Life history of Pontia daplidice moorei (Rober) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from Himachal Pradesh, India

2005·0.8 MB·

General Notes
JournaloftheLepidopterists'Sock-It/
59(3),2005, 170-171
LIFE HISTORYOFPONTIA DAPLIDICE MOOREI (RoBER) (LEPIDOPTERA PIERIDAE) FROM
:
HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA
Butterfliesare animportantcomponentoftheoverall about 1.2hoursandoccursmainlyin thei "g-
biodiversity of a region. They occur in a variety of Larva: Numberofinstars:4
First instar(duration = 2days. Fig.2). Head: Width0.34 ±0.02
choanbsiteartvsatiaonndistasreanodfeinnttoemroelstogitsotsbifoolrogsipsetcsi,fincatausrwaelilsltsa,s pmrmima(rny=set2a6e.);Bobldayc;k,Lweintghthwe2l.l05de±f0i.n0e4d,mgml,obwuildatrhoc0e.l3l6i,±a0n.d04smmalml
general reasons. Adult butterflies and their early stages (n = 26); pale yellow, distinctly segmented, small primary setae
presenton all segments; alimentarycanalvisible as darkgreen mid-
have dual economic importance because they are a dorsal stripe; entire body speckled with minute black dots, more
significantcomponentof the foodchain, andare closely denselaterally.
associated with different species of plants. The genus Secondinstar(duration = 2days). Head:Width0.70 ± 0.02mm
(n = 22); brownish-yellow, sparsely covered with moderately long
Pontia Fabricius is distributed over the entire secondary setae. Body: Length 4.46 ± 0.07 mm; width 0.83 ±
Palaearctic region, including most ofAfrica, and enters 0.03mm(n=22 );sameasaboveexceptwithgreenish tingebetween
thenorth-westernpartofIndia. Threespecies arefound segments,andwithmixtureofwhiteandblack,primaryandsecondary
setae.
in India: P. daplidice (Linnaeus), P. glauconome Klug Thirdinstar(duration=3days),Fig.3).Head:Width1.73±0.05
and P. chloridice (Hiibner) (Talbot, 1939). Pontia mm (n=20);sameasabove exceptlightgreen.Body: Lengdi8.30±
daplidice (Linnaeus) is representedinthe Indian region 0.12 mm; width 1.64 ± 0.17 mm (n = 20); mid-dorsal stripe gray;
dorsal stripes yellow; subdorsal stripes gray; and spiracular stripes
by only one subspecies, P. d. moorei (Rober). Mani yellow.Allstripesextendfordiefulllengthofthebody.
(1962) reported P. d. moorei from Lahaul Valley mmFourthinstar(duration =4days,n=20,Fig.4).Width2.4±0.05
(4300m). (n = 20);creamish,sparselycoveredwithmixtureofmoderately
longwhiteandblacksetae;andwithtwolateralyellowpatches.Body:
This study was carried out at Dr. Y.S. Parmar Length23.0 ± 0.47 mm;width3.3?? ±??0.12mm (n = 20);sameas
University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni above exceptgraystripes nowbroaderthanyellowstripes; spiracles
(1440m), Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. Oviposition whitesurroundedwithprominentlightgreenborder.
Pupa(duration = 6-7days, Fig.5) Length 18± 1mm;width4.2 ±
on the leaves of Lepidium ruderale L. (Brassicaceae) 0.13mm;taperingatbothends,withtheanteriorenddrawnouttoa
wasobservedinthe field. Freshlylaideggswerelocated spine likepoint; abdominal segmentation well defined; stripes as in
and marked, and were observed daily until hatching. 4th instar except the dorsal stripes now yellowish-green, and the
spiracularyellowstripeextendsfromtheposteriorendtoapointhalf
Newly hatched larvae were brought to the laboratory the body length; spiracles white distinct; entire pupa held closely
along with leaves, and kept in petri dishes/breeding appressedtodiestemortotheceilingofthebreedingchamber,bya
cages. Fresh leaves were provided daily for the well developed silk girdle around the thorax. Pupation took place
eitherontheceilingofthebreedingcageoronthestemofthehost
developing caterpillars. Observations on the plant. Larvae began preparation for pupation at night, and
development and habitswere recorded. Measurements transformedtopupae10tol4hourslater.
of head capsulewidth, andbodylength andwidthwere Adult eclosion is completedwithin 1.5-2 hours, and usually take
placeinthemorning.
made using with an ocular micrometer adapted to a
Larval behavior: Pontia daplidice moorei is
stereomicroscope.
monophagus on L. ruderale, and passes through four
Oviposition behavior: Oviposition was observed
larval stadia. Each of the three larval ecdyses is
from March to September 2002, between 1000 and
completedin5-9hours. Firstinstarseattheireggshells,
1600 hours, on L. ntderale, an herbaceous plant about
then begin skeletonizingthe tender leaves oftheir host
one foot high. Prior to opposition females fly slowly, plant, eatingthe leaftissue except fortheveins. Second
quiteclosetotheground, andspendagooddealoftime
instars eat tenderleaves except midrib. Third and forth
fluttering about in search of a suitable leaf. Eggs are instars devourthewhole leafincludingthe midrib. First
placed singly on either the dorsal orventral surface of
and second instars rest along the midrib on the upper
tender leaves, each deposition taking three to five surface ofleaf, and third and forth instars rest eitheron
secEogngds(.FigF.le)m:aHleiegshtth0.e8n7f±ly0.o0f3fmtmo,lowicdatthe0a.n34ot±h0e.r02plmamnt.(n = the stems oron the uppersurface ofthe leaves.
28);bottleshaped,upright,basecomparativelybroaderandrounded;
sculptured with prominent ridges, furrows and transverse striae;
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
mieropyler end narrow with small circular disc; ??shinning??white
whahtecnhinfgr.eshlylaid, orangeafteroneday,thenturningblackishbefore Dr. Narender Sharma is grateful to DST, New Delhi for
fmoiuerIrnodpcayuylbsea.rtiTeohnnedPoyeforutinhoegdelagangr,dvatHheaemtnecrhegiaentssg:tahTfetheeergegcghgsehwielinlcn.ugbHaaattichoohnliepnegriintoadtkheises TtesrhxpoaoapnnmiksicfonaurillinngRtgeotshteeDharemr.acpnhArunosInjcneersctittipttteuo.tneA,ieBlRuletopt,eurbfSlltiiaecfsf.ofSTcPiheaenntiaasmtu,tahoSformriticshrishtoiincgiahlallnyy
Volume 59, Number 3 171
Figures 1-5. Pontiadaplklicemoorei. 1. Egg(ca.50x). 2. Firstinstar(ca.40x). 3. Thirdinstar(ca. llx). 4. Finalinstar,headand
bodydetails(ca. 12x). 5. Pupa(ca.3x).
Literature Cited Narender Sharma, Zoological Survey ofIndia, M-
MANI, M.S. 1962. Introduction to high altitude Entomology. Block, NeiCAlipore, Kolkata-700 053 INDIA
Methuenand Co. Ltd., London,302pp.
Talbot, G. 1939. The FaunaofBritish IndiaincludingCeylon and
Burma. Butterflies ??volume-2. Taylor and Francis, London,
506pp.