Various forms in Lemon Migrant/Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) butterfly

Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) belongs to Coliadinae subfamily, which is commonly known as, the sulphurs or yellows, which belongs to Pieridae family of butterflies. There are around 300 species described from this subfamily all over the world.
There are 6 Catopsilia species: gorgophone from Australia, thauruma from Madagascar; pyranthe and scylla from the Oriental region; florella which is found across Africa and most of the Oriental region; and pomona, which is distributed from Sikkim to Malaysia, east to the Philippines and south through the islands of the South Pacific to Australia.

Lemon Emigrant comes in several forms for both sexes, but generally they are moderately large with wing upperside appearing in either white or yellow and black-bordered on the costa and termen of the forewing. Early entomologists considered Catopsilia pomona and Catopsilia crocale to be separate species, but it is now scientifically proven that both are forms of the same subspecies - C. pomona. There are in fact at least 6 different colour forms or 'morphs' divided in 2 groups; namely the 'crocale' group and the 'pomona' group.

The 'crocale' group is characterized by having the upperside of antennae black, and the absence of silvery spots at cell-ends on the underside. The 'pomona' group is characterized by having the upperside of antennae red and the presence of red-ringed silvery spots at cell-ends on the underside. These characterists are mainly applicable for males as most of the females are either share one form or the other or appear mostly common to naked eyes.

Crocale group forms –

1. -f alcmeone – mostly white above but yellow in the basal third of the wings and thinly bordered at the forewing apex.
2. -f Jugurtha - creamy white above with yellow wing base and black border on the forewing costa and termen of both wings. It has a series of black submarginal markings and a black spot at cell-end on the forewing.
3. -f crocale - broad black distal border with a series of whitish spots embedded on both wings. (widely spread)

Pomona group forms –

1. -f Hilaria – similar upperside to that of -f alcmeone but with lesser extent of basal yellow area.
2. -f nivescens - whitish wings with reduced black border and markings
3. -f catilla – has large reddish patches on the underside. (widely spread)

Posted on September 18, 2020 05:24 AM by kedartambe