Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Straight-barred
Grass Yellow
Eurema elathea
CRAMER, 1777
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
COLIADINAE
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Eurema
elathea, 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 some shade of yellow with a
black apex and wing borders. Females tend to be paler with narrower
borders. The shape of the wings varies according to species - some have 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
elathea 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 daira, but the latter has a slightly
curved bar on the forewings, rather than the straight bar of
elathea. Females of both species lack the bar. They
have white forewings and hindwings, both with broad dark borders.
Eurema elathea
occurs from the USA to Paraguay, and is also present on most Caribbean islands.
Habitats
Like most other Eurema
species this butterfly
breeds in disturbed semi-open forest edge habitats, including roadsides,
riverbanks, secondary forest and farmland. It occurs at altitudes between sea
level and about 1800m.
Lifecycle
The
larval foodplants are Zornia and
Stylosanthes ( Fabaceae ).
Adult behaviour
This species is usually
encountered as colonies comprising of dozens or hundreds of individuals, which can be
seen fluttering slowly amongst low herbage in
disturbed forest edge habitats.
Both sexes nectar
at low growing flowers and at Lantana
bushes. Unlike other Eurema species,
the males of elathea do not normally mud-puddle or visit
river beaches.
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