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The Hybrid Purple (Basilarchia proserpina)

Basilarchia proserpina (Bas-i-lar'chi-a pro-ser'pi-na) PLATE XXVII, FIG. 2 There is a form of basilarchia which was described as a distinct species under the name proserpina, which is now believed by Scudder to be a hybrid between astyanax and arthemis, and by Edwards to be a dimorphic form of arthemis. This butterfly has the coloring of astyanax, with the addition of a portion of the white bow of arthemis. It occurs in a narrow belt of country extending from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois eastward to the Atlantic coast of New England. It should be noted that this is the region which forms the southern limit of the range of arthemis and the northern limit of the range of astyanax, the place where the two species meet. The hybrid purple varies greatly.