Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona
Wingspan: 58 mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: Aug to Apr.
Distribution of this Migratory species: northern WA, the northern areas of NT, most of QLD, coastal NSW, and isolated pockets in southern WA, VIC & SA
With 4 Australian Migrant species (White, Lemon, Yellow & Orange), all somewhat similar when in flight, here are some hints to help with id's of the Lemon Migrants.
This species is highly variable.
There are two seasonal forms, to add to the complexity there are intermediate forms as well.
The two seasonal forms are;
* SUMMER Form (wet season form) known as the DARK Form.
* WINTER Form (dry season form) known as the PALE Form.
One way to help decide which form, when a specimen is photographed at rest, is the colour of its antennae, the DARK Form has black antennae and the PALE Form has pink antennae. However wing markings are also key to helping with identification.
The DARK form is most abundant from December to April but may be found in smaller numbers a little earlier or later than this period.
The PALE form may be found throughout the year but is usually more common between April and October.
For MALES the variance between the DARK form and the PALE form is minimal.
For FEMALES the variance between the DARK form and the PALE form is far more obvious.
Over time we hope to show clear photos of upperside and underside of male's and female's of both forms.
In addition we will look for variations of the standard forms amongst the butterflies visiting us.
Male Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), DARK Form. - the Migrants arrived after a drought-ending period of torrential rains with several sighted flying around the garden, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 15 Feb 2020
Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) DARK form, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 15 Feb 2020
Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) variant DARK Form, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 17 Feb 2020
Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) PALE form, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 20 Feb 2020
Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) PALE form, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 20 Feb 2020
Male Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) PALE form, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 31 Aug 2020
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A rare 'in flight' upperside photo of the male at left, taken in our enclosed vegetable garden, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 31 Aug 2020
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Male Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), DARK Form, An end-of-season specimen, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 25 Apr 2020
Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), DARK Form on Salvia, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 17 Feb 2020
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Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), DARK Form on Salvia, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 17 Feb 2020
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Female Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), DARK Form feeding on buddleia, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 1 Mar 2015
Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona
Wingspan: 58 mm
Sighted: Aug to Apr
Distribution of this Migratory species: northern WA, the northern areas of NT, most of QLD, coastal NSW, and isolated pockets in southern WA, VIC & SA
Butterfly Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
There are two seasonal forms, a pale form and a dark form however this is complicated by intermediate forms. There appear to be a huge variance in the small amount of black markings on the upperside of both the fore-wings and hindwings in the dark form. We show some examples.
Lemon Migrants are migratory and are sometimes seen on the Plateau in considerable numbers. They are not known to breed on the Plateau which is thought to be too cold for the known Cassia and Senna food plants to survive. It is a common butterfly on the sub-tropical coast where its food plants thrive. According to Braby in Butterflies of Australia it is usually the 'dark form' that migrates.
The Lemon Migrant is a strong fast flyer but will stop in the garden for a nectar feed using many different flower species.
Possible migration building late January 2021 - numbers increasing each day with at least one in the garden at any moment.
Status Dorrigo Plateau: often very common during migrations
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
Last autumn sighting - Dorrigo Plateau: 22/04/18, 25/04/20
Wingspan: 58 mm
Sighted: Aug to Apr
Distribution of this Migratory species: northern WA, the northern areas of NT, most of QLD, coastal NSW, and isolated pockets in southern WA, VIC & SA
Butterfly Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Aug 2006,2020, Oct 2005, Nov 2002, Dec 2005, Jan 2004, 2015, 2021; Feb 2004, 2010, 2020; Mar 2015, 2016, 2020; Apr 2006, 2018, 2020, 2021;
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Often seen on Plateau.
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None to date
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date
Larval food plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: (as for Claire Cottage)
- ELSEWHERE: CAESALPINIACEAE - Cassia brewsteri, C. queenslandica, C. tomentella, Senna coronilloides, S. magnifolia, S. marksiana, S. odorata, S. pleurocarpa, S. venusta, *Cassia fistula, *C, javanica, *C. siamea,*Senna alata, *Senna didymobotrya.
There are two seasonal forms, a pale form and a dark form however this is complicated by intermediate forms. There appear to be a huge variance in the small amount of black markings on the upperside of both the fore-wings and hindwings in the dark form. We show some examples.
Lemon Migrants are migratory and are sometimes seen on the Plateau in considerable numbers. They are not known to breed on the Plateau which is thought to be too cold for the known Cassia and Senna food plants to survive. It is a common butterfly on the sub-tropical coast where its food plants thrive. According to Braby in Butterflies of Australia it is usually the 'dark form' that migrates.
The Lemon Migrant is a strong fast flyer but will stop in the garden for a nectar feed using many different flower species.
Possible migration building late January 2021 - numbers increasing each day with at least one in the garden at any moment.
Status Dorrigo Plateau: often very common during migrations
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
Last autumn sighting - Dorrigo Plateau: 22/04/18, 25/04/20