Seasonal data on the occurrence and development of immature stages among the Boso population of an endangered butterfly Panchala ganesa loomisi (H. Pryer) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)

Abstract

In order to clarify the seasonal occurrence of an endangered (vulnerable) butterfly Panchala ganesa loomisi, the young shoots of several evergreen oaks were collected from April to October 2012 in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture. Immature stages were found from May to early July but not from late July to October. The present study revealed that the Boso population of P. ganesa loomisi may be univoltine. Moreover, rearing of larvae and measurement of larval head capsule widths showed that the species has five larval instars.