The immature stages of 14 species in the subfamily Pierinae out of the 28 species of Pieridae in Sri Lanka and their larval food plants are presented. Ten species including three endemic subspecies are documented for the first time. The remaining four species including one endemic subspecies are compared to prior descriptions and additional observations are presented. Previously reported larval food plants are confirmed and new ones identified. This study provides some base information needed for conservation management programs for butterflies in Sri Lanka and for further studies on the biology of these species. Identification notes are given for Capparis zeylanica and Capparis brevispina, two important larval food plants, which have frequently been misidentified in the literature.
Polymorphism has rarely been reported from dragonflies of the Libellulidae (Odonata: Anisoptera) family. Here, we report female-limited polymorphism in females of five species of the Libellulidae and a gynandromorph male of Brachythemis contaminata from South Asia. We describe the morphological variation between andromorph and heteromorph females, and collate records of andromorph females from various sources. Yearly number of andromorph females of Crocothemis servilia, Urothemis signata and Neurothemis tullia was calculated using records from published literature and unpublished sources, and social media.
National Museum, Colombo) is described and figured. Its phenotype differs from that of M. d. donaldi from India. This is the first record of the genus Macromidia from Sri Lanka. The habitat characteristics and species behaviour are briefly outlined.
Cephrenes trichopepla (Lower, 1908), an invasive Australian species, was recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka in July 2009 but it is likely to have been in the island much longer. Since then, it has been recorded in several locations in the Northwestern province, near Colombo in the Western province, and in Kandy in the Central province. Recorded larval food plants are coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, a widely cultivated plantation crop, and a species of Livistona, a cultivated garden palm (Arecaceae). The immature stages and behavior in Sri Lanka are documented for the first time.
Libel/ago corbeti sp. nov. (holotype d': Sri Lanka, Ratnapura District, near Kudawe, 6.26°N, 80.25°E, 03 vii 2007, to be deposited in the Sri Lanka National Museum, Colombo) is described and figured. Its phenotype does not resemble that of any other Libel/ago species. Habitat characteristics and species behaviour are briefly outlined. Keys to males and females of Libel/ago species in Sri Lanka are provided.
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