Life cycle of the common mormon (Papilio polytes) butterfly on Indian curry (Murraya koenigii) leaves

The life cycle of Common Mormons residing on curry leaves at Koriwade Village (Ajara Tehsil) was studied. The life cycle was completed in 31–35 (32.6±1.17) days. The eggs laid by female on the host plant were incubated for 3–4 (3.6±0.51) days. The first-instar larvaehad horns like projection at boththe ends, when it started feeding on the shell and soft leaves. The larvae spent 3–4 (3.7±0.48) days in the laboratory and 2–3 (2.5±0.53) days in the wildenvironment. After transitions to second instar, their abdominal segments developed a quadrilateral structure. The body segments of third-instar larvae were greyish green in color, and it lasted for. 3–4(3.4±0.51) days in the laboratory and 2–3(2.6±0.51) days in nature. The fourth instar larvae spent 4 5(4.6±0.52) days in the laboratory while 3–4(3.4±0.52) days in nature. The bodyof fifth instar larvae was dark green, with radical alterations, which entered the pupal stage, emerging as an adult butterfly after 12–14 days of pupation.