Bionomics of the butterfly, Hestina assimilis
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Key Words：Lepidoptera, Hestina assimilis, bionomics, habitat
Abstract：The bionomics of Hestina assimilis (L.) was studied based on field observation and indoor rearing. The host plants of this insect species are Celtis sp. The insect has 3 generations per year in Nanjing, China. It begins to overwinter as the 4th or 5th instar larvae on shrubs or tree branches in late October. The overwintered larvae restore to feed in early April in the next year. The adults emerge first in early May and with a peak in mid-May. The adults of the first and second generations emerge in early July and and September respectively. The larvae have five instars. The durations for eggs, larvae, and pupae are 4～5, 28～42, and 7～8 days respectively in laboratory.