Butterfly Taxon Search
Observation_242286
Notes (optional)
Plains cupid (Luthrodes pandava)
Dated- 09.07.2023
Place- 136 Nemi Nagar Extension, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Habit- You must have often noticed that the newly emerged leaves of your Cycas have been eaten by some insect. This insect is none other than the favourite host plant of the larvae of the Plain Cupid butterfly, Cycas revoluta. The butterfly lays its light green eggs on newly emerging leaves of the host plant. Early instar larvae are purple in color but change to green in later stages. Caterpillars usually feed on tender leaves of cycas that have not yet hardened. Its larvae are often cared for by ants. Ants protect butterfly larvae from parasites and predators in exchange for a sugary fluid secreted from special glands on the caterpillar's back. Pupation takes place within the ant colony and the newly emerged butterfly comes out of the ant colony to harden its wings.
Dated- 09.07.2023
Place- 136 Nemi Nagar Extension, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Habit- You must have often noticed that the newly emerged leaves of your Cycas have been eaten by some insect. This insect is none other than the favourite host plant of the larvae of the Plain Cupid butterfly, Cycas revoluta. The butterfly lays its light green eggs on newly emerging leaves of the host plant. Early instar larvae are purple in color but change to green in later stages. Caterpillars usually feed on tender leaves of cycas that have not yet hardened. Its larvae are often cared for by ants. Ants protect butterfly larvae from parasites and predators in exchange for a sugary fluid secreted from special glands on the caterpillar's back. Pupation takes place within the ant colony and the newly emerged butterfly comes out of the ant colony to harden its wings.