Life cycle, population index and feeding activities of the lime butterfly, Papilio demoleus (Lepidoptera: rhopalocera: papilionidae)

The present paper deals about the life history stages of Lime butterfly which includes larval development period, pupal period, measurements of body length of caterpillars, population index and feeding time. The larval instars i.e. Ist, IInd, IIIrd, IVth and Vth of Lime butterfly lasts for an average of 2.50 ± 0.32, 4.07 ± 0.61, 4.10 ± 0.62, 3.60 ± 0.28 and 3.71 ± 0.25 days respectively and their body length measured 4.06 ± 0.43 mm, 8.98 ± 0.62 mm, 18.61 ± 0.94 mm, 25.37 ± 0.99 mm and 35.09 ±1.45 mm respectively during different larval stages. The total larval period of Lime butterfly was observed to be 17.98 ± 2.08 days. The pupal period was 11.57 ± 0.92 days. The total development period was recorded 29.55 ± 3.06 days. During 4^th and 5^th instar feeding activities was rapid in comparison to 1^st and 3^rd instar stages. The Lime butterflies were active in January, February, June, July and October months of the year. The percentage of survival from egg to adult was maximum in the month of June (80%) and July (80%) and was minimum (60%) in month of February.