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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Eurema laeta bethesba (Janson,1878). The Spotless Grass Yellow
Range
E. l. betheseba Japan: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
E. l. laeta Ceylon, India - W.Himalayas
E. l. sikkima Sikkim, Assam, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China
E. l. pseudolaeta S.Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
E. l. semperi Philippines (Luzon, Benguet Mts.)
E. l. punctissima Taiwan
E. l. sana Australia: Northern Territory - Cape York, Torres Strait Is., Papua
Descripiton of the Sri Lankan forms:
A small yellow butterfly with a wingspan of 30-40 mm. It shows great seasonal variation in size, shape, and color of markings. While the wet and dry season forms contrast sharply, there are many intermediate forms that grade perfectly from one into the other.
The upper side is two toned with an inner yellow area and an outer black area; the line traced between them resembles the knuckles of one's hand. The markings on the underside are indistinct and may be absent. However, there is always a diffuse straight horizontal band on the under side of the hind wing; sometimes there are 2 parallel bands.
Both sexes of the wet season form have rounded forewing apices, and on the upper side, a black streak at the distal end of the forewing cell. The ridges of the 'knuckles' are very flat.
Both sexes of the dry season form have pointed forewing apices, and on the upper side, it does not have a black streak at the distal end of the forewing cell. The ridges of the 'knuckles' are very high.
Status and habitat
It is a common resident of the grasslands between 500 to 3000 feet elevation and may be seen all year round.
Habits
It flies slowly and leisurely in a zigzag manner weaving its way through the sparse tall grass that it inhabits. It visits small wild flowers and frequently sits on wet soil.
Foodplants
Larva on Cassia thora in Sri Lanka, Cassia mimosoides in Australia |
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