Oriental Lemon Emigrant/Common Emigrant

 Catopsilia pomona pomona (Fabricius, 1775)   കൊന്ന മുത്തി

 Lemon Emigrant

Malayalam Name           :     കൊന്ന മുത്തി
Family                             :      Papilionidae
Sub Family                     :      Papilioninae
Tribe                               :       Papilionini
Order                              :       Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moth)

DISTRIBUTION
               India to Australia
STATUS
                 Common
HABITAT
Moist Deciduous and Dry Deciduous forests, Common in human habitations.
HABITS
    The species has pale and dark morphs. The form crocale has the antennae black and the form pomona has the antennae pinkish or red. The development of these forms has been linked to photoperiod and temperature during growth. Females have 2 forms : catilla form with spot at the apex of cell and reddish blotch. and Crocaale form with no blotches
                 
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES: Medium sized yellow butterfly with wingspan 55–80mm. Similar in size with Mottled Emigrant, but lack black Mottled marks.

The underside varies from white with a light yellowish sometimes ochraeeous tinge to deep chrome-yellow.  In var. catilla the spot at the apex of the cell in both fore and hind wings is enlarged into a large reddish blotch, the similar spot on the hind wing is sometimes so enlarged as to occupy the apex of the cell, the basal two-thirds of interspaces 4, 5, and 6, and the middle third of interspace 7

 LARVAL HOST PLANTS

Bauhinia racemosa, Butea monosperma, Cassia spp., C. fistula, Dalbergia latifolia, Senna tora, S. siamea, Sesbania grandiflora (Fabaceae).

 LIFE CYCLE


MORE IMAGES

Upper Side
White Spot on Hind wings under side

Female:  catilla form Ochreous marking with spots

female:  crocale form

caterpillar


കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്  
മാങ്കുളം ഡിവിഷൻ


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