International Journal of Zoology and Research (IJZR) ISSN(P): 2278 - 8816; ISSN(E): 2278 - 8824 Vol. 6, Issue 5, Oct 2016, 1 - 6 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd

LIFE HISTORY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE GRAM BLUE,

CNEJUS (FABRICIUS) (: : )

AVTAR KAUR SIDHU 1 & MANBEER KAUR 2 1 High Altitude Regional Centre , Zoological Surv e y of India , Saproon, Solon , Himachal Pradesh, India 2 BAM Khalsa College, Garhshanker , Hoshiarpur, Punjab , India ABSTRACT

The species is polyphgous with the larvae infesting six host plants of family leguminosae. It continues to shift from one host to another according to flowering season. The gross morphology and duration of various life history stages has been recorded. Th e larval and oviposition behaviour has been studied in details. The larvae exhibit cryptic camouflaging behavior by adopting polymorphism.

KEYWORD S : , Polyommatinae, Lycaenidae, Life History, Behaviour

Received: Aug 21, 2016 ; Accepted: Sep 13, 2016 ; Published: Sep 16, 2016 ; Paper Id.: IJZROCT20161 O r

INTRODUCTION i g i n

The genus Euchrysops Butler is represented by more than 30 species world over but the species cnejus a l

Linnaeus is the only representative of the genus present in Indian region (Varshney, 1997 ). Wynter - Blyth (1957) A r t and V a rshney ( loc. Cit. ) have reported Ougenia dalbergioides, Phase olus trilobus, radiates, Cylista i c l scariosa, Butea frondosa, Butea monosperma, Vigna catjang , Vigna cylindrical, catjung and Acacia sp. e as its larval host plants. During the course of present studies Milletia ovalifoia (Photo. 5 ) Kurz., Pongamia pinnata Linnaeus, Dolichos lab lab (Linnaeus),

Phaseolus aconitifolius Jacqiun, Cassia occidentalis (Linnaeus), Vigna unguiculata (Linnaeus) (Leg uminosae) have been recorded its new host plants from Shiwalik areas adjoining Chandigarh from north - west India. Boerhavia diffusa (Linnaeus) (Nyctaginaceae); Sida acuta Brum . (Malvaceae), Tridax procumbens (Linnaeus) (compositae), Vigna unguiculata (Linna eus), Milletia ovalifolia Kurz., Cassia occidentalis (Linnaeus) (Leguminoseae); Oxalis sp. (Oxaliaceae), Verbena bonariensis (Linnaeus) (Verbenaceae) have been recorded as its nectar food plants. The detailed account of various life history stages is as be low :

OBSERVATIONS Life History Stages and Developmental Time Egg Incubation period: 5.00 ± 1.41 days.

Diameter 0. 60 ± 0.00 mm, width 0. 2 0 ± 0.00 mm; laid singly; light green in colour; disciform ; surface with polygonal honey comb - like texture, thickened at angles; micropyle lies in a circular depression; firmly glued to bud/leaf.

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Larva

Number of Instars: 4

Larval duration: 17.16 ± 1.28 days.

First Instar

Duration: 4.16 ± 0. 28 days

Head : Width 0. 17 ± 0.01 mm; hypognathus, light brown; generally remains retracted under prothorax, protruded during walking and feeding; epicranial suture very distinct; primary setae present.

Body : Length 2. 00 ± 0. 50 mm, width 0. 38 ± 0. 12 mm; creamy white when freshly hatched, later becomes light pink, legs cream coloured, prothoracic shield black; body covered with long primary setae, the latter white with base black, middorsal prothoracic and caudal setae quite long.

Second Instar

Duration: 3 .50 ± 0.5 0 days.

Head: Width 0. 36 ± 0.04 mm; brownish black; rest as above.

Body : Length 5.00 ± 1.00 mm, width 1.66 ± 0. 28 mm; well segmented, wood - louse shaped, with ventral surface completely flat, dorsal surface highly raised, legs remain covered under body, median dorsal line and lateral lines deep pink; somewhat velvetly in appearance, dorsally covered with numerous brownish microscopic secondary setae inserted on white and black stellate chalazae , the latter imparting black tinge to the body; on seve nth segment dorsal nectar organ present, with transverse median slit discernible on mid - dorsam, eighth abdominal segment with rudiment tentacular organs, the latter situated dorsolaterally; entire body covered with lenticles, much denser around spiracles.

Third Instar

Duration: 4.00 ± 0.00 days.

Head: Width 0. 54 ± 0.04 mm; same as above.

Body : Length 8.00 ± 1. 00 mm, width 2.50 ± 0. 50 mm; almost similar to second instar; exhibit well pronounced polychronism, ranging between dark maroonish red, pinkish green and entirely green, prothoracic shield resembles with body colour, middorsal line dark maroon.

Fourth Insta r (Photo. 3 )

Duration: 5.50 ± 0. 5 0 days.

Head: Width 0.85 ± 0.1 3 mm; same as above.

Body: Length 11.66 ± 1. 57 mm, width 3.44 ± 0. 50 mm; similar to third instar.

Pupa (Photo. 4 )

Duration: 7.66 ± 0 .41 days.

Length 10.50 ± 0.5 0 mm, width 3.75 ± 0.35 mm; lies parallel to substratum, attached to the latter with anal end

Impact Factor (JCC): 2.1739 NAAS Rating: 2.59 Life History and Behavior of the Gram Blue, Euchrysops 3 Cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) having well developed silken pad, supported by a girdle passing across first abdominal segment, pupa pinkish green when freshly formed, later turns brownish with black suffusion, middorsal line blackish brown, either side of the body with a row of small ci rcular subdorsal spots, the latter black coloured; ventral surface flat, dorsal surface raised, somewhat rounded, longer setae and protuberances absent, cremaster wanting, anal segment beset with setae, the latter quite minute.

Oviposition Behaviour

In the field it has been observed that the female has a preference for a variety of leguminous plants for the purpose of oviposition. The eggs are mostly deposited on or in the axil of young unopened buds. However, in rare instances, a female may use some other substrates such as undersurface of tender unopened leaves, upper side of older leaves, green shoots and even flower for egg laying. The egg laying has also been noticed on unripe and delicate fruits of the host plant, Vigna unguiculata . The optimum conditio ns for egg laying appears to be prevalent between 11.00 A.M. to 14.30 P.M. To begin with, the fertilized female performs a typical site searching flight with a slow motion in and around the vicinity of the host plant. Upon encountering the same, she alight s on it and walks with a view to select a precise substratum which could be a bud, leaf, legume or flower. Eventually, after deciding a precise site by probing the same with the tip of her abdomen, she lays 25 - 30 eggs within a period of 30 minutes or so, r esting intermittently between subsequent deposition of the eggs. Except two eggs being laid on a sprouted but, the eggs are always laid singly, usually one egg per bud/leaf/bean.

Larval Behaviour

The first instar emerges out by biting a small hole in the r egion of the micropyle and does not feed on the empty egg shell. Immediately after emergence, the caterpillar stars crawling towards unopened buds and bores into one of them. It has been observed that while feeding endophytically, the larva consumes the gy noecium part of flower bud. After consuming on bud, it shifts to the next. The faecal matter excreted by it also gets accumulated inside the bud. The second instar also feeds in a similar manner, with slightly more infesting/damaging capacity. It may be no ted that it is somewhat easy to make out in the field whether an infested bud is with or without larva. A single hole near the base of a bud indicate s that the larva is still inside and if there is an additional bigger hole near the apex, it points out tha t the larva has escaped after feeding. The third and fourth instars are partially endophytic and forage on the older as well as half opened buds. It has also been noted that sometimes these larvae knot together 3 - 4 flower buds with silken threads and form a sort of compartment and feed inside it. While feeding, they keep the rear end of the body outside this so called enclosure. The last instar relatively feed continuously and hollows out the buds completely. It may also consume even the petals of the flowe r. While feeding on the host plant, Milletia ovalifolia the third and fourth instar larvae weave together 2 - 3 leaves with silken threads to form a tent - like structure and feed inside it. Such larvae scrap the leaves and rest inside the tent either singly or in a group of 2 - 3 larvae.

In another host plant, Vigna unguiculata , mature larvae gnaws a hole in the green pericarp of a developing legume and bore into the unripe seeds. It is noteworthy to record here that the larvae of final two instars show polymorphism which seems to be a part of cryptic camouflage behavior. In fact, the colour of the larva completely matches with the part of the host plant on which it feeds. When disturbed, the caterpillars tend to move in a very sluggish manner and when highly provocated, they simply roll their bodies and become immobile for some time . There is h ardly any quick movement shown by the larvae even under these stressful conditions. The endophytic behavior and camouflaged colour patterns of the larvae are considered to be highly useful in avoiding predators.

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Myrmecoxeny

The endophytic mode of feeding a nd the entirely non - functional dorsal nectar organ, the larvae are hardly approached by ants. Further, though the larvae bear a large number of lenticles yet they remain ignored by ants. Similarly, the pupae are also not attended by any ant individual. Acc ordingly the species under reference is myrmecoxenous as observed both in the laboratory and in the field.

CONCLU SIONS Remarks

Though the species is available throughout the year yet it is most abundant during the months from April to June and September to October. T he adults are strong and active flyers. They are often seen basking in the sun. The reflective and lateral basking is prevalent in this species. Varshney (1997) described it as endangered species and The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India also includ es it in Schedule II (Part II), but the present studies shows that it is commonly available in plains of Punjab and Shiwaliks of Chandigarh.

REFERENCES

1. Varshney, R.K. ( 1997 ) Index Rhopalocera Indica Part III. Genera of from India and neighbou ring countries (Lepidoptera : (C ) Lycaenidae ). Oriental 31 : 88 - 138 .

2. Wynter - Blyth, M. A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian region. Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publications, New Delhi : 523 pp.

APPENDICES Plate - I

Figure 1 Figure 2

Figure 3 Figure 4

Impact Factor (JCC): 2.1739 NAAS Rating: 2.59 Life History and Behavior of the Gram Blue, Euchrysops 5 Cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae)

Figure 5

Explanation to Photographs

Species Euchrysops cnejus ( Fabricius )

 Adult male

 Adult female

 Fourth instar caterpillar

 Pupa

 Larval host plant, Milletia ovalifolia

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