Dear Nature Lovers,
Greetings from oikos !
Lime Butterfly is one of the common butterflies from India.
Name refers to its larval host plants like Citrus i.e. cultivated Lime.
Scientific name : Papilio demoleus, Family : Papilionidae (Swallowtails)
Commonly seen in peninsular India. Prefers open areas and lightly wooded vegetation.
It has swift but rather jerky flight at eye level. Often seen mud-puddling in large numbers.
Mud-puddling is one of the most conspicuous behaviors amongst butterflies.
They suck nutrients or salts or amino acids from moist substances like mud,
which play a very important role in their physiology and ecology.
Parasitoid on the larval stage :
Some caterpillars of Lime butterfly fall prey to minute wasps which lay dozens of eggs in them. The parasitic wasp larva eat the caterpillar from the inside. Initially the vital organs are avoided,
but by the time the caterpillar is ready to pupate even the vital organs are consumed.
Shortly before, or soon after the caterpillar pupates, the parasitoids emerge from their host
thus killing it.
Larval Food plants : Aegle marmalos, Citrus medica, Glycosmis arborea,
limes, lemons and many rutaceae family members
बेल - Aegle marmalos
बेल is one of the religious plant found occasionally in drier region.
Hardy tree, planted in temples for leaves to be offered to Lord Shiva.
Fruits are medicinal and a refreshing drink is prepared from ripe fruits. |
