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

abstract
The life history of the dark grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria karsandra (Moore) and its larval performance in terms of food consumption and utilization, and the length of life cycle on its host plant Amaranthus spinosus (Amaranthaceae) are described for the first time in Southern Andhra Pradesh. The dark grass blue, Zizeeria karsandra was a species of Lycaenidae butterfly usually seen in open scrub and grassland habitats. The study was conducted during January to December 2014 at Sri Lankamalleshwara wild life sanctuary (Kadapa) (79^o 07’ – 78^o 80’ E) of Southern Andhra Pradesh. Zizeeria karsandra completes its life cycle in 17 – 23 (19.20 ± 0.84) days. (Egg: 3-4; Larva: 9-13; Pupa: 5-6 days). The values of nutritional indices across the instars were AD (approximate digestibility) 98.00 - 63.43%; ECD (efficiency of conversion of digested food) 3.52 – 59.45%; ECI (efficiency of conversion of ingested food) 05.00 – 40.80%, measured at the temperature of 29 ± 2 ^oC and RH of 80 ± 10% in the laboratory. These relatively high values of ECD and ECI explain at least partially the ecological success of Zizeeria karsandra in the present study environment.