OBSERVACIONES SOBRE LARVAS DE PHOEBIS SENNAE AMPHITRITE (FEISTHAMEL) 1839 (LEPIDOPTERA)

Abstract

The existence of two types of larvae is described for Phoebis sennae amphitrite; one type is sharp yellow,
living on flowers of Sentía; the other type is deep green and living on the leaves of the same plant.
Both types of larvae are perfectly homochromous with their respective substrate; it was showed that
this difference in color does not correspond to a sexual dimorphism ñor that is the origin of sexual
isolation.
In the laboratory it was observed that it was possible to induce the change in color of the yellow larvae,
when reared on green leaves of Senna, change that took place after the following moult; it was also
observed that while recently emerged females are able to copúlate, males on the contrary need at least
two days of activity after emergence in order to be active sexually.