Early Stage of the Great Mormon

Partial Life History of the Great Mormon (Papilio memnon agenor)

Butterfly description:

The butterfly is uncommon in Singapore, restricted to forest area in Pulau Ubin (where the host plant can be found), Central Catchment Area, and Bukit Timah hill area. The early stage recorded below, is from area next to a protected forest in Malaysia.

The male of Great Mormon is black above, dusted with metallic blue scale. The red patch at the base of the forewing cell is more obvious on some individual. On the underside, it has a red tornal patch. The female is polymorphic and has many tailed and tailless forms. 

The following forms are found in Malaysia and Singapore:

-f. agenor (male and female, tailless)
-f. esperi (female, tailless)
-f. butlerianus (female, tailless
-f. tanahsahi (female, tailed)
-f. distantianus (female, tailed)
-f. ityla (femlae) - rare in Singapore, recorded once in Tioman Island, Malaysia

Host plant description:

Citrus Maxima (Synonyms: C. grandis) - Pomelo plant
Citrus microcarpa - Limau Kesturi
Citrus spp

Photo of host plants:

Citrus maxima (Pomelo Plant)

Citrus maxima (Pomelo Plant)

Citrus microcarpa (Limau Kesturi)

Citrus microcarpa (Limau Kesturi)

Early stage description:

Life cycle
Egg: 3-4 days
Larva: 15-19 days
Pupa: 10 - 13 days

A late 2nd instar caterpillar collected from the wild. It resembled those of Common Mormon or Lime Butterfly's caterpillar and looks like bird droppings. The 2nd instar caterpillar took 2-3 days before moults to next instar.

2nd instar caterpillar. Length: 7mm

The 3rd instar caterpillar has similar appearance to the 2nd instar caterpillar, except the body length and the more obvious white marking. This instar last about 3 days. 

3rd instar caterpillar. Length: 22 mm

The 4th instar caterpillar look similar to the earlier instar, except with a bigger thoracic segment. The colour of the caterpillar changed to dark brownish green. Tiny bluish spots are found at the back of the caterpillar. 

4th instar caterpillar, early in the stage. Length: 26 mm

The late 4th instar caterpillar has mottled green appearance with prominent thoracic segment. Tiny bluish spots at the back becoming less obvious at the late 4th instar. This instar took 4 days with body length reach 30 mm. 

4th instar caterpillar, late in the stage. Length 30 mm

The newly moulted 5th instar caterpillars has mottled green marking but gradually changes to lighter green the next day. The 5th instar caterpillar reaches the body length of 66 mm. This instar took about 9 days.

5th instar caterpillar. Length 45 mm

5th instar caterpillar. Length 66 mm

The caterpillar shrunken in length at the end of 5th instar and suspends itself on a stem, with a silk girdle. It took another day to pupate.

Pre-pupatory caterpillar of Great Mormon

Caterpillar in the middle of pupating

The pupa took about 10-13 days to develop into the Great Mormon.

Great Mormon Pupa. Length ~38 mm

A Great Mormon newly emerged from pupa

Another view of the Great Mormon

References:

• The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula, by A. Steven Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 5th Edition revised by George Michael Van Der Poorten and Nancy E. Van Der Poorten
• The Butterflies of Hong Kong. M. J. Bascombe, G. Johnston & F. S. Bascombe, 1999.