X-Nico

unusual facts about host plant



Aristolochia rotunda

This species is the only host plant of the caterpillars of a beautiful uncommon butterfly (Zerynthia polyxena).


see also

Acacia melanoxylon

In South-east Queensland it is an important host plant for a number of indigenous butterfly larvae, including Tailed Emperor (Polyura sempronius); Silky Hairstreak (Pseudalmenus chlorinda); Imperial Hairstreak (Jalmenus evagoras evagoras); Stencilled Hairstreak (Jalmenus ictinus) & Large Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe hecabe).

Aristolochia littoralis

In Australia A. littoralis is fatal to the caterpillars of Ornithoptera euphorion and of the threatened Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and threatens to displace their proper host plant, A. tagala.

Asclepias lanceolata

It serves as a host plant for larvae of monarch, queen, and soldier butterflies (Danaus plexippus, Danaus gilippus, and Danaus eresimus, respectively).

Cassytha

They may pass various fungi, Agrobacterium species, viruses, and other pathogens to host plants, or from one host plant to another.

Dudleya cymosa

Dudleya cymosa is the larval host plant for the Sonoran blue butterfly, Philotes sonorensis (Lycaenidae)

Eriogonum parvifolium

Specifically it is a host plant to ten different Lepidoptera species, including the El Segundo blue butterfly and Smith's blue butterfly; moreover, in the case of the El Segundo blue, it is the only host plant used by that species in all of its life stages.

Evolutionarily Significant Unit

For example, Cryan's buckmoth (Hemileuca maia subsp.) feeds only on the herb Menyanthes trifoliata, commonly known as buckbean, and while indistinguishable morphologically from related buckmoths, and not differentiated at the genetic markers tested, the moth is highly adapted to its host plant, having 100% survivorship on Menyanthes, while close genetic relatives all died when reared on the plant.

Flexiviridae

Species tend to be confined to a single host plant, many species preferring woody hosts, but a diversity of angiosperm hosts are known to the Flexiviridae.

Great Spangled Fritillary

Various species of native violets have reported to serve as a larval host plant for the Great Spangled Fritillary, including the native Round-leaf Violet (Viola rotundifolia), the Arrow-leaf Violet (Viola fimbriatula) and the Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia).

Lampronia quinquepunctata

It has been collected in an area with scattered Acer and Rhododendron shrubs, but the immature stages and host plant are unknown.

Lebia grandis

The original host plant of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata was the buffalo bur, Solanum rostratum, in Mexico.

Manfreda maculosa

Texas Tuberose is the primary host plant for the caterpillars of the rare Manfreda Giant-Skipper or Aloe Skipper (Stallingsia maculosus (= Stallingsia smithi)).

Micropterix elegans

From the rarity of buzz-pollination on their host plant, it is thought that the genus Cyclamen co-evolved with large bees capable of buzz-pollination, but lost its original pollinators for unknown historical reasons.

Neochlamisus bimaculatus

They mate, feed, and oviposit on their host plant Rubus spp.

Notocrypta curvifascia

N. curvifascia is commonly found in many regions of temperate and tropical East Asia, Indonesia, and the Indian subcontinent, wherever its preferred larval host plant, Alpinia speciosa can be found.

Osmorhiza brachypoda

This is the only known host plant for the California endemic moth Greya suffusca.

Piscidia piscipula

Larval host: Florida fishpoison tree is a larval host plant for several butterfly species including: the native cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) and hammock skipper (Polygonus leo) and the introduced fulvous hairstreak (Electrostrymon angelia).

Puccinia monoica

Spores produced in the aecia are referred to as aeciospores and are responsible for infecting the alternate host plant (a grass species: Koeleria, Trisetum, or Stipa).

Scorias spongiosa

This aphid is found only on one host plant, the American beech tree, Fagus grandifolia, where it congregates on branches and twigs, creating copious amounts of honeydew that drip onto vegetation below.

Sphinx canadensis

It was previously thought that the larvae of this species fed on both White Ash (Fraxinus americana) and Blueberry (Vaccinium), but recent observations suggest that the only larval host plant is Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) which grows at the edges of swamps.

Stigmella assimilella

The larvae mine the leaves of their host plant, which typically includes species of aspen including Populus alba, Populus canescens and Populus tremula.

Tiquilia palmeri

This is the main host plant for the rare Coachella Valley grasshopper (Spaniacris deserticola).

Troides minos

The host plant toxins sequestered by the butterfly during its larval stage make it unpalatable to predators.

Ts'ehlanyane National Park

Berg bamboo is the host plant for an endangered butterfly species, the Bamboo Sylph Metisella syrinx.

Xyloryctidae

Moths of the genus Maroga are pests of wattles (Acacia) and have crossed over from their wild host-plant to become serious pests of cultivated stone fruit trees, particularly cherries.

Zanthoxylum piperitum

It is also a host plant for several of Japan indigenous swallowtail butterfly species, including the common Papilio xuthus.