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, four days after the larvae have transformed into 18-20mm pupae, the pupal stage has become translucent, meaning development within the pupal case is complete. The yellow coloration and back borders on the forewing upperside are now discernible, the day before the full-grown butterfly emerges from the pupa case at Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on 19/11/2024.