416 
LEPIBOPTERA. 
species found in our area; Davidson and Aitken reared the larva, 
and describe it as being light-green, flat, very broad in the middle, 
tapering to both ends; the pupa is closely attached to the leaf by 
th > tail and a girdle. The total number of species in India, Burmah 
and Ceylon is twenty. 
Pierid^e. 
Legs fully developed, claws bifid or toothed. Hind wing with vein 1 a 
present. Larva smooth or with fine pubescence. Pupa 
with a girdle , upright or horizontal. 
These butterflies are of moderate size, coloured in white, yellow, 
orange and black ; the colouring is vivid, noticeable and probably 
warning. The majority of 
the family and practically 
all our common species are 
instantly recognisable as 
Pierids in the field and the 
family is a very distinct one. 
Males and females differ 
little save in colouring, while 
dry-season forms of both 
sexes are often darker than 
Fig'. 288.—PlERIS BRASSKLE. 
wet-season forms. 
Fig. 289.— Catopsilia pyranthe pupa 
ATTACHED TO TWIG OF CASSIA. 
There is little to comment on in 
the life-history. Eggs are laid in 
groups or singly, upright sculptured 
eggs, constricted near the apex, 
of a dull yellow white colour. The 
larvae are usually coloured in yellow 
or green with black and are smooth, 
or have a short dense pubescence 
often with grandular hairs bearing 
each a drop of fluid. They com¬ 
monly feed in company, a row 
eating steadily away at the epidermis 
of the foodplant together. Our 
common species feed on Cassia and 
