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Expert Insight
Issue 4, March 2002 by Simon Chan
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Common Name
Scientific Name
Family
Subfamily
Discovered by
Polymorphism |
: Mottled Emigrant
: Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe
: Pieridae
: Coliadinae
: Linnaeus in 1758 (the species ‘pyranthe’ and subspecies ‘pyranthe’)
: No |
Orange Emigrant)
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Mottled Emigrant -
Catopsilia pyranthe |
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The rarest of
three species from the genus Catopsilia found here, the Mottled Emigrant
is a medium-sized butterfly with greenish white wings. On each upperside
forewing, there is a black apical border, which is broader in the
female, and a black cell-end spot. This spot may be very faint or
non-existent in certain individuals. On the underside, the wings take on
a darker greenish hue with numerous reddish brown transverse striae
which is discernible up close and only when it is at rest.
The usual characteristics for the genus Catopsilia holds true for this
species. It has an energetic and rapid ‘jumping’ flight and males have a
tendency to puddle.
Thus far, BIG has found only one host plant for this species in Singapore
and it is the Seven Golden Candlesticks (Cassia alata). |
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Cassia alata |
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The life-history follows the usual Pieridae fashion and looks similar to
the other Emigrant species. For starters, its eggs are light yellow and
spindle-shaped. Then, its caterpillar is pale green with a white lateral
stripe bearing a series of minute black dots on its upper edge similar
to the ones of Orange Emigrant (Catopsilia scylla cornelia). Finally,
its green pupa is indistinguishable from the other Emigrants.
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Eggs |
Larval stage : caterpillars at early and last
instar |
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Pupal Stage |
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Pre-Pupa |
Freshly formed pupa |
Pupa before emerging |
Adult emerging |
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Freshly emerged Mottled
Emigrant |
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