Eurema smilax

Eurema smilax (Donovan, 1805)
(one synonym : Terias casta)
Small Grass Yellow
COLIADINAE , PIERIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Eurema smilax
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

This Caterpillar is green with a yellow line along each side, and a darker green line along the back. It has been found feeding on:

Pudding Pie Tree ( Cassia fistula ),

Pea Bush ( Senna acclinis ),

Senna coriaceae,

Jewelled Cassia ( Senna coronilloides ),

Kolomana ( Senna gaudichaudii ),

Punty ( Senna nemophila ),

Silver Cassia ( Senna petiolaris ),

all in CAESALPINIACEAE, as well as

Australian Native Sensitive Plant ( Neptunia gracilis ), and

Neptunia monosperma

in MIMOSACEAE.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The pupa is held by cremaster and girdle to a stem of the food plant. It has a length of about 1.5 cms.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The upper surfaces of the wings of the adult butterfly are yellow with a black band around the edge, and a black dot near the middle. The undersides are yellow with variable brown markings. It has a wingspan of about 3 cms.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The eggs are white and spindle shaped. They are laid singly on a foodplant.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The is found in

Indonesia,
and all over Australia, including

Victoria, and