<> Appias lyncida (Cramer,1777) <>

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

Appias lyncida is widely distributed and fairly common across the whole of the South East Asia region. This sexes are visually different with the female being much darker, especially on the upperside of the wings. However, the females are only seldom seen while the more colourful males are frequently seen puddling. Both sexes visit flowers for nectar. They fly strongly and swiftly close to the ground and are usually found near rivers and streams.

The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Eggs are laid in batches of up to 10 eggs on the upperside of a leaf on the host plant.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio hippo, Appias inornata, Appias hippoides, Appias taprobana, Appias tsurui, Appias vacans, Pieris enarete, Pieris formosana

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Pieridae - Pierinae - Appias - lyncida

Regional subspecies: Appias lyncida andrea (Philippines), Appias lyncida eleonora (NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Yunnan-China), A.lyncida enarete (E.Malaysia, Kalimantan-Indonesia), A.lyncida formosana (Taiwan), A.lyncida lyncida (Indonesia), A.lyncida vasava (S.Thailand, W.Malaysia, Singapore). There are a large number of other subspecies listed at various locations in Indonesia and the Philippines but it is uncertain how many of these are legitimate.

Regional Distribution: Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Ob Khan National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 360m a.s.l. ♂

Habitat: Appias lyncida is usually found in evergreen and deciduous forest, usually near streams, but also visits urban parks in some locations. Although usually seen at lower elevations it has been recorded at up to 2000m a.s.l.

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

Life History: egg 2 days instar 1 2-3 days instar 2 2 days instar 3 2-3 days instar 4 2-3 days instar 5 2-3 days pupa 5-6 days Total egg to adult 17-20 days.
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Capparis micracantha, Capparis roxburghii, Capparis sikkimensis, Capparis zeylanica, Crateva adansonii, Crateva magna, Crateva religiosa (Capparaceae), Brassica oleracea, Rorippa indica (Brassicaceae), Cleome spinosa (Cleomaceae), Bombax ceiba (Malvaceae), Homonoia riparia (Euphorbiaceae), Gynotroches axillaris (Rhizophoraceae)
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Bidens pilosa, Clibadium surinamense, Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae), Duranta erecta, Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Helixanthera cylindrica (Loranthaceae). There may be other nectar sources that have not been recorded. Other - mud puddling