SEASONALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED POLYPHENISM IN EUREMA LAETA LINEATA (LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE)

Abstract

Eurema sana (Butler) appears to be a seasonal morph of E. laeta lineata (Miskin): offspring with the “sana” phenotype were produced from “laeta” mothers by rearing the offspring at high temperatures and long photoperiods. The “laeta” morphs produced by rearing at lower temperatures and or a shorter photoperiod did not show the full range of underwing colour seen in field‐caught “laeia”. Field collections over 15 months in Townsville showed that the “sana” morph predominated from midsummer to mid‐autumn, the switch to “laeta” occurring in April‐May. Copyright © 1985, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved