Mottled Emigrant Butterfly

A strong migrant butterfly with white wings, Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) is found in higher elevations, up to an altitude of 2000 ft in India. It can be also seen in primary and secondary forests, cultivated land, home gardens, waste places and urban areas.

The wingspan is about 5-7 cm. The female is slightly larger than the male. The butterfly is fond of flowers of cassia spp, pomegranate, red gram, bitter gourd, lantana, country mallow, Aztec marigold, common sesban and several other plants of Fabaceae.