Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Curved-bar
Grass Yellow
Eurema daira
GODART, 1819
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
COLIADINAE
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Eurema
daira, Tingo Maria, Peru |
Introduction
The genus Eurema has a worldwide distribution, with 19
species found in the neotropical region.
On the upperside some
species such as albula have a pure white or whitish
ground colour, but the males of most others are usually some shade of yellow, with a
black apex and wing borders. The females of all species tend to be paler, with narrower
borders. The wing shape varies according to species - some have very
rounded wings, while others such as salome have a
squarish apex, and have the hindwings drawn out to form a short tail.
The upperside forewings of male Eurema
daira are yellowish, with a broad blackish-brown apex, and a broad
straight blackish bar along the inner margin ( dorsum ). The hindwings of the
male are white, with a broad dark brown border. This species can easily be
confused with elathea, but the latter has a
straight bar on the forewings, rather than the curved bar of
daira. Females of both species lack the bar. They
have white forewings and hindwings, both with broad dark borders.
Eurema daira has a slightly more northern range
than elathea, being found from the USA to Peru. It also occurs on most Caribbean
islands.
Habitats
Like most other Eurema
species this butterfly
breeds in disturbed semi-open forest edge habitats, which may include roadsides,
riverbanks, secondary forest and farmland. It occurs at altitudes between sea
level and about 1400m.
Lifecycle
To be
completed.
Adult behaviour
This species, like
elathea, is usually
encountered as colonies of several dozen individuals, which can be
seen fluttering slowly amongst low herbage in
disturbed forest edge habitats.
Both sexes nectar at low growing flowers. Males do not normally mud-puddle or visit sandbanks.
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