Life Cycle and Ecological Insights of Graphium doson (Common Jay) in Palghar, Maharashtra, India

The Papilionoidea butterfly Graphium doson (Common Jay) larval performance and life cycle was studied at Palghar, Maharashtra. The leaves of Michelia champaca were used in the study of larval growth as in natural and laboratory condition for morphological and behavioural characters. The life cycle was finished in 4-5 weeks. Egg hatched after 3 days and the caterpillar stage lasted for about 16-20 days during which is passed through 5 instars growing from about 3.1mm up to 35 mm and looked pale greenish in colour. During larval life the caterpillars ate gluttonously and moulted between each instars. Final instar caterpillar stopped feeding in the prepupal stage and transformed into a pale yellowish green. The pupal period lasts for 9 days, and the pupa turns black in the wing pads before eclosion. The bluish-green spots on the forewings are visible through the pupal skin at this stage. The adult butterfly emerged the next morning to commence the adult phase of its life cycle. The study concluded that climatic factors greatly impact the duration of each life stage in butterflies. The larval host plant and nectaring plants should be conserved to protect this butterfly species and derive the ecological benefits it confers.