Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Mottled Emigrant, Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe (L.)

A common species but surprisingly much less so than the Lemon Emmigrant, it is found throughout the year in all localities where its host plant grows (Senna alata). Occasionally, it is found puddling with the Lemon Emigrant on moist spots in a jungle path. This is an insect of the open country and roadsides.

Habitat indicator
RSP
WV
PG
VF
FTR
SC
LWDF
LWPF
LMEF
UMN
MN




 x
 x





Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)
2013
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct

S

S





2013
2014
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct



SSSSSSSSS
2014
2015
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
June
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec




S1



S1





2016
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec





S1
S1





2017
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec













2018
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S

2019
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
 S
 S











2020
Jan
Feb
Mac
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec













14 April 2013 @ 12:11

02 June 2013 @ 12:13

A female depositing egg on Cassia alata, 15 March 2014 @ 12:06

12:12


Above 2 photos of a mating pair (female on plant): 22 March 2014 @ 12:26

A puddling male: 01 May 2014 @ 12:17

11 June 2016 @ 13:00

*     *     *     *     *

A batch of collected seeds of Senna alata was sown on a pot and left to grow outdoors without disturbances and soon enough, a female came and deposited eggs on the young leaves of the plant.

The spindle-shaped white eggs are laid randomly over the surface of young leaves.


The newly hatched caterpillar (1st instar) measuring slightly under 2mm, on the third day after the eggs are laid. 01 Jan 2017


A week later, they grow to almost 20mm. 07 Jan 2017

older caterpillars has a black and white lateral line

2 last instar caterpillars were collected on 07 Jan and one of them pupated the next day on the 8 Jan 2017. The other (pix above pupated the next day)

 A week later, the pupa turns transparent, ready for eclosion. 15 Jan 2017

The freshly eclosed adult. 15 Jan 2017

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