Eurema brigitta hainana - Moore 1878    The Small Grass Yellow

Species details : There are seven members of the Eurema genus on Samui. They are all very similar, and it is nearly impossible to identify most of them on the wing. The main differences between the species are a) the number of spots in the underside forewing cell, combined with b) the shape of the upperside forewing black markings and c) the shape of the apical area markings on the forewing underside. As the English name suggests, this species should be looked for on grasslands, and other open spaces.

This species is of small size for the group, has no cell spots, with the black forewing markings not deeply excavated as with all other species, but lightly scalloped, and has no underside apical markings.

This is not a common species on Samui.

Early Stages         : Known. More detailed life history information is available from the following resource: ButterflyCircle Blog (courtesy of Dr. Horace Tan.)

Larval Foodplant : Cassia mimosoides and other Luguminoseae

Range                    : Africa, Saudi Arabia,  Sri Lanka, India, throughout tropical S. E. Asia to New Guinea and Australia.