Common Gull - Cepora nerissa

 

Common Gull - Cepora nerissa

A very common, small to medium sized Pieridae family butterfly that is seen flying all over India and in most part of Indian subcontinent. It is very identical with another species called "Pioneer".

 

Early stages:

Pinkish Egg just before birth of caterpillar

Egg is like tall building, something similar Petronas twin towers, and with a shape resembling a rice grain.Female lays single light-yellow colored egg at a time, normally on the thorns of the plant. Preferred host plant by female of common gull is capparaceae spp. Egg turns to pinkish in about 6-8 days. Caterpillar feeds on leave to grow up to 4 cm before pupation.

Pupa of common gull

  

Full grown:

Wingspan of the butterfly is about 45 mm. Female has darker and broader black spots on the upper wing. As per my observation male seems to be more active and is on the wings more as compare to female. Grown individual occur in two forms - wet season and dry season. It is often seen nectoring on small flowers. It rests on small twigs for some time, which is usually the good time to photograph the under-wing pattern. Upper wing pattern can be photographed in early morning when it is basking.

Eclosion of common gull.
Complete eclosion sequence can be found here (Face book album).

Freshly emerged specimen of Common gull

Court-shipping pair

Mating pair