author(s)
P Harinath, K Suryanarayana, S P Venkata Ramana

abstract
In the study was described the life history of the small orange tip butterfly, Colotis etrida (Boisduval, 1836), monthly occurrence and seasonality of early stages and larval performance in terms of food consumption and utilization, and the length of the life cycle. Field study indicated that Colotis etrida was in continuous flight and reproduction, with highest densities of early and adult stages occurring during June-September, the time of the entire South-West monsoon. The occurrence of the early stages was positive, but non-significantly correlated with rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and day length. Field data on the numerical occurrence of eggs, larvae and pupae on the larval host plant Cadaba fruiticosa (L.), Druce (Brassicales: Caparidaceae) and the laboratory study on the successful development of eggs, larvae and pupae leading to the emergence of adult butterflies. The eggs are laid singly on the foliage. They hatch after 3-4 days. The larva passes through five instars and attains full growth over a period of 11-16 days. The pupal stage lasts 9-10 days. Assuming that the adult’s life for 7-12 days, the length of generation time was estimated to span over 23-30 days, and accordingly the number of broods expected are estimated to be 6-7. The fifth instar larva has a greater share of the total food consumed over the entire larval period and growth was directly related to food consumption. While growth rate, fluctuated, consumption index showed a continuous decrease with the advancing age of the larvae, and their average values are 6.6 mm; and 5.4 mg; respectively. While the efficiency of conversion of ingested food and efficiency of conversion of digested FV Decreased as the larvae aged, with the average values coming to 15.32% and 13.44%, 88.8% respectively. Colotis etrida – Cadaba fruiticosa system presents an interesting situation of the same plant serving as larval and adult host, and the butterfly serving as is an exclusive pollinator.