Catopsilia pomona (lemon emigrant)

Family pieridae

The Catopsilia pomona (lemon emigrant) is widely distributed all over Taiwan, especially street trees of leguminosae plants in in central, southern, or eastern Taiwan. They always attract thousands of lemon emigrants, offering a gorgeous sight. Living in low altitude mountain areas, the lemon emigrant is often seen to visit flowers and gather nectar. This species has two types: stripeless type and silver-stripe type. The latter has two adjoining small red round spots at the ventral center of hind wings and clear wing veins. The male has darker shades, while the female lighter. This type has light green and yellow individuals, with some having extra large stripes. The fodder of its larvae are plants like Kassod trees, golden shower trees, coffee sennas, and sickle sennas.

　　Photographed by Wang Chien-de