4
Early stages of Plains Blue Royal (Tajuria jehana)
Ramanasaran Hari
[email protected]
Egg
The butterfly oviposited eggs on leaves
of Dendrophthoe falcata. Egg was in the
shape of golf ball dome. The first instar
caterpillar hatched from the egg in 2
days.
First instar
First instar and Second instar
During the first two instars, the caterpillar fed only on the dermal
layer or the upper layer of the leaf. The leaves kept for the
caterpillar as feed got fungal infection sooner that I had to
change the feed twice a day. The caterpillar was more active
during the day. The caterpillar moved faster compared to the
caterpillars of other Lycaenidae. The first instar stage just lasted
for a day. The second Instar lasted for 2 days.
Second instar
Third instar
During its third instar, the
caterpillar started to eat the leaf
completely. This was also the
instar
stage
where
the
caterpillar ate more leaves when
compared to other instars. The
duration of third instar was bit
longer and lasted for lasted for 5
days. The duration of third instar
was mostly active during the
night.
Third instar
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 3 VEINS 3
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