Butterflies of the
Amazon and Andes
Small White Grass
Yellow
Eurema lirina
BATES, 1861
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily - COLIADINAE
Eurema
lirina
Peru,
� Peter Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The
genus
Eurema was until fairly recently
represented in the neotropics by about 30 species, but several have
now been reclassified as Pyrisitia,
leaving a total of 19 currently recognised species in the
neotropical region. Elsewhere in the world the genus has 9 species
in Africa, 2 in Madagascar, and 9 in the Oriental and Australian
regions.
These smallish butterflies are characterised by
having yellow or white uppersides, with dark apical markings. The
forewings have a strongly curved costa and in most species the apex
is squarish. In the majority of species the hindwings are rounded,
but some including salome,
mexicana and
arbela have the termen projected to a point.
Eurema lirina is
similar in appearance to other white Eurema
species but is smaller and daintier. The black markings on the
upperside are confined to the apical area of the forewings. The
underside of lirina is devoid of
markings.
Eurema lirina is found in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This species is found in rainforest and deciduous forest at
elevations between about 200-800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Males
are usually found singly, when imbibing dissolved minerals from damp
ground at the edge of ditches, runnels or roadside banks in forested
areas.
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