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The American Copper (Heodes hypophl as He-o'des)
Heodes hypophlæas (He-o'des hyp-o-phlæ'as) PLATE XXXVI, FIG. 7, 8 We have in the East two very common coppers, this species and the female of the bronze copper, that closely resemble each other in general appearance; the two species present, however, a marked difference in size. The front wings are orange-red above spotted with black, and with a blackish brown outer border; the hind wings are coppery brown, with a broad orange-red band on the outer margin; this band is indented on the outer edge with four black spots and there is a black bar on the medial cross-veins. The lower surface of the front wings is orange-red spotted with black, and with the outer margin gray; the black spots are margined with white rings. The lower surface of the hind wings is gray, marked with smaller black spots than those of the front wings, and with a wavy submarginal line of bright orange. Expanse of wings one to one and one-fifth inches.
CATERPILLAR. - Slug-shaped, length nearly a half an inch. The body is downy, and dull rosy red in color with yellowish tints on the sides; or it may be green with a reddish stripe down the back.
Food-plant. Sorrel. 0 We have always been sorry for those unfortunate people who have never had a pair of these beautiful midgets as tenants of their lawn. For years we have had at least one pair on ours to fly at us when we came out and by making desperate dashes at our heads try to drive us off of what they consider their preserves. They evidently base their claims on the presence of sorrel, which once we would have deemed a disgrace to any lawn. But lawns, like children, were evidently meant to educate their possessors; and while we began with strenuous effort to have only clover and grass on ours, indefatigable Nature planted all things there as soon as our backs were turned.
After a time we grew in grace and came to love the dandelions and dock, orchard grass, and white daisies; and more than all do we appreciate the rosy bloom which sorrel lends to our possessions, especially, because of it, a pair of American coppers live with us. In early summer they are always there, these little fractions of red sunshine, dancing about or wrestling in the air with each other and chasing off intruders. Once we saw them attack a tiger swallow-tail and drive him off the premises; and once we saw them chase a huge bulldog with the same confidence and aplomb. It is always a joy to us to watch one alight on a flower, it has such an alert air while it orients itself by turning around and around like a dog before he lies down. It is especially fond of the blossoms of white clover, and unless engaged in a fight it usually flies rather low. When a pair begins housekeeping they select some site and never stray far from it during the entire season. The caterpillar is shaped like a spindle cut in halves lengthwise; it is sorrel color, and so is protected. The chrysalis is hidden beneath sticks and stones. The species occurs in Canada, the Northern States, and in the Alleghany Mountains southward to Georgia. It is doublebrooded in the North and triple-brooded in the South, and winters as a chrysalis.
From cocoon forth a butterfly As lady from her door Emerged a summer afternoon- Repairing everywhere, Without design, that I could trace, Except to stray abroad On miscellaneous enterprise The clovers understood.