Small grass yellow | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Pieridae |
Genus: | Eurema |
Species: | E. smilax |
Binomial name | |
Eurema smilax (Donovan, 1805) | |
Synonyms | |
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Eurema smilax, the small grass yellow, is a small pierid butterfly species found in Australia, with some additional records from India, Indonesia and Niger.
The wingspan is about 30 mm.
The larvae mostly feed on plants of the Senna and Neptunia genera.
The species was first described by Edward Donovan in 1805. [1]
Eurema smilax adults have a wingspan of 30–34 mm, with females being slightly larger than males. [2] [3] They are yellow, with black tips on the upper surface of the forewings. [4] This colouration can vary depending on flight period. In southern Australia, the summer flying forms are usually pale yellow, with few or no brown markings on the wing undersides. The winter forms are a brighter yellow, with pronounced brown markings on the wing undersides. [5] The males are generally a brighter yellow than the females. [4]
The eggs are initially white, later turning yellowish. [5] They are spindle-shaped, with a height of about 1.2 mm, and laid singly on a host plant. [6] They hatch in about 7–11 days during spring. [5]
The caterpillar is initially pale yellow, soon becoming greenish. Third and fourth instars develop a darker dorsal line and a yellow lateral line. Mature larvae are 18–22 mm long. All larval stages have specialised hairs which secrete poison, visible at the ends of the hairs as clear droplets. [5]
Pupae are green, about 15 mm long, and attached to the host plant via a cremaster and central silken girdle. The head may be pointing either upwards or downwards. The pupal period lasts about 8–13 days. [5]
This butterfly can be found over the whole of mainland Australia, with occasional records from Kangaroo Island, Lord Howe Island and Tasmania. [5] There are also records from India, Java and Niger. [6]
E. smilax has been recorded using the following species as larval host plants:
E. smilax exhibits both migrant and vagrant habits. In South Australia, they will fly south from northern breeding grounds in spring, aided by hot northerly winds. During these migrations they fly in a steady, direct manner below head height, with the females being gravid and fertile. [5] The females seem to prefer laying eggs on small plants growing in full sun. [3]
The small blue is a Palearctic butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Despite its common name, it is not particularly blue. The male has some bluish suffusion at the base of its upper wings but is mostly dark brown like the female. The species can live in colonies of up to several hundred and in its caterpillar stage is cannibalistic.
Phalanta phalantha, the common leopard or spotted rustic, is a sun-loving butterfly of the nymphalid or brush-footed butterfly family.
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. It is simply known as "the grass yellow" in parts of its range; the general term otherwise refers to the entire genus Eurema.
Eurema brigitta, the small grass yellow or broad-bordered grass yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites. It is found in India, other parts of Asia, Australia and Africa.
Eurema andersonii, the one-spot grass yellow or Anderson's grass yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in India, Myanmar and other parts of Asia.
Eurema blanda, the three-spot grass yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae which is found in Sri Lanka, India and southeast Asia.
Catopsilia pyranthe, the mottled emigrant, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae found in south Asia, southeast Asia, and parts of Australia.
Geitoneura klugii, the common xenica or Klug's xenica, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It is a southern Australian butterfly that is easily camouflaged because of its resemblance to the ground where it is usually found fluttering. It has a wingspan of about 38 millimetres (1.5 in). The upper and lower side of the forewing is black with brownish-black markings and contains a black spot with a white centre. The orange hindwing is set off by a black border and a black-rimmed eyespot. The underside of the hindwing ranges from grey to brown and consists of darker markings.
Protographium leosthenes, the four-barred swordtail, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Papilionidae found in Australia. It is similar to the five-barred swordtail found in both Australia and India.
Eurema nicippe, the sleepy orange, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. Its range spans from Central America to north along the United States-Mexico border, and it often travels further to non-mountainous regions of the southeastern United States.
Trapezites eliena, commonly known as the orange ochre or eliena skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. It inhabits coastal or montane eucalypt forests.
Trapezites iacchoides, commonly known as the silver studded ochre or iacchoides skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. It inhabits cool, temperate, open eucalypt forests.
Trapezites phigalia, commonly known as the heath ochre or phigalia skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. It is primarily found in eucalypt woodlands, open forests, and coastal healthland habitats.
Trapezites phigalioides, commonly known as the montane ochre or phigalioides skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victoria. It occurs primarily in open eucalypt forests, usually above 300 m (980 ft) altitude, extending up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft) altitude in subalpine woodland habitat in parts of New South Wales. The range of this species largely overlaps with the closely related heath ocre .
Trapezites praxedes, commonly known as the southern silver ochre or praxedes skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
Dispar compacta, commonly known as the dispar skipper, barred skipper, or barred grass-skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1882 as Telesto compacta and is endemic to eastern Australia.
Dixeia pigea, the ant-heap small white or ant-heap white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae that is native to Africa.
Synemon theresa, the cryptic sun-moth, is a species of day-flying moth of the family Castniidae. It was described by Edward Doubleday in 1846. It has a wingspan of 26-40mm, and is mostly grey-brown with orange hindwings. Native to Australia, this species is extinct in Victoria, and is now only known from a relatively small area of South Australia near Adelaide. It uses Themeda triandra and Rytidopserma spp. as larval food plants. Adults can be found from November to February. They only live for a few days, as they do not have a feeding proboscis. Despite becoming extinct over much of its former range, the cryptic sun-moth is not listed as a threatened species in South Australia.
Heteronympha cordace, the bright-eyed brown, is a brown colored butterfly endemic to Australia. It was described by Carl Geyer in 1832.
Theclinesthes serpentata, commonly known as the saltbush blue or chequered blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae that is native to Australia. The species was first described in 1869 by German entomologist and physician G. A. W. Herrich-Schäffer. It is common throughout all Australian states and territories, and can be found in a wide range of habitats.