Life cycle and larval performance of the joker Byblia ilithyia (Lepidoptera: rhopalocera: nymphalidae) from southern Andhra Pradesh

The Joker butterfly, Byblia ilithyia was multivoltine, and breeds almost throughout the year with high frequency during the periods from September to December. The life cycle from egg to adult emergence was relatively short spanning over 22 -27 days. Successful development of adults, larvae and pupae are from 80 100% during the said period. Short life cycle and high success development of life stages suggest the production of 12 -13 broods in the season. The different stages from egg to adult emergence of Byblia ilithyia on Tragia plukentii was discussed in detail. Nutritional indices consurnptlon index (CI) and approximate digestibility (AD) increase as the larvae aged, while growth rate (GR) increases, efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (Eel) are inversely related as age increased.