<> Pieris canidia (Linnaeus, 1768) <>

the Indian Cabbage White ผีเสื้อหนอนกะหล่ำอินเดีย

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

Pieris canidia is fairly common across the northern parts of the SE Asia region but less so in the south. Visually there is little difference between the sexes. It opens its wings only to the first rays of sunlight in the morning, becoming very active after that. It has a weak flight but rarely stops for a rest. Puddling is carried out by both sexes.

The species is multivoltine and with a relatively short life cycle there are a number of broods per annum. The female lays her eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. The larva eats its eggshell on hatching.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio gliciria, Pieris glaphyra, Artogeia canidia, Ganoris canidia

Taxonomy: Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Pieridae - Pierinae - Pieris - canidia

Regional subspecies: Pieris canidia canidia (NW India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Yunnan-China, Taiwan, W.Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines), Pieris canidia indica (NW Yunnan-China)

Regional Distribution: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines

Habitat: Pieris canidia is found in open areas in evergreen forest, grassland, and agricultural land. It has been recorded at elevations up to 3500m a.s.l. in Nepal.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 45-55mm

Life History: egg 3 days instar1 2-3 days instar2 2 days instar3 2 days instar4 2 days instar5 3 days pupa 7 days Total egg to adult 21-23 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Regional Larval Hosts: Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rorippa dubia, Rorippa indica, Sisymbrium sp. (Brassicaceae), Cleome rutidosperma, Cleome spinosa (Cleomaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Acmella calva, Ageratum conyzoides, Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odoratum, Elephantopus tomentosus, Synedrella nodiflora, Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae), Coffea benghalensis, Serissa japonica (Rubiaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Cytisus scoparius, Trifolium repens (Fabaceae), Plectranthus barbatus, Salvia leucantha (Lamiaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Sida acuta, Sida rhombidea (Malvaceae), Justicia japonica (Acanthaceae), Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae), Ophiopogon intermedius (Asparagaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung