Life Cycle: Ypthima striata
Host Plant: Cynodon dactylon
Striated Five-ring (Ypthima striata Hampson, 1889) is a
rare endemic butterfly of Western Ghats. Recent sightings
in Tamil Nadu were from various places of Tirunelveli and
Theni district namely Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary,
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and Megamalai
Wildlife Reserve. The early stages of the butterfly
underwent 3 stages of metamorphosis namely egg,
caterpillar and chrysalis.
Egg
Egg was laid on the dry leaf blades of its host plant very
close to the ground. Egg was white, globular and 1mm in
size. Pinkish striation started to appear day by day. The Egg
stage lasted for 6 days.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 6
First Instar
The young larva eclosed from
egg fed on the egg shell
completely as its first meal. The
larva fed on young tender grass
blades and grew from 2.5mm to
5mm. The body was white with
alternate pale pink bands
running from head to anal
segment. First Instar stage lasted
for 6 days.
Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
Day 10 Day 11 Day 12
Second Instar
In the second instar larva, the alternate pinkish markings
became darker, conical horns in the head and anal processes
grew thicker, longer and got more pointed. The second instar
lasted five days and the body length grew from 5 - 12mm.
Day 13
Day 15
Day 14
Day 16
Day 17
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