Eurema hecabe - Common Grass Yellow Butterfly - Animal India

Eurema hecabe, the common grass yellow, is a small pierid butterfly species found in Asia, Africa and Australia. They are found flying close to the ground and are found in open grass and scrub habitats. Studies suggest that the females Eurema hecabe can discriminate colours when choosing host plants for oviposition. Larva of this butterfly is Long, green, rough, cylindrical, or slightly depressed, with a large head and during Pupa Suspended by the tail and by a moderately long band; the abdominal segments are round, but the thorax is much compressed, the wing-cases uniting to form a deep sharp keel. The head-case terminates in a short pointed snout. Ordinarily, the pupa is solitary and green, but sometimes on a twig in large numbers. Many Pierine and other larvae seek each other's company at that time. Having selected a dead branch of some neighboring bush, they acquired the colour of their surroundings. Here, lined up on a Golden Shower (Cassia fistula or Senna fistula) plant branch, on the last day of the 5th instar, the caterpillar's body shortens and changes to either a dull shade or a bright shade of green. Pupation takes place about 0.5 days later. The yellowish-green pupa secures itself with the same silk girdle as in the pre-pupal stage. Still, with the cremaster replacing claspers by attaching the posterior end to the silk pad, the pupa has a pointed head and a keeled wing pad. Its body is mostly unmarked except for a faint pale brownish and narrow dorsal band and turns into 18-20mm pupae at Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on 15/11/2024.