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, EUCHRYSOPS

CNEJUS (FABRICIUS) (LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE: POLYOMMATINAE)
AVTAR KAUR SIDHU1 & MANBEER KAUR2
1

High Altitude Regional Centre, Zoological Survey 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. The larval and oviposition behaviour has been studied in details. The larvae exhibit cryptic
camouflaging behavior by adopting polymorphism.
KEYWORDS: Euchrysops Cnejus, Polyommatinae, Lycaenidae, Life History, Behaviour

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

The genus Euchrysops Butler is represented by more than 30 species world over but the species cnejus
Linnaeus is the only representative of the genus present in Indian region (Varshney, 1997). Wynter-Blyth (1957)
and Varshney (loc. Cit.) have reported Ougenia dalbergioides, Phaseolus trilobus, Phaseolus radiates, Cylista
scariosa, Butea frondosa, Butea monosperma, Vigna catjang, Vigna cylindrical, Dolichos catjung and Acacia sp.

Original Article

INTRODUCTION

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)
(Leguminosae) have been recorded its new host plants from Shiwalik areas adjoining Chandigarh from northwest India. Boerhavia diffusa (Linnaeus) (Nyctaginaceae); Sida acuta Brum. (Malvaceae), Tridax procumbens
(Linnaeus) (compositae), Vigna unguiculata (Linnaeus), 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 below:

OBSERVATIONS
Life History Stages and Developmental Time
Egg
Incubation period: 5.00 1.41 days.
Diameter 0.60 0.00 mm, width 0.20 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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Avtar Kaur Sidhu & Manbeer Kaur

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 0.50 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 seventh 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 Instar (Photo. 3)
Duration: 5.50 0.50 days.
Head: Width 0.85 0.13 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 0.50 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

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 circular 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 conditions 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 alights 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, resting 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 region 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 gynoecium 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 noted 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 indicates
that the larva is still inside and if there is an additional bigger hole near the apex, it points out that 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 flower.
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 hardly 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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Avtar Kaur Sidhu & Manbeer Kaur

Myrmecoxeny
The endophytic mode of feeding and 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. Accordingly the species under reference is myrmecoxenous as
observed both in the laboratory and in the field.

CONCLUSIONS
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. The 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 includes 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 Butterflies from India and neighbouring countries
(Lepidoptera : (C) Lycaenidae). Oriental Insects 31 : 88-138.

2.

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

APPENDICES
Plate - I

Impact Factor (JCC): 2.1739

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4
NAAS Rating: 2.59

Life History and Behavior of the Gram Blue, Euchrysops

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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