First Report of Colotis amata (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on Salvadora persica (Capparales: Salvadoraceae) in Rajasthan, India: Incidence and Morphometric Analysis

An infestation of the small salmon Arab, Colotis amata (F.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), on pilu (Salvadora persica L.; Capparales: Salvadoraceae) plants was first noticed in 2012 at the Experimental Farm of the Central Institute for Arid Horticulture and other fields of Bikaner District, Rajasthan, India. The maximum incidence (80%) was observed on 18 Dec and the minimum (13%) on 4 Sep. The average numbers of insects ranged between 6.2 and 22.3 larvae per 3 leaves. Adults of this small butterfly were salmon-pink in color. Eggs were laid singly on leaves or young shoots and were 0.58-0.72 mm in length, 0.38-0.43 mm in width, and white in color when first laid, later developing red blotches. The length and width of 1st instar larvae were 1.98-2.29 mm and 0.36-0.48 mm, respectively. The lengths of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instars were 5.04 mm, 9.77 mm, and 14.27 mm, respectively. The 5th instars were 19.30 mm long and 3.33 mm wide. Pupae were 14.10 mm long and 5.73 mm wide and laterally compressed. Adults were salmon-pink in color, and females had a body length of 9.71 mm and a wingspan of 33.62 mm. Bodies of males were 7.59 mm long and their wingspan measured 25.67 mm. The lengths of male and female antennae were 4.63 mm and 5.46 mm, respectively.