Recent records of the Pale Jezebel Delias sanaca sanaca (Moore, 1857) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from Mussoorie hills, western Himalaya, India

Abstract

The west Himalayan sub-species, ‘sanaca’ of the pale jezebel, Delias sanaca sanaca, which is intermediate between the pale form flavalba, dark fromconfusa, was recently recorded, in the oak forests adjoining Mussoorie hills of Garhwal after a gap of about 8 decades. Observations are presented on the past records, specimens, morphological features and sexual dimorphism, ecology, seasonality of the intermediate or normal form of this sub-species sanaca, that is generally overlooked.

Keywords

• Dehradun
• Delias sanaca
• Dendrophthoe sp.
• lopping, moist temperate forest, Quercus dialata
• Quercus leucotrichophora
• Tehri Garhwal.