Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Andean Grass Yellow
Eurema salome
FELDER & FELDER, 1861
Family -
PIERIDAE
subfamily -
COLIADINAE
Eurema
salome salome, male, Manu cloudforest, 1500m, Madre de Dios,
Peru.
Introduction
The
genus
Eurema
was until fairly recently represented in the neotropics by about 30 species, but
several have now been reclassified as
Pyrisitia,
leaving a total of 19 currently recognised species in the neotropical region.
Elsewhere in the world the genus has 9 species in Africa, 2 in Madagascar, and 9
in the Oriental and Australian regions.
These smallish butterflies are characterised by having yellow or white
uppersides, with dark apical markings. The forewings have a strongly curved
costa and a squarish apex. The hindwings are rounded in most species, but in salome, xantochlora
and arbela
the termen is projected to a point.
The
various species can be told apart
by the pattern of mottled dark markings on the underside hindwings, and by the
black borders on the upperside forewings, which differ according to species.
Eurema
salome is variable regarding the width of the black
borders on the upperside, and in the extent of the brownish mottling on the
underside hindwings. There are 6 named subspecies, found variously from Mexico
to Peru. The illustrated race is Eurema salome salome,
which occurs in the eastern Andes of Peru and Ecuador.
Eurema
salome salome, male, Satipo,
Peru.
Habitats
This is a pre-montane cloudforest species, occurring along roadsides, riverbanks
and forest edge habitats at elevations between about 400-2000m.
Lifecycle
The eggs have only been recorded on Fabaceae. Other
Eurema
species
oviposit on Mimosaceae, Caesalpinaceae and Simaroubaceae, as well as Fabaceae,
so it is possible that these families could be utilised also by
salome. The eggs are laid singly on the underside
of the leaves.
Eurema larvae are typically dull green, with a whitish line along the sides, and a
rough texture. The pupae of Eurema are typically pale green or yellowish,
and have a prominent
keel, but I have no data specific to
salome.
Adult behaviour
Males
are usually encountered singly, or occasionally in two's or
three's, seen imbibing dissolved minerals from damp ground at the
edge of ditches, runnels or roadside banks in forested areas.
Females are more
often seen nectaring at flowers along roadsides and riverbanks, or
when exploring sunny wood edge habitats in search of egg-laying
sites.
The flight is fluttery but
fairly rapid, and always close to the ground.
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