under side are dark fuscous clouded with still deeper brown or black. Expanse 1.40-1.50 inch.

Occurs from Connecticut to Central America, being quite rare in the north but very common in the hot lands of the south.

(2) Lerema hianna (Scudder), Plate CXLIX, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Dusted Skipper).

The upper side is well represented in our figure. On the under side the wings are a little paler, especially the hind wings, which on their outer half are dusted with gray, in certain lights having a bluish cast. Expanse 1.15-1.25 inch.

Ranges from New England to Nebraska and southward, but, so far as the writer knows not reaching the Gulf States.