Three Spot Grass Yellow
Eurema blanda silhetana, Boisduval

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Three Spot Grass Yellow resting in mid-day heat

Description
Wingspan of 40-50 mm. A bright yellow and black butterfly. It is very variable in size, color and markings. The sexes are similar. The outer margin of the forewing is wavy - a useful characteristic in the identification of the Eurema group.. 

Upper side forewing: It is two-toned with a black outer area and a yellow inner area. The line traced between them is variable in shape, but it always resembles a dog's face. The lower extremity of the black border of the forewing is subtended by yellow.  The yellow color is quite variable and in some specimens it is cream colored. 

Under side forewing: The basal part of the forewing cell has three irregularly shaped rings - a characteristic that distinguishes it from all other Grass Yellows. Sometimes, there is a narrow reddish-brown smudge below the forewing apex from the costa to vein 4.

Similar Species
Details

Status, distribution and habitat
Its habitat is similar to that of the Common Grass Yellow. But unlike the Grass Yellow, it is much commoner in the wet zone and the adjacent hills than anywhere else. It becomes progressively uncommon and rare towards the north. 

Habits
Very much like those of the Common Grass Yellow, though it differs in its egg laying behavior and subsequent larval development. When Albizzia moluccana was first introduced into Sri Lanka as a shade tree over a century ago, the butterfly switched over to using it as the preferred larval host plant. It soon became a pest, and  though no specific pest control measures were taken, its natural enemies soon brought it under control - a strategy that has great relevance today.

Early stages
The eggs are laid in batches and the larvae and pupae are gregarious. Its host plant of choice is the introduced Albizzia moluccana, though it feeds on species of Cassia, Glyricidia and Acacia, and probably on many more leguminous plants.

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