Common Emigrant Female

Common Emigrant Male

Catopsilia pomona is called the Lemon Emigrant or Common Emigrant. Common emigrant is a medium-sized butterfly found in Asia and parts of Australia. The species gets its name from its habit of migration. The Lemon Emigrant is represented by at least 6 different 'forms' in the region - the 'crocale' forms with the antennae black and the 'pomona' forms with the antennae red. Habitat of this butterfly is backyard garden and it is common in city and urban set ups. Can be seen flying in NEERI gardens throughout the year. Hot days bring these butterflies to damp patches.

Wingspan of common emigrant is 55-80 mm. flights of it are rapid with erratic ups and down swoops. Both sexs are yellow to translucent greenish white with red antennae. Markings are highly variable. Under may be unmarked or with red ringed silver spots in centre; additional markings on both wings. Upper for wing termen apex and costa with variable narrow to broad black margin. Female form catilla has purple blotches on under of both wings. Larval forms dwell on Bauhinia, Cassia fistula, C.siamea, Butea monospermea.

The butterflies are strongly migratory in habit, and can be seen flying in undulating 'strings' of a dozen or so adults, travelling up and down the rivers which they use as migration corridors linking their high and low elevation breeding sites. During these migrations both sexes, but especially the males, can be observed congregating in large groups on sunlit riverbanks and sandbars where they settle for long periods to imbibe mineralised moisture. Both sexes also commonly visit flowers including Lantana, Jatropha etc.