Common Grass Yellow

Updated the subspecies ID to Eurema hecabe hecabe for Luzon distribution. Reference: Feb2012 Revised Checklist of the Butterflies of the Philippine Islands (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) by Colin G. Treadaway and Heinz G. Schroeder.

Eurema hecabe tamiathis Fruhstorfer, 1910, family Pieridae, is the Two-spot Grass Yellow, Common Grass Yellow, or Large Grass Yellow existing in the Philippines excluding Balabac, Calamian, northern Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan. Eurema hecabe is found across the entire African continent, throughout most of Asia south of the Himalayas, on most of the islands of the south Pacific, and across much of Australia.

The Grass Yellows are all fairly small butterflies, readily recognized by their bright yellow wings and their habit of gathering in small groups on patches of damp sand or soil. Despite their name, none of their caterpillars feed on grasses - the name is derived from the fact that most species are found in disturbed grassy habitats.