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Nicippe
Butterfly.--The plate gives so full a presentation of this common species as to make a lengthy description unnecessary. It is subject to considerable variation. I have specimens of many varying shades of orange and yellow, and a few albino s. The orange form depicted in Plate XXXVII, Figs. 3 and 4, is typical. The form flava is not uncommon. Expanse, 1.50-2.00 inches.
Early Stages.--These are not as well known as they should be in view of the excessive abundance of the insect in long-settled parts of the country. The caterpillar feeds upon Cassia in preference to all other plants, but will eat other leguminosae.
Nicippe is very rare in New England, but is common south of latitude 40female as far as the Rocky Mountains, and ranges over Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala, into Venezuela and even Brazil. It fairly swarms at times in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and southern Indiana and Illinois. I have encountered clouds of it on the wing near Jeffersonville, Indiana, and thence north along the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad as far as Seymour. It is not common in western Pennsylvania, but in former years was taken rather frequently about Pittsburgh.