Search

A study was conducted to record the diversity of butterflies at Krishnarajanagara town of Mysore District over a period of six months from September 2019 to March 2020. Present survey was carried out in selected natural and man-made (parks) habitats of Krishnarajanagara town. A total of 1,147 individuals were recorded, photographed and identified which included 46 genera and 60 species belonging to five families. The relative abundance of butterflies of different families such as the Nymphalidae family was 43.33%, followed by families Lycaenidae, Hesperidae, Pieridae and Papilionidae representing 18.33%, 15%, 13.33% and 10% in the study area respectively. Results indicated that Eurema hecabe was the most dominant species followed by Ypthima huebneri, Catopsilia ponoma, and Junonia lemonias in the study area. Dominance of these species can be explained by the presence of their larval and host plants in the study area.

Communal roosting on an over-nightly basis is common in butterflies for resting and for avoiding predation. Having a source of nectar and safeguarding from harsh weather conditions are also notable parameters to consider a site as a potential roosting spot. Roosting differs from a congregation in the fact that the latter happens mainly in the exposed plant part or the oozing out of fluid, which attracts the butterflies to extract chemicals from the same. The current study has been conducted on an Elephant-apple tree Dillenia indica in the New Forest campus of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India to observe the roosting behaviour of three blue butterfly species, namely: Large Oakblue Arhopala amantes, Indian Oakblue Arhopala atrax, and pierid butterfly Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona. The roosting observation was first noted during mid-October. The coinciding of the roosting period and the fruiting season of the tree may mark the importance of having a food source in a potent roosting site. Moreover, the site would provide a shady area with dense foliage, which would also include safeguards against predation.

Colias fieldii is a common seen diurnal butterflies in the fields and widely distributed in many provinces of China. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of C. fieldii. This mitogenome was 15,150 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNA unit genes (rRNAs). The overall base composition of the mitogenome was estimated to be A 39.8%, T 41.2%, C 11.4% and G 7.6%, with a high A + T content of 81.0%. Except for cox1 started with CGA, all other PCGs started with the standard ATN codons (seven ATG, four ATT and one ATC). Most of the PCGs terminated with the stop codon TAA or TAG, whereas cox1, cox2, nad5 and nad4 end with the incomplete codon T--. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. fieldii is indeed the sister species of Colias erate with a high support value. All seven Coliadinae species formed one clade and was sister to Pierinae butterflies. Within Coliadinae, the relationships (Eurema + (Gonepteryx + (Catopsilia + Colias))) were highly supported.

61. Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius, 1775) * Published records: Singh et al., 2011. Sighting locality: 27, 32, 34, 51, 77., Published as part of Irungbam, Jatishwor Singh, Meitei, Laishram Ricky, Huidrom, Harmenn, Soibam, Baleshwor Singh, Ngangom, Aomao, Ngangom, Bendang, Meitei, Ronald & Fric, Zdenek Faltynek, 2020, An Inventory Of The Butterflies Of Manipur, India (Insecta: Lepidoptera), pp. 1-91 in Zootaxa 4882 (1) on page 31, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4882.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4296011

62. Catopsilia pyranthe (Linnaeus,1758) * Published records: Singh et al., 2011. Sighting locality: 71, 60, 77, 79., Published as part of Irungbam, Jatishwor Singh, Meitei, Laishram Ricky, Huidrom, Harmenn, Soibam, Baleshwor Singh, Ngangom, Aomao, Ngangom, Bendang, Meitei, Ronald & Fric, Zdenek Faltynek, 2020, An Inventory Of The Butterflies Of Manipur, India (Insecta: Lepidoptera), pp. 1-91 in Zootaxa 4882 (1) on page 31, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4882.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4296011

Developmental stages of pierid butterfly Catopsilia crocale Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and its association with Cassia alata: Family-Leguminosae (host plant) was studied in the laboratory under 24 ± 5°C temperature with RH 66 ± 2%. The host plant association and duration of developmental stages was given importance. Duration of life cycle (egg to adult) was 22.0 ± 0.8 days. The incubation period, larval and pupal period were 6.65 ± 0.4, 10.1 ± 0.8 and 6.5 ± 0.44 days, respectively. Eggs, five larval instars and pupal stages were distinct. Correlation was found among the development of larval instars, amount of food consumption and excretion of faeces. The association of C. crocale with host plant was characterized and evidenced by the use of C. alata leaves, buds, stems and shoots for egg laying and for complete development of the larval (9 - 11 days) and pupal (6 - 7 days) stages. The incubation period, different larval instars and pupal stage were found to be deeply associated with the phenological phases of the host plant.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 39, No. 1, 91-101, 2015

The paper uses fractal geometry through the fractal dimension of photos of the Lepidopteran species, the commonly named butterflies, collected from the regions of Central Visayas, Philippines to determine if the morphological dimensions can discriminate one species over the other for classification purposes. The images of species were converted into a binary image using the simplest form of image processing known as thresholding effect. The binary images provide a simple view and ease for computing its fractal dimension. The fractal dimension explains the space – filling property of the image. The species available for use were the Cethosia, Idea, Pachliopta, Catopsilia, Troides where 10 subspecies of each were chosen. Also, the male species were isolated and tallied separately from the females. Empirical results revealed that the fractal dimensions can differentiate the species from one another with a general p – value of 0.000 and F – value of 6.483. All sample pairwise comparisons were tested for the significant differences and still differentiates one over the other as evidenced by the corresponding p - values of all equal to 0.000, respectively. Moreover, the fractal dimensions, in relation to the species gender, were tested for possible significant differences, and findings showed that it could differentiate across butterfly’s gender with a p – value of 0.000 and F- value of 8.037. The empirical probability of wrong classification using the fractal dimension is less than 1%.

11. Catopsilia florella (Fabricius, 1775) WL: 33mm. The species is a ubiquitous migrant, very common throughout Guinea-Bissau and distributed along sub-Saharan Africa, migrating to Northern Africa, Cape Verde and the Canaries, where it is well established; occasionally it reaches the archipelagoes of Madeira and Azores. The caterpillars are polyphagous, occurring on Fabaceae and Malvaceae. Studied material. Cacheu: Cacheu, 27.10.2009, 1♀ (FR). Cai��, common (JB); Banhinda (PNTC), 27.07.2009, 1♂ (BS 29469). Gab��: Balanca, 0 1.07.2009, 1♂ (BS 29469); Kobolo, 0 2.07.2009, 1♂ (BS 29470); Ch�� Ch��, 02- 03.07.2009, 1♂ 1♀ (BS 29464/29465); Beli, 1♂ (JG 42) (CZ 5896). Quinara: Buba Tombo (PNLC), 15- 17.07.2009, 2♂ (BS 29469, 29471); Nhala (PNLC ), 16.07.2009, 1♂ (BS 29467). Tombali: Mato de Cambeque (PNFC), 10.07.2009, 1♀ (BS 29466). Previous references. Regions: Bafat��, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Oio, Quinara, Tombali. Authors: Aurivillius (1910), Bacelar (1949), Bivar-de-Sousa & Passos-de-Carvalho (1987), Bivar-de-Sousa & Mendes (1999), Larsen (2005), Bivar-de-Sousa et al. (2007). Probable abundance and proposed status. AB: VC; CS: LC., Published as part of Bivar-De-Sousa, Ant��nio, Vasconcelos, Sasha, Mendes, Lu��s F., Larsen, Torben B., Baker, Jon & Guilherme, Jo��o L., 2016, Butterflies of Guinea-Bissau: VIII. New data, new reports, corrections and biodiversity (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), pp. 1-77 in Zootaxa 4201 (1) on pages 11-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4201.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/192215, {"references":["Fabricius, J. C. (1775) Systema Entomologiae. Officina Libraria Kortii, Flensburgi (Flensburg - Germany) & Lipsiae (Leipzig - Germany), [xxxii] + 832 pp.","Aurivillius, C. (1910) Schmetterlinge gesammelt in Westafrika von Leonardo Fea in dem Jahren 1897 - 1902. Annali del Museo civico di Storia naturale da Genova, 44, 502 - 506.","Bacelar, A. (1949) Macrolepidoptera (Rhopalocera) da Guine Portuguesa. Anais da Junta de Investigacoes Coloniais (Entomologia), 4, 72 - 104.","Mendes, L. F., Bivar-de-Sousa, A. & Consciencia, S. (2007) Novos dados sobre os lepidopteros diurnos (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea e Papilionoidea) da Guine-Bissau. I - Introducao e Hesperiidae. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa, 41, 209 - 221."]}

The city Jhansi is famous for the fort, gardens and surrounding hilly areas. These gardens and hilly areas have supported for butterflies and other insects. The butterflies are essential part of any natural ecosystem as their adults performs pollination. They are highly mobile organism and are able to maintain connectivity between the fragmental habitats. The larval stages are herbivorous and cause economic damage but adult are beneficial as pollinators of several trees and herbaceous flora. They are vulnerable to changes in flower supply resulting fromdeforestation and environmental pollution hence they are the biological indicators of pollution. The present study was conducted regarding the different selected sites visited by butterflies, their foraging activity and abundance at different sites of Jhansi. During the visit some species of butterflies were collected as flower visitors on different species of flowering plants (garden, cultivated, semi wild and wild) in selected areas. The species of collected butterflies were showed the most common and highly active species throughout the day. Some species namely Pieris canidia indica, lxias mrianne (Cramer), Catopsilia crocale (Cramer), Catopsilia pyranthe (Linn.), Eurema hecabe fimbriata (Wallace) Colias electo fieldi and Colias erate (Esper) were observed mostly on the flowering plants of each site during the study. The nymphalids were found to be very common in the plane areas of Jhansi as flower visitors and only one species Papilio demoleus could be collected from only two sites.

Present study was carried out to characterize the two species of butterfl ies i.e. Catopsilia crocale and Catopsilia pyranthe at molecular level by using three random primers. The banding patterns obtained and the dendrograms drawn on the basis of presence and absence of bands revealed that P2 is most useful in characterizing the two species, since it shows difference between the two sexes of each species and at the same time also clusters them together as separate species. P1 showed least similarity within the individuals of the same species. Though P3 showed relationships between male and female individuals of C. pyranthe and also clusters them together as a species, but it placed the females of C. crocale far from males of this species. Therefore, P2 is recommended for further study.

RAPD-PCR (random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction) technique was used to analyze the polymorphism among the individuals of the two species of butterflies, namely Catopsilia pyranthe and Catopsilia crocale, which were captured from their natural habitat. Three decanucleotide primers viz., primer A(AAGAGCCCGT), primer B(AACGCGCAAC) and primer C(CCCGTCAGCA) were used to amplify the gDNA from the adult individuals of both the species. A series of bands ranging from below 125 bp to 1500 bp were pro- duced by these primers. Standard curves were prepared and used to calculate the number of base pairs present in all the amplified fragments. The results obtained with these primers revealed sufficient amount of relatedness and variations in these two species. Primer A amplified some common DNA fragments of the same size in both the species, revealing the presence of conserved regions and thereby indicat- ing their ancestral relationship. Some of the fragments were unique to the individ- uals of both the species which could be used to generate their diagnostic profiles. Primer B produced single bands but of different sizes in the invididuals of both the species revealing the presence of intraspecific genetic variation. Primer C did not amplify the gDNA of the individuals of C.pyranthe but produced 4 bands ranging from 480 to 1160 bp length in C.crocale. These results indicate that the RAPD-PCR technique is useful in the studies on molecular taxonomy of Lepidoptera.

This paper forms part of a series on the butterfly fauna of Mount Kilimanjaro. Three genera (Catopsilia, Colias and Eurema) with eight species of Coliadinae are believed to occur within the main forest zone. However, of these, one or two may prove to be no more than variants of a third species, Eurema desjardinsii. A fourth conventionally recognized member of the complex may occur on the lower slopes below 1800 m. The widespread species Eurema hecabe occurs on the lower slopes, but records are sparse, and no records of its close relative Eurema floricola, with which it has often been confused, have been found. The need for original field and laboratory research on the taxonomy of African Eurema species is stressed. Keys to adult Coliadinae found in Tanzania, with colour illustrations, are included as online supplementary material.

Laboratory and field studies on the nuclear polyhedrosis of teak defoliator caterpillars, Hyblaea puera (Cram) were carried out to understand the insect-virus relationship. The typical symptoms of nuclear polyhedrosis were observed in both naturally and artificially infected caterpillars. The natural incidence of the disease observed was 35.6%. The number of polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIBs) per larva ranged from 1.12 x 10 to 2.37 x 10 9 with an average of 1.973 x 10 9 . There was no correlation between the larval weight and number of PIBs estimated. The virulence of the NPV, measured in terms of total mortality and incubation period was reduced when PIBs of the virus were stored at room temperature as a dry powder for a period of 6 years. The cross infectivity tests against the Achaea janata, Atteva fabriciella, Catopsilia crocale, Eligma narcissus, Euproctis fraterna and Eutectona machaeralis proved negative. It was confirmed with the straining property of the polyhedra that the disease pathogen belonged to nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of Subgroup A of the genus Baculovirus which is highly host-specific.

Occurrence of mortality due to bacterial infection by a gram negative bacterium and the hymenopteran entomophagous parasite Apanteles glomeralus (L.) was observed in a natural population of Catopsilia crocale Cramer, a defoliator of the ornamental and medicinal plant Cassia alata. On regular field observation during the seasons 1980–1981 and 1981–1982, it was found that mortality due to these factors was mostly confined to the Final larval instar and the pupa of C. crocale. A direct correlation was obtained between population density of C. crocale and the number of larvae/pupae killed due to these factors. As the incidence of the hymenopteran parasite and bacteria fluctuate along with the C. crocale population, consideration of the foregoing factors as potential biological control agents for the pest population of C. crocale, is suggested. Resume—Occurance de mortalite produite par infection bacterielle a cause d’une bacterie negative et le parasite hymenopteran entomophagous Apanteles glomeratus a ete observe dans une population naturelle de Catopsilia crocale Cramer. Un defoliataur d’une plante ornamentale et medicinale le Cassia alata. Dans les champs d’observation ordinaires pendant les periodes de 1980–1981 et 1981–1982, on a trouve que la mortalite, due a ces facteurs se limite souvent a le’tape larvaire et de chrysalide. Une relation directe est obtenue entre la densite de la population du C. crocale et le nombre de larves tuees a cause de ces facteurs. Comme la frequence du hymenopteran et de la bacterie varie en proportion avec la population du C. crocale, nous suggerons de prendre en compte les facteurs ci-dexus comme agents biologiques potentiels dans le controle de la population du parasite C. crocale.

The present work involves the assessment of level of genetic relatedness or divergence amongst the six North-Indian species of Lepidoptera belonging to family Pieridae and sub family Pierinae on the basis of sequence variation of 16S ribosomal RNA. The PCR amplified products of these species were directly sequenced using ABI Prism BigDye Terminator Sequencing Kits (Applied Biosystems). The multiple nucleotide sequence alignment analysis has revealed several differences across these species. Significantly high percentage of A + T base composition content ranging between 73.13% (Ixias pyrene ) and 79.20 % (Pieris brassica) was observed in studied species. The percentage divergence in the investigated species of Pieridae family varied from 5.5% to 21.7%. The two species of Catopsilia revealed minimum sequence divergence of only 5.5%, whereas the other two groups of Ixias and Pieris revealed 15.5% and 8.6% sequence divergence, respectively. Pieris canidia and Ixias pyrene are genetically most divergent (21.7%) amongst the studied lepidopteran species. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence revealed grouping of six species of Lepidoptera in the form of two different clusters, each cluster being represented by two species from the same genera. The separate taxonomic grouping of these Indian species has been observed when compared with several species of Piernae and Coliadinae subfamilies from other country isolates.

722 Manuscript received 25 August 2001; Revised manuscript received 28 November 2001; Accepted for publication 2 January 2002 Butterflies are known for their migratory flights. Williams (1938) recorded many migratory flights of butterflies from India and Sri Lanka. He recorded 33 species from the Indian region. Wynter Blyth (1957) listed most frequent migrant species from India: the emigrants, Catopsilia spp., The Common Albatross Appias albina (Boisduval), The Common Crow Euploea core (Cramer), The Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace (Cramer), The Common Tiger, Danaus genutia (Linnaeus), The Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, The Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus), The Pea Blue Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus) mainly from Palni Hills, Nilgiri Hills and the Himalaya. The most important observations are those made by Evershed (1910) at Kodaikanal in the Palni Hills and of Larsen (1978, 1987a,b) in the Nilgiris. In the present communication we are presenting an observation of migration at Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary (11o53' N to 75o56' E), Kannur District, northern Kerala, located at the Brahmagiri Hill slopes of the southern Western Ghats.

Amylase and invertase activity in the midgut tissue of the lepidopterous larvae Catopsilia crocale was studied in relation to the developmental stage and food availability. The enzyme activity increased significantly with advancing age of the larva. A direct positive correlation between food intake and enzyme activity was observed. A possible relationship between feeding and the regulation of enzyme activity is discussed.

Extensive field observations were undertaken to study the population dynamics of the larvae ofCatopsilia crocale in the Madurai Kamaraj University campus during the years 1980–81 and 1981–82. Though oligophagous,C. crocale adopted ‘monophagic strategy’ for oviposition and larval feeding. Seasonal changes in the nitrogen content of the foodCassia alata leaf influenced the pupal/adult weight and oviposition. Commencement of rain triggered the reproductive activity and continued precipitation facilitated maximum egg deposition. Of total egg production in a year, about 80% was oviposited during northeast monsoon (September–December) and the rest during the south-west monsoon (May–August). Egg, I instar, V instar and pupa suffered more mortality than the other life stages. Of the total number of eggs laid, about 1·01% emerged as adult and 98·99% died during the process of larval and pupal development.

The Rhodocerid group of Pieridae fall into three sub-groups. One, composed of Eurymus (Colias) and Meganostoma is characteristically holarctic, and has invaded the tropical zone of both hemispheres only along the mountains. The second composed of Dercas, Eurema (Terias), Teriocolias , and Nathalis appears to have its most primitive forms in the tropics of the old world, though this is not quite certain, the typical genus Eurema being far more varied in America than in the old world. The third group, Catopsilia , Kricogonia , and Gonepteryx , is obviously tropical American, all the genera occurring in America, and only two limited groups of species having invaded the old world.

In 1930 I published in my book “The Migration of Butterflies” a summary of the available knowledge of the migrant butterflies of North America, including about thirty species of which the principal were the Monarch ( Danaus plexippus ), the Painted Lady ( Vanessa cardui ), the Migrant Yellow ( Catopsilia sennae ), the Southern White ( Pieris monuste) and the Snout Butterfly ( Libythea bachmanni ). Since that date a considerable amount of new information has been received or published and some older records have been found which were previously overlooked, so it seems desirable to review this new knowledge, to see how it bears out previous conclusions, and to show where are the many gaps in our information.

10.Catopsilia crocale (Cramer). Papilio pomona Fabricius, Syst. Ent., 479, 1775. Papilio crocale Cramer, Pap. Exot. 1: 87, pl. 55, fig. C, D, 1775. Catopsilia ¡bomona (Fabricius) Kershaw, Butterflies of Hong Kong, 101, pl. 9, figs. 18, 19, 20, pl. 5 a, 1907. Catopsilia crocale (Cramer) Fruhstorfer, Seitz Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 9: 162- 163, 1910. Piti, Sept. 19, 20, Oct. 5, 30, Swezey; Píti, Sept. 30, student at Agricultural School; Merizo, Oct. 2, Swezey. Mostly reared specimens. Kershaw considers crocale to be a dimorphic female of pomona. This butterfly is known in Japan, China, and Siam and is widely distributed in British India. It is said to be the commonest butterfly in the East Indies, and its range extends to Australia. It has many variations. It was not previously recorded from Guam. I reared it from green caterpillars on leaves of Cassia grandis and C. fístula. Eggs were found also on the leaves. They are deposited singly. Some of the eggs are parasitized by a trichograrnmatid. Of six eggs collected at Merizo, parasites issued from two eggs, a parasitism of 33 percent. Of 19 eggs at Piti, parasites issued from five eggs, a parasitism of 26 per cent., Published as part of Swezey, O. H., 1942, Lepidoptera, Butterflies of Guam, pp. 31-38 in Insects of Guam I, Honolulu, Hawaii :Bernice P. Biship Museum on pages 35-36, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5160043

Catopsilia neleis, var. floridensis ♂ ♀.A beautiful variety of C. neleis, Boisd. It differs from its tropical types considerably.The ♂ ♂ have a bright sulphur-yellow in basal half of primaries, the broad anterior space beingof a creamy white instead of the citron colour in the typical form.The same is the case with the secondaries, except that three-quarters of the area of wings are of bright sulphur.♀ ♀ are not yellow, but creamy-white with large black discal spots, black rimmed apices and anterior margins of primaries, and with prominent citron tinge of the basal area of secondaries.

UNTIL about a quarter of a century ago, the identification of butterflies and moths was effected, almost entirely, by comparing their wing- and body-colour patterns with named material in collections or with published figures and descriptions. Inevitably, differences of opinion arose, which could not be resolved on morphological evidence, between collectors who knew the insects alive and systematists who studied them dead. The prolonged controversy about the conspecificity or otherwise of the Pierid butterflies Catopsilia crocale (Cramer) and C. pomona (Fabricius) in the Oriental region is a case in point1.