Catopsilia florella, the African migrant, African emigrant, or common vagrant, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It is found in Africa (including Madagascar), Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman) and the Canary Islands. Like Catopsilia pomona, this species also has a habit of migration.[3]Many early authors mentioned the presence of this species in Asia;[4][5] but those were probably due to confusion arises as Catopsilia pyranthe females exhibit a lot of seasonal variations.[6] Catopsilia florella is not included as a species in India in any recent checklists.[7]

Catopsilia florella
Male, Ghana
Female
Aburi Botanical Gardens, Ghana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Catopsilia
Species:
C. florella
Binomial name
Catopsilia florella
(Fabricius, 1775)[2]
Synonyms
  • Papilio florella Fabricius, 1775
  • Colias pyrene Swainson, 1821
  • Callidryas hyblaea Boisduval, 1836
  • Callidryas rhadia Boisduval, 1836
  • Pontia marcellina Bertoloni, 1850
  • Catopsilia aleurona Butler, 1876
  • Catopsilia rufosparsa Butler, 1880
  • Callidryas swainsoni Westwood, 1881
  • Catopsilia florella ab. subpyrene Strand, 1911
  • Catopsilia florella florella f. inornata Dufrane, 1947
  • Catopsilia florella florella ab. biannulata Dufrane, 1947
  • Catopsilia florella florella ab. houzeaui Dufrane, 1947
  • Catopsilia florella f. peregrina Stoneham, 1957
  • Catopsilia florella f. duplicata Stoneham, 1957
  • Catopsilia florella f. wandriana Stoneham, 1957

The wingspan is 54–60 mm for males and 56–66 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round. From South Africa, adults migrate from summer to autumn. They fly in a north-eastern direction.[8]

The larvae feed on Senna occidentalis, Senna septentrionalis, Senna petersiana, Senna italica, Cassia javanica, and Cassia fistula.[9]

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References

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  1. ^ Armstrong, A.J.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2021). "Catopsilia florella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T174213A161331664. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T174213A161331664.en. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. ^ Catopsilia florella at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. ^ Larsen, T. B. (1992). "Migration of Catopsilia florella in Botswana (Lepidoptera:Pieridae)". Tropical Lepidoptera. 3 (2): 11. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. ^ Bingham, C.T. (1907). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Vol. II (1st ed.). London: Taylor and Francis, Ltd. pp. 223–224.
  5. ^ Larsen, T. B. (1977). "Butterfly Migrations in the Nilgiri Hills of South India (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera)". The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 74: 546–549. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  6. ^ Swinhoe, Charles (1905–1910). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. VII. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. pp. 90–94.
  7. ^ Varshney, R.; Smetacek, P. A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India (2015 ed.). New Delhi: Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and Indinov Publishing. p. 67.
  8. ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  9. ^ Martiré, J. & Rochat, D. (2008). Les Papillons de la Réunion & leurs chenilles. Biotope.