The ecology and genetics of the African migrant butterfly Catopsillia Florella fabricius

The life cycle and development of the African migrant butterfly Catopsilia florella Fabricius (Pateridae) was investigated. Field observation provided information on mating behaviour and distribution of eggs on the leaves of the food plant Cassia abbreviata Oliv. (Caesalpiniaceae). Broods were obtained from wild caught gravid females kept in muslin bags over shoots of the food plant with young leaves. The segregation in the broods provided data for the study on the inheritance of the wing colour in females. Eggs and larvae were collected from the wild. The larvae were kept in cages with glass or rspex doors and supplied with young leaves of the food plant. The larvae in each cage were approximately of the same age. The duration of each stage, agents of mortality and possible protective strategies were studied in each stage of development. Adults in the field were captured, marked and released for one hour each morning and later in the afternoon on sunny and calm days. The captured individuals provided the frequency of the insect for each month. In both wild caught and laboratory reared samples the sex and morph ratios were determined for each month.