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VOL. 6, ISSUE 1 (2024)
Life history and larval performance of the dark grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria karsandra (moore, 1865) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Visakhapatnam, east coast of south India
Authors
Matala Bhupathi Rayalu
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the life history and
larval performance of the Dark Grass Blue butterfly, Zizeeria karsandra
(Moore 1865), focusing on food consumption, utilization, and life cycle
duration on its host plant, Tribulus terrestris L. Conducted in 2023 in
Visakhapatnam, South India (17°42'N, 82°18'E), this research details that the
butterfly completes its life cycle in approximately 16 to 18 days (17.20 ± 0.84
days), with specific stages lasting as follows: egg stage - 3 days, larval
stage - 8 to 10 days, and pupal stage - 5 days. The nutritional indices across
the larval instars were measured, revealing the following results: Approximate
Digestibility (AD) ranged from 66.64% to 96.10%, Efficiency of Conversion of
Digested Food (ECD) ranged from 3.53% to 64.77%, and Efficiency of Conversion
of Ingested Food (ECI) ranged from 3.39% to 42.77%. These measurements were
taken at a controlled temperature of 28 ± 2°C and a relative humidity of 80 ±
10%. The high ECD and ECI values observed in this study may contribute to the
ecological success of Z. karsandra in this environment.
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Pages:22-26
How to cite this article:
Matala Bhupathi Rayalu "Life history and larval performance of the dark grass blue butterfly, <i>Zizeeria karsandra </i>(moore, 1865) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Visakhapatnam, east coast of south India". International Journal of Environmental and Ecology Research, Vol 6, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 22-26
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