Early stages of Nilgiri Grass Yellow Eurema nilgiriensis (Yata, 1990) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), with a note on its range extension in the Kerala part of the Western Ghats, India

• Main Authors: Balakrishnan Valappil, V.K.Chandrasekharan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society 2020-06-01
• Series: Journal of Threatened Taxa
• Subjects: eurema andersoni; host plant; ventilago bombaiensis
• Online Access: https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/5365

Complete documentation of the early stages of Eurema nilgiriensis (Yata) on the larval host plant Ventilago bombaiensis (Rhamnaceae) is presented in this paper.  In addition to this, notes on the range extensions of this species in southern Western Ghats in Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, and Palakkad districts in Kerala is also provided. Field records from the northern Kerala part of the Western Ghats and the complete biology are reported for the first time since its description in 1990. Photographic records from seven locations since 2011 were confirmed by comparing with the original descriptions and in consultation with the author of the   species. Eggs collected from field were reared at home, and every stage observed is also reported, as well as the discovery of the host plant Ventilago bombaiensis.  It is concluded that the species is widespread in forested areas at elevations from 70m to 1,000m.