Page 122 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Pieridae
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and parts of China
DIS
HABITAT
HABITAT T Mountain meadows, grassland, gardens, and parks
HABIT
A
T PLANT
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS S Cassia spp. and Senna spp.
HOS

NO TE Well-camouflaged green caterpillar that produces
NOTE
NOTE
a strong migrant
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERV A TION S T A TUS Not evaluated
ADULT WINGSPAN
2⅛–2⅝ in (54–66 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
Up to 1¾ in (45 mm)
CATOPSILIA FLORELLA
AFRICAN MIGRANT
120
(FABRICIUS, 1775)

The female African Migrant lays her eggs singly on flower
buds and young shoots of the host plants. The pale, elongated
eggs are laid vertically on the surface so they look as if they
are standing up. The young, green caterpillars emerge and
feed on the buds, their color providing excellent camouflage.

The older caterpillars then feed on the leaves, often defoliating
the plant. Pupation occurs on stems or leaves. Like the larvae, the
chrysalis is also green with a yellow line along the side, giving
it the appearance of a leaf with a midrib.

The adults, which are on the wing all year round, are powerful
fliers, and they may migrate over long distances, hence
the common name of the species. Those that breed in South
Africa migrate in a northwest direction from summer to fall.

Mass migrations have been reported in Tanzania, with butterflies
flying north in November, then east in March, and finally
returning south in May.

Actual size

The African Migrant caterpillar is
predominantly green in color with bands
of tiny, black, hair-bearing tubercles. There
is a distinctive black and pale yellow stripe
along both sides. The head is green with
tiny, black spots.