Butterflies of
the Indian
subcontinent
Lesser Gull
Cepora nadina
LUCAS, 1852
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - PIERINI
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Cepora
nadina,
male |
Introduction
The genus Cepora is closely allied
to Appias, and comprises of 16
species of which 6 are found in the Australian region, and 10 in
the Oriental region.
The gorgeous chrome yellow on the underside of
nadina is present in both sexes but
only in the wet season form of the species. The dry season form
is a much plainer creature in which the yellow is replaced by a
pale umber hue.
Cepora nadina occurs in Sri Lanka,
India, Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, south China,
West Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and the Andaman islands.
Habitats
This species is found in open areas in primary
and secondary forest at altitudes between sea level and about 600m.
Lifecycle
The caterpillar feeds on Capparis,
and when fully grown is green and covered with small tubercles
each of which bears a short white hair.
Adult behaviour
Males are strongly attracted to urine and seepages where they
join aggregations of Appias,
Eurema and
Graphium. If disturbed they invariably settle on nearby
foliage but are nervous, so while the
Eurema and Graphium tend to
return to feed quite quickly, nadina holds back until it senses that any threat of danger has
long passed.
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