PAPILIO ASTERIAS. Alis dentatis nigris, fasciâ maculari maculisque
marginalibus flavis; posticis caudatis, angulo ani fulvo, puncto atro,
abdominis dorso duplici serie punctorum flavorum. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6
lin.--4 unc.)
SYN. PAPILIO ASTERIAS, _Fabr. Mant. Ins._ _tom._ 2. _p._ 2. _No._ 13.
_Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 6. _No._ 16. _Cramer_, _tab._ 385. _f._ C. D.
_God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 58. _No._ 91. _Boisduv. et Lec. Icon. Lep.
Amer. Sept._ _pl._ 4. _Boisd. Hist. nat. Lep._ 1. 332. _No._ 175.
Papilio Troilus, _Drury_, _App. Vol._ 2. _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg._
1. _t._ 1. (_exclus. Syn. Linn. et Fabr._)
HABITAT: New York, Maryland, Carolina, Virginia (_Drury_).
_Upper Side._ Antennæ, head, and body black, with two yellow spots at the
bases of the antennæ, and two more on the neck; the sides of the abdomen
being spotted with two rows of the same. {22}Anterior wings black. A row
of eight or nine yellow spots runs along each wing, near the external
edge. Within these appears another row, smaller in figure 3, but larger
in figure 2, and shaped like triangles, above which are two spots, one
nearly round, the other very oblong, which last is not seen in figure 3.
Posterior wings black and dentated, with one tail issuing from each. Six
yellow spots appear near the external edge; and at the anal angle is an
orange-coloured one, with a black dot in its centre. Some specimens have
a yellow bar running transversely from the row of triangles on the
superior wings, and meeting below the extremity of the body, just above
the orange spot, as in fig. 2. In some, instead of a bar, is seen a row
of spots (as in fig. 3), which are sometimes very faint. Where this
happens, the space between this row and the six spots mentioned before,
consists of a shining blue colour; but in proportion as the yellow bar is
more or less distinct, the wings have more or less blue on them.
_Under Side._ The under side in all the different varieties differs but
very little. The breast, sides, abdomen and feet are black. The anterior
wings of a dirty black colour, with nine yellow spots near the external
edge; above these, nearer the body, are eight others, varying in size,
and two small clouds or patches close to the anterior edge. Posterior
wings, next the shoulders, dirty black, with the inner scollops edged
with yellow crescents (appearing also on the upper side), within which
are six spots near the edge--four orange and two yellow. Seven or eight
orange spots, tipped with yellow, run circularly across the middle of the
wing. Below each spot in this row is a ray of shining blue, separated by
a strong black mark, and scattered with powder-like spots. An orange
spot, with a black centre, is placed at the anal angle.
This species is subject to considerable variation in the size of the
internal series of yellow spots, which is sometimes even entirely
obliterated in the females, in which the yellow is much less brilliant, and
the spots smaller than in the males. These varieties somewhat resemble
Papilio Troilus of Linnæus, with which, indeed, Drury and Smith[21]
confounded the insect here described. Godart and Boisduval have added to
the confusion by their incorrect references to our author, the first of
these writers giving figure 2 of this plate as alone representing P.
Asterias, and figs. 3, 4, and 5, (which represent two distinct species) as
P. Troilus, Linn. which species Drury has not figured; and both of these
authors quoting figure 2, both under Troilus and Asterias, although Drury
expressly states, that the specimens figured at 2 and 3, were reared by
him, with many other individuals, from chrysalides, sent from America by
his correspondent, who assured him that they proceeded from the same brood.
The preparatory states of P. Asterias are figured by Abbot and Smith, and
Boisduval. The larva feeds upon Umbelliferæ, especially the fennel (Anethum
fæniculum, Linn.), and Daucus Carota, and is very similar to that of Pap.
Machaon, which species appears to be replaced in America by P. Asterias,
and which makes its appearance in the perfect state three times in the
year. Abbot states, that one of the caterpillars assumed the chrysalis
state on the 12th of July, and the imago appeared on the 20th.
{23}PLATE XII.
[Illustration]