<> Cepora nerissa (Fabricius, 1775) <>

the Common Gull ผีเสื้อเหลืองสยามลายขีด

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Photo taken at Chiang Dao Nature Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand 540m a.s.l.

Cepora nerissa is fairly common across most parts of the region. Visually there is little difference between the sexes other than the female having more black on its upper wings. The markings on both sexes are much paler in the dry season. It opens its wings only to the first rays of sunlight in the morning, becoming very active after that. When nectaring it doesn’t waste much time on a single flower and always hurries to another. Puddling is carried out by both sexes.

The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The female lays her eggs singly on the underside or edge of young leaves on the host plant. 4-10 eggs are laid at a time on different leaves.

Synonyms and previously used names: Huphina nerissa, Hyphina pallida, Papilio amasene, Papilio coronis, Papilio nerissa, Pieris hira, Pieris copia, Appias copia, Cepora hira, Pieris nerissa

Taxonomy: Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Pieridae - Pierinae - Cepora - nerissa

Regional subspecies: Cepora nerissa cibyra (Taiwan), Cepora nerissa corva (Java-Indonesia), Cepora nerissa dapha (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, W.Malaysia), Cepora nerissa nerissa (N.Vietnam, S.China), Cepora nerissa sumatrana (Sumatra-Indonesia). There are a few more subspecies listed at various locations in Indonesia but it is uncertain how many are valid.

Regional Distribution: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia

Habitat: Cepora nerissa is found in open areas, deciduous forest, scrubland, and urban areas. It has been recorded at elevations up to 2000m a.s.l. in the eastern Himalayas.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 40-50mm

Life History: egg 3 days instar1 2-3 days instar2 2-3 days instar3 2-3 days instar4 2-3 days instar5 3-4 days pupa 6-8 days Total egg to adult 21-28 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Cadaba fruticosa, Capparis baducca, Capparis brevispina, Capparis cantoniensis, Capparis cleghornii, Capparis decidua, Capparis grandis, Capparis heydeana, Capparis lanceolaris, Capparis micracantha, Capparis moonii, Capparis roxburghii, Capparis sepiaria, Capparis spinosa, Capparis tenera, Capparis zeylanica, Cleome spinosa, Cleome viscose, Crateva adansonii, Crataeva religiosa, Maerua oblongifolia (Capparaceae), Cleome viscosa (Cleomaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Platostoma axillaris, Plectranthus barbatus, Premna serratifolia, Salvia leucantha, Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae), Ehretia laevis, Ehretia pubescens (Boraginaceae), Acmella calva, Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Galinsoga parviflora, Helichrysum bracteatum, Sphagneticola calendulacea, Tagetes erecta, Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae), Asclepias curassavica (Apocynaceae), Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Cytisus scoparius, Tephrosea purpurea, Trifolium repens (Fabaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Sida acuta, Sida rhombidea (Malvaceae), Justicia japonica (Acanthaceae), Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae), Ophiopogon intermedius (Asparagaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Ixora coccinea (Rubiaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung