Biology of the common castor butterfly Ariadne merione merione Cramer (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) reported from Jammu region of J & K State

Abstract

Biology of common castor butterfly was studied under the field and laboratory conditions during the year 2013. Field studies indicated that Ariadne merione merione Cramer was in continuous flight and reproduction, with highest densities of early and adult stages occurring during June–September, the time of the entire North-West monsoon. Mating which usually takes place once, twice, or thrice, is observed on the same day or a day after emergence. Female starts laying eggs on the same day or a day after mating. Fresh eggs of common castor butterfly were collected from the host plants. Fresh eggs were transported and kept in the laboratory for rearing. Hatched larvae were individually reared on leaves of common castor, R. communis for studying the morphology and life history of the butterfly. The complete life cycle from egg to adult took 22-32 days and usually has 8-9 generations per year. The biology and developmental periods are mainly dependent on the climate, location and plant species on which it feeds.