Studies on biological attributes and food utilization efficiency measures of Papilio demoleus on different host plants

Abstract

During the study period, C. limon was the most suitable among the four hosts viz., Lemon, Citrus limon (L.), Bael, Aegle marmelos (L.), Kinnow, Citrus reticulata Blanco and Kari patta, Murraya koenigii (L.) for this butterfly. The shortest larval development period (13.65 d) was observed on C. limon and significantly, longest period was recorded on M. koenigii (16.62 d) whereas the biggest pupae and adults occurred on C. limon. Murraya koenigii was the least preferred. Rest of the host plants viz., A. marmelos and C. reticulata recorded 15.63 and 14.19 d respectively. During study period approximate digestibility (AD) was higher on C. reticulata (92.08 ± 0.16), (75.0 ± 0.5), (63.38 ± 0.005) during first, third and fourth instar respectively however during second and fifth instar period it was observed higher on C. limon (89.01 ± 0.057) and A. marmelos (66.0 ± 0.5) respectively. Arranged in decreasing order of preference, the four hosts are C. limon, C.reticulata, A. marmelos and M. koenigii. As a general conclusion, both citrus species were suitable hosts for P. demoleus whereby M. koenigii was the least preferred among the four hosts examined.