Post by tims on Oct 20, 2014 8:04:29 GMT -8
A few years back I was looking at the rather exhaustive list of host plants for Samia cynthia provided by www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/hostplants/ and saw it included Solanum dulcamera, which seemed rather odd. So, I desided to test S. dulcamera as a host for Samia cynthia along with a few other species belonging to the Family Solanaceae.
Above image includes Samia cynthia feeding on Datura stramonium (top), Brugmasia variety "Dr Seuss" (lower left), and S. cynthia feeding on Brugmansia (lower right).
The following results are for hatchlings S. cynthia caterpillars offered Solanaceae as host plants.
Brugmansia hybrid sp. - Successful rearing to adult
Brugmansia sanguinea - Successful rearing to adult
Cestrum nocturnum - failed to feed
Solanum dulcamera - fed on host, died first instar
Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoe) failed to feed
Solanum nigrum - failed to feed
Solanum tuberosum (potatoe) - failed to feed
Datura metel - fed on host, died first instar
Datura stramonium (Jimson Weed) - Successful rearing to adult
Datura wrightii - failed to feed
Above image includes Samia cynthia feeding on Datura stramonium (top), Brugmasia variety "Dr Seuss" (lower left), and S. cynthia feeding on Brugmansia (lower right).
The following results are for hatchlings S. cynthia caterpillars offered Solanaceae as host plants.
Brugmansia hybrid sp. - Successful rearing to adult
Brugmansia sanguinea - Successful rearing to adult
Cestrum nocturnum - failed to feed
Solanum dulcamera - fed on host, died first instar
Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoe) failed to feed
Solanum nigrum - failed to feed
Solanum tuberosum (potatoe) - failed to feed
Datura metel - fed on host, died first instar
Datura stramonium (Jimson Weed) - Successful rearing to adult
Datura wrightii - failed to feed
