Common Grass Yellow

Eurema hecabe

The Large Grass Yellow or Common Grass Yellow is a small pierid butterfly species found in Asia or Africa. 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 hecabe Angola,Common Grass Yellow,Eurema hecabe,Fall,Geotagged

Appearance

:"See glossary for terminology used"
The Common Grass Yellow exhibits seasonal polyphenism. The lepidopteran has a darker summer morph, triggered by a long day exceeding 13 hours in duration, while the shorter diurnal period of 12 hours or less induces a fairer morph in the post-monsoon period.:164
The Common Grass Yellow mating Butterfly,Common Grass Yellow,Eurema hecabe,Geotagged,India

Naming

*"Eurema hecabe albina" Huang, 1994
⤷ "Eurema hecabe amplexa"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe biformis"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe brevicostalis" Butler, 1898
⤷ "Eurema hecabe diversa"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe hecabe"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe hobsoni"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe kerawara" Ribbe, 1898
⤷ "Eurema hecabe latilimbata"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe latimargo" Hopffer, 1874
⤷ "Eurema hecabe mandarina"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe maroensis"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe nivaria" Fruhstorfer, 1910
⤷ "Eurema hecabe oeta"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe phoebus"
⤷ "Eurema hecabe solifera"
Common Grass Yellow Borneo,Brunei,Butterfly,Common Grass Yellow,Eurema hecabe

Behavior

Eggs are laid on "Abrus precatorius", "Acacia" spp., "Aeschynomene" spp., "Albizzia" spp. and numerous other Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae and Cucurbitaceae species.

Studies suggest that the females can discriminate colours when choosing host plants for oviposition.

Larva: "Long, green, rough, cylindrical, or slightly depressed, with a large head."

Pupa: "Suspended by the tail and by a moderately long band; the abdominal segments are round, but the thorax is much compressed, the wing-cases uniting to form a deep sharp keel. The head-case terminates in a short pointed snout. Ordinarily the pupa is solitary and green, but sometimes on a twig in large numbers. Many Pierine and other larvae seek each others company at that time. Having selected a dead branch of some neighbouring bush, they acquired the colour of their surroundings as nearly all Pierine and Papilionine pupae do to a greater or less extent."

This species has been found to be parasitized by multiple strains of "Wolbachia". These bacteria can alter the sex-ratios of the species.

References:

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