Host Preference Research Articles

The effects of different Charleston pepper cultivars on the demographic parameters and the antioxidant levels of Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Host plant diversity causes differences in the biology and adaptation of insects. In this study, variations in some biological properties and adaptive antioxidative response of Myzus persicae (Sulzer,1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on five Charleston pepper, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae) cultivars were investigated under laboratory conditions (25±1°C, 60±5% RH). The lowest intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.193 d-1) of M. persicae was estimated in the tested cohort fed with the Kanyon cultivar, while the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.248 d-1) was found on the Tufan cultivar. The cohort fed with Safkan cultivar exhibited the highest levels of GST-CDNB and EST-PNPA at 562.80 and 207.64 nmol/mg protein, respectively, whereas the cohort fed with Kanyon cultivar showed the lowest levels at 317.04 and 132.14 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Analysis of life table parameters and enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidant levels of M. persicae showed that among the cultivars we tested, the Tufan cultivar was the most preferred host by M. persicae, while Kanyon cultivar was a less suitable host.

Behavioral and Electrophysiological Study on Eight Japanese Papilio Species with Five Hostplant Volatiles and Linalool

An electroantennogram (EAG) technique compared the antennal olfactory responses by both sexes of eight Japanese Papilio species with known host plants in laboratory experiments. Papilio species were collected from Honshû and Kyûshû (Japanese islands). The behavioral responses to volatile leaf substances from Citrus deliciosa, Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, Phellodendron amurense, Orixa japonica, and Foeniculum vulgare were examined in laboratory experiments. Individual EAG reactions were recorded. The results were very similar to the empirical field observations. The electrophysiological results of both sexes showed that the volatile substances released from non-preferred plants mainly elicited more significant EAG responses than the volatile substances from preferred host plants. Moreover, we performed behavioral experiments using eight female butterflies and their responses to five host plant species. An association between host plant selection behavior and taxonomical classification exists within the Papilio genus. The EAG responses were small when exposed to the plants with high scores in the behavioral experiments. Host plant preference patterns seem to be related to the volatile substances within the host plants. The butterflies responded to Linalool in both the behavioral and electrophysiological experiments.

Hybridisation between host races broadens the host range of offspring in Eotetranychus asiaticus (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Host adaptation in herbivorous arthropods is one of the first steps to sympatric speciation, and spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) are useful model organisms for studying this phenomenon. Many researchers have studied the process of host adaptation via artificial selection experiments. Recent analyses suggest that hybridisation has diversified host ranges, although empirical evidence is scarce. We explored the host exploitation of two strains of Eotetranychus asiaticus established from Ternstroemia gymnanthera (Pentaphylacaceae) and Japanese cinnamon, Cinnamomum yabunikkei (Lauraceae), and evaluated the effect of hybridisation on offspring host use. Transplant experiments showed that females oviposited and immature mites developed only on their native hosts, suggesting specialisation to the secondary metabolites of each host plant. However, F1 hybrids from reciprocal crosses developed on both host plants (survival rate: 92-100%) with normal female-biased sex ratios. Furthermore, all backcrosses to the parental strains yielded B1 offspring that were also viable on both host plants with normal sex ratios (69-87% and39-92%femalesonT. gymnanthera andC. yabunikkei, respectively). B1 survival rates in interstrain crosses were varied (11-63%) and lower than those in intrastrain crosses (88-93%). We could not detect any reproductive barriers in these experiments, and host preference may be the sole factor determining pre-mating isolation. The survival rates and sex ratios we observed suggest cytochromosome interactions. In conclusion, hybridisation, which results in heterozygotes and recombination, is an underexplored way to provide spider mites with a novel host plant.

A CRISPR/Cas9-based multicopy integration system for protein production in Aspergillus niger.

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is well known for its high protein secretion capacity and a preferred host for homologous and heterologous protein production. To improve the protein production capacity of A. niger even further, a set of dedicated protein production strains was made containing up to 10 glucoamylase landing sites (GLSs) at predetermined sites in the genome. These GLSs replace genes encoding enzymes abundantly present or encoding unwanted functions. Each GLS contains the promotor and terminator region of the glucoamylase gene (glaA), one of the highest expressed genes in A. niger. Integrating multiple gene copies, often realized by random integration, is known to boost protein production yields. In our approach the GLSs allow for rapid targeted gene replacement using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. By introducing the same or different unique DNA sequences (dubbed KORE sequences) in each GLS and designing Cas9-compatible single guide RNAs, one is able to select at which GLS integration of a target gene occurs. In this way a set of identical strains with different copy numbers of the gene of interest can be easily and rapidly made to compare protein production levels. As an illustration of its potential, we successfully used the expression platform to generate multicopy A. niger strains producing the Penicillium expansum PatE::6xHis protein catalysing the final step in patulin biosynthesis. The A. niger strain expressing 10 copies of the patE::6xHis expression cassette produced about70 μg·mL-1 PatE protein in the culture medium with a purity just under 90%.

Patterns and determinants of the global herbivorous mycobiome

Despite their role in host nutrition, the anaerobic gut fungal (AGF) component of the herbivorous gut microbiome remains poorly characterized. Here, to examine global patterns and determinants of AGF diversity, we generate and analyze an amplicon dataset from 661 fecal samples from 34 mammalian species, 9 families, and 6 continents. We identify 56 novel genera, greatly expanding AGF diversity beyond current estimates (31 genera and candidate genera). Community structure analysis indicates that host phylogenetic affiliation, not domestication status and biogeography, shapes the community rather than. Fungal-host associations are stronger and more specific in hindgut fermenters than in foregut fermenters. Transcriptomics-enabled phylogenomic and molecular clock analyses of 52 strains from 14 genera indicate that most genera with preferences for hindgut hosts evolved earlier (44-58 Mya) than those with preferences for foregut hosts (22-32 Mya). Our results greatly expand the documented scope of AGF diversity and provide an ecologically and evolutionary-grounded model to explain the observed patterns of AGF diversity in extant animal hosts.

Distribution, Morphometrics and DNA barcoding of Archotermopsis wroughtoni Desneux (Termopsidae: Blattodea) in District Mansehra, Pakistan

Archotermopsis wroughtoni is a primitive termite species with distinct biological and behavioral features. Despite its presence in temperate regions worldwide, including the Oriental region, there is a lack of data on the current distribution of this species in the Mansehra district of Pakistan. Samples were collected from forested areas, including the Kaghan, Naran, Mahandri, and Shogran valleys. The distribution of A. wroughtoni was determined by observing decayed and fallen wooden logs, and host plants were identified to assess the species’ host preference. Morphometric identification was performed following relevant literature, and the barcoding technique of mtDNA COII was used to authenticate the species. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods. The study revealed the presence of A. wroughtoni in the forests of northern Mansehra, where it preferred tree species such as Cedrus deodara and Pinus excelsa for nest construction and foraging. The findings of this research will contribute to future studies on the biology and ecology of A. wroughtoni and aid in developing conservation strategies for this species and other social insects.

Host Preferences of Spotted Lanternfly and Risk Assessment of Potential Tree Hosts in Managed and Semi-Natural Landscapes

Host Preferences of Spotted Lanternfly and Risk Assessment of Potential Tree Hosts in Managed and Semi-Natural Landscapes

Species distribution model identifies influence of climatic constraints on severe defoliation at the leading edge of a native insect outbreak

Eastern North America is in the midst of a spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem., SBW) epidemic. SBW is one of the most important forest insects with regard to outbreak coverage and impacts to the forest industry in this region. Numerous bioclimatic, vegetation, and spatial–temporal variables can influence the distribution and outbreak patterns of phytophagous insects such as SBW. Published models have yet to agree on consensus drivers of SBW defoliation. Spatially-explicit, fine-scale predictive models are needed, however, to aid in our understanding of current and future SBW impacts. We used a species distribution model - MaxEnt to examine the relationships between the 1972–1981 SBW defoliation and 13 predictor variables for the island of Newfoundland, Canada the leading edge of the current SBW outbreak. The optimal model for predicting the probability of severe SBW defoliation included precipitation in May and June, precipitation in July and August, and maximum temperature in June and July. The probability of severe defoliation rapidly increased when precipitation ranged at 75.0 mm – 91.0 mm in May and June but showed a complex relationship with precipitation in July and August. Probability also increased with maximum temperature in June and July until temperature reached 18.0 °C. Defoliation probability decreased with increasing distance from major roads and river channels, suggesting possible corridor effects. Counter to research in other study areas, host tree species was not an important predictor of defoliation in our analysis. We then used this MaxEnt machine learning algorithm to predict the probability of severe defoliation for the forests of the entire island on a 2 km resolution raster. Areas with high probability (>0.80) were concentrated in the northeast part of the island where black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) dominates the forest landscape. The predicted severe defoliation area (probability 0.4–1.0) for black spruce was 1.4 times the area for balsam fir, which is the dominant canopy forming tree species on the island and preferred host species for SBW. The higher predicted probability of severe defoliation in black spruce stands relative to balsam fir stands may arise due to the unique combination of climatic conditions and geographical distributions of two species on the island. Species distribution models for irruptive insect impacts (i.e., defoliation) are relatively rare but may be an important tool in forecasting future insect damage.

Carboxylic acids that drive mosquito attraction to humans activate ionotropic receptors.

The mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is highly anthropophilic and transmits debilitating arboviruses within human populations and between humans and non-human primates. Female mosquitoes are attracted to sources of blood by responding to odor plumes that are emitted by their preferred hosts. Acidic volatile compounds, including carboxylic acids, represent particularly salient odors driving this attraction. Importantly, carboxylic acids are major constituents of human sweat and volatiles generated by skin microbes. As such, they are likely to impact human host preference, a dominant factor in disease transmission cycles. A more complete understanding of mosquito host attraction will necessitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of volatile odor detection that function in peripheral sensory neurons. Recent studies have shown that members of the variant ionotropic glutamate receptor gene family are necessary for physiological and behavioral responses to acidic volatiles in Aedes. In this study, we have identified a subfamily of variant ionotropic receptors that share sequence homology across several important vector species and are likely to be activated by carboxylic acids. Moreover, we demonstrate that selected members of this subfamily are activated by short-chain carboxylic acids in a heterologous cell expression system. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that members of this receptor class underlie acidic volatile sensitivity in vector mosquitoes and provide a frame of reference for future development of novel mosquito attractant and repellent technologies.

Study on the Ecology, Biology and Ethology of the Invasive Species Corythucha arcuata Say, 1832 (Heteroptera: Tingidae), a Danger to Quercus spp. in the Climatic Conditions of the City of Sibiu, Romania

This scientific paper examines the impact of climate change on the spread and survival of the invasive species Corythucha arcuata Say, 1832 (oak lace bug, or OLB) in Romania. The OLB is native to the Eastern USA and Canada, and in its native habitat, it coexists with minimal impact to the preferred host plant species Quercus. However, in Europe, the OLB in high density causes early defoliation, slowing tree growth. As Quercus spp. is a keystone species, the impact of the OLB on European forests is significant. This paper aims to address several gaps in knowledge about the OLB by presenting findings from a study conducted by the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (ULBS) in Romania. The study identified the species’ chronology of spread, ecology, ethology and biology of the species, in addition to foliage classification to determine the extent of attack. The study found a direct link between the temperature and the speed of the generational lifecycle. The findings support the thesis that climate change is enabling the healthy, rapid density growth of OLB, which is a danger to the Quercus spp. Further research is needed in the area of the thermal tolerance of the OLB, and the research conducted by the ULBS represents the first documented research into the thermal constant of the insect. The paper concludes that further research must be in the direction to understand how and where these insects survive during winter to find future management measures and identify chemical or biological methods as solutions to eradicate and stop the expansion of the invasion of the OLB, and the potential consequences for the Quercus sp.

Distinct gut bacterial composition in Anoplophora glabripennis reared on two host plants.

Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) is an invasive wood borer pest that has caused considerable damage to forests. Gut bacteria are of great importance in the biology and ecology of herbivores, especially in growth and adaptation; however, change in the gut bacterial community of this pest feeding on different hosts is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the gut bacterial communities of A. glabripennis larvae fed on different preferred hosts, Salix matsudana and Ulmus pumila, using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 15 phyla, 25 classes, 65 orders, 114 families, 188 genera, and 170 species were annotated in the gut of A. glabripennis larvae fed on S. matsudana or U. pumila using a 97% similarity cutoff level. The dominant phyla were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and the core dominant genera were Enterococcus, Gibbsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. There was significantly higher alpha diversity in the U. pumila group than in the S. matsudana group, and principal co-ordinate analysis showed significant differences in gut bacterial communities between the two groups. The genera with significant abundance differences between the two groups were Gibbsiella, Enterobacter, Leuconostoc, Rhodobacter, TM7a, norank, Rhodobacter, and Aurantisolimonas, indicating that the abundance of larval gut bacteria was affected by feeding on different hosts. Further network diagrams showed that the complexity of the network structure and the modularity were higher in the U. pumila group than in the S. matsudana group, suggesting more diverse gut bacteria in the U. pumila group. The dominant role of most gut microbiota was related to fermentation and chemoheterotrophy, and specific OTUs positively correlated with different functions were reported. Our study provides an essential resource for the gut bacteria functional study of A. glabripennis associated with host diet.

A green leaf volatile, (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate, mediates differential oviposition by Spodoptera frugiperda on maize and rice

BackgroundInsects rely on chemosensory perception, mainly olfaction, for the location of mates, food sources, and oviposition sites. Plant-released volatile compounds guide herbivorous insects to search for and locate their host plants, further helping them to identify suitable positions for oviposition. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda) was found to invade China in 2019 and has since seriously threatened multiple crops, particularly maize and rice. However, the chemical and molecular mechanisms underlying oviposition preference in this pest are not fully understood. Here, the oviposition preference of S. frugiperda on maize and rice plants was investigated.ResultsGC-EAD and GC–MS/MS techniques were used to identify the antennally active volatiles from maize and rice plants. The attraction and oviposition stimulation of identified components to female adults were tested in both laboratory and field settings. The odorant receptors (ORs) on female antennae were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and their functions evaluated by RNAi. Ten and eleven compounds of maize and rice plants, respectively, were identified to possess electrophysiological activity from headspace volatiles. Among these compounds, (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate specifically presented in maize volatiles was found to play a critical role in attracting females and stimulating oviposition compared to rice volatiles. Among the cloned ORs on the antennae of both sexes, SfruOR23 with highly female-biased expression mediated the responses of females to (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate. Knockdown of SfruOR23 using RNAi markedly reduced the electrophysiological response of female antennae and oviposition preference to the compound.Conclusions(Z)-3-Hexenyl-acetate is a key volatile mediating the host and oviposition preference of S. frugiperda on maize. The olfactory receptor of (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate was identified to be SfruOR23, which is mainly expressed in the antennae of S. frugiperda.

Population Dynamics of Emerging Spider Mite Pest <i>Tetranychus Udaipurensis</i> gupta & Gupta

Temperature related development and demography of emerging spider mite pest Tetranychus udaipurensis Gupta and Gupta were studied on two vegetable host plants ridge gourd and French bean at four different temperature (22º-34ºC)and humidity conditions (67-80%). Development of T. udaipurensis female was faster-7.31 days on French bean and 7.42 days on ridge gourd, respectively at 34ºC. For reproduction (female longevity, fecundity and sex ratio) and demography, the favourable temperature range was 26º-30ºC. Chief demographic parameters viz., mean generation time, doubling time, net reproduction rate and intrinsic rate of natural increase on the preferred host French bean was 16 to 20 and 2.98 to 3.80, 42 to 48 mites and 0.200 to 0.248 female offsprings/ day, respectively. Under the consequence of changing climatic conditions, T.udaipurensis might emerge as potential pest of vegetable crops, more particularly of French bean.

Age Specific and Fertility Lifetable of <i>Callosobruchus Maculatus</i>(F.) on Chickpea

Pulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus) (F.) is a pernicious pest of different stored grain pulses and decrease the nutritional and economic values of the pulses, which can cause huge losses in terms of quality and quantity. The present study was conducted for determining the rate of multiplication of C. maculatus was conducted at ambient temperature and relative humidity under Palampur conditions on preferred host chickpea, Cicer arietinum. Under conditions of abundant space and food supply, population of C. maculatus increased with 0.03485 (r m ) and 1.035 (λ) per day. The population multiplied 1.276 times in one week and mean time for doubling the population was 19.88 days. True generation time was 63.07 days. Life expectancy of adult was 12.37 days. The results of the study pave ways to create awareness among researchers and farmers about the nature and extent of damage caused by the C. maculatesin chickpea.

Reproductive Behavior of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Relative to Different Host Plants in an Intensive Tomato Crop Region of Chile

Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important economic pest and has a worldwide distribution. In Chile, this species has been reported over a large geographical area and is associated with tomato production. Although several plants have been described as hosts of the whitefly, this insect’s behavior against multiple hosts is still unclear. Therefore, the objective of our work was to identify the host plants, behaviors, preferences, performance, and choices of T. vaporariorum. First, over one year, we monitored nine production sites where tomato is the principal crop and identified 50 host plants belonging to 27 families, mostly Asteraceae and Solanaceae. Among the plants, those that were most infested by greenhouse whiteflies comprised Solanum lycopersicum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cucurbita maxima, Malva sylvestris, Bidens aurea, and Sonchus oleraceus. In laboratory tests, greenhouse whiteflies showed a greater preference for S. oleraceus, S. lycopersicum, and P. vulgaris. The highest population growth rate was observed for B. aurea, followed by S. lycopersicum and S. oleraceus. Significant differences were found in the pairwise choice test, showing a greater preference for C. maxima and S. lycopersicum. Although this pest tends to choose tomatoes, this crop was not always the first choice in terms of preference and performance. This information is necessary for the development of integrated whitefly management programs that include adjacent habitats.

Taxonomic analysis reveals host preference of rare fungi in endophytes of Vitis vinifera from the Czech Republic.

This paper represents the results of screening a diversity of fungal endophytes associated with Vitis vinifera leaves and canes in the Czech Republic. The characterization of strains is based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of ITS, EF1α and TUB2 sequence data. Our strain selection covers 16 species and seven orders belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Together with ubiquitous fungi, we report on several poorly known plant-associated fungi, Angustimassarina quercicola (= A. coryli, a synonym proposed in this study) and Pleurophoma pleurospora. Other species, such as Didymella negriana, D. variabilis, Neosetophoma sp. (species identical or sister to N. rosae), Phragmocamarosporium qujingensis and Sporocadus rosigena, have so far been little known and rarely found, but are frequent on V. vinifera in different parts of the world and obviously belong to a microbiota with a strong preference for this plant. Detailed taxonomical identification allowed us to identify species with apparent stable associations with V. vinifera, for which further interactions with V. vinifera can be expected. Our study is the first to focus on V. vinifera endophytes in Central Europe and expands the knowledge about their taxonomy, ecology and geography.

Dynamically simulating spruce budworm in eastern Canada and its interactions with wildfire

Eastern Spruce Budworm (ESBW) is a major agent of disturbance in Eastern Canada's boreal forests. Outbreaks have historically led to widespread defoliation of its preferred host trees, fir and spruce species, leading to high rates of mortality. This in turn can result in significant economic losses and enhancement of fire potential in the region. Representation of such biotic disturbance has rarely been included in Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVM), which have become essential tools in understanding and predicting forest dynamics in present and future contexts. We present novel representation of host-specific defoliation in a DGVM (LPJ-LMfire), to better represent disturbance regimes in the boreal forest of eastern Canada. Using host foliage density to trigger outbreak, we were able to calibrate and simulate general spatial patterns of defoliation relative to historical aerial sketch map data. Return intervals were thus sensitive to the growth rates of host trees. Modeled return intervals tended to be significantly longer than 30 years, the approximate observed return interval. A factorial experiment was performed on the interactions of ESBW with wildfire, which was found to be slightly enhanced in terms of burned areas after outbreaks due to increased fuel loads. Interactions between ESBW and fire were found to have higher interaction strength in the drier Western region of the boreal forest. Our study demonstrates that biotic disturbance and its interaction with wildfire can be effectively simulated in a DGVM. We show that bottom-up climatic controls are sufficient to drive simulated spatiotemporal patterns of ESBW that can be calibrated to generally match historical observations.

Light‐demanding tree species are more susceptible to lianas than shade‐tolerant tree species in a subtropical secondary forest

Abstract Tree‐tree competition has been widely studied as a mechanism responsible for maintaining forest plant species diversity. Other common plant types, such as lianas, may influence tree species competition. Previous studies reported the negative effects of lianas on trees; however, variation in susceptibility to lianas among tree species and the species‐specificity of liana species for tree hosts remain unclear. If lianas have species‐specific interactions with trees, based either on tree or liana species identity, then lianas may influence tree‐tree interactions by altering tree species‐specific competitiveness. We surveyed 5676 lianas (DBH ≥ 0.5 cm) and 61,538 trees (DBH ≥ 1 cm) in a 12‐ha subtropical secondary forest plot to assess liana‐tree interactions. We tested variation among the 20 most common tree species in their susceptibility to lianas, including whether light‐demanding and shade‐tolerant tree species differed. We quantified liana‐tree network structure and evaluated the specificity between the 20 most common tree species and the 15 most common liana species. We expected that: (1) tree species would vary in their susceptibility to lianas, and the extent of this variation would be predicted by tree shade‐tolerance; and (2) liana species would have distinct species‐specific interactions with host trees. Tree species differed greatly in their susceptibility to lianas, with some tree species accumulating many more lianas than others. Light‐demanding tree species particularly had greater susceptibility to lianas than shade‐tolerant tree species. Both the liana‐tree network structure and the interaction intensity between the 15 liana species and 20 tree species showed distinct specialization of liana‐tree interactions. Synthesis. Variation in trees species' susceptibility to lianas implies that lianas may alter tree species‐specific competitive abilities by disproportionately affecting some tree species more than others. In contrast to studies in neotropical forests, light‐demanding tree species were more susceptible to lianas than shade‐tolerant tree species, suggesting that lianas could reduce light‐demanding tree performance in this forest. The distinct species specialization between liana and tree species suggests that increases in the relative abundance of liana species, which is occurring in many forests, may alter the tree community composition by reducing the relative abundance of preferred host tree species.

Biological invasion threatens keystone species indelibly entwined with Indigenous cultures

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra), the most highly preferred and vulnerable host of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis) in North America, is of cultural and spiritual importance to many Tribal Nations in the US and First Nations in Canada. To date, EAB has invaded nearly 60% of the native range of black ash, with annual spread averaging approximately 50 km per year. On the basis of the predicted expansion of EAB distribution, we estimate that more than 75% of black ash basal area will be lost across 87% of the species’ North American range by 2035. Census data indicate that 98% of Indigenous people currently residing within the geographic range of black ash in the US will be within the area experiencing more than 75% basal area loss by 2035, suggesting broad and multidimensional impacts of EAB invasion for those who value black ash as a cultural keystone species. Collaborative efforts among scientists, resource managers, and Indigenous experts are needed to mitigate EAB impacts and preserve or protect black ash resources, given the species’ vulnerability to EAB and its associated cultural and ecological value.

Host selection behavior of tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta (Drury) for oviposition

Aim: Seed production is the backbone of sericulture in India. In order to cater for the increased demand for seed (egg), the already prevailing seed production techniques need to replace with new and robust techniques. Therefore, the present study was designed to understand the oviposition preference of Antheraea mylitta and selected suitable host plants for future improvement of seed production. Methodology: Choice (nylon net cage) and no-choice (earthen cup) experiments were conducted to study the oviposition preference of A. mylitta on Shorea robusta, Terminalia tomentosa, T. arjuna, Ziziphus mauritiana, Careya arborea, Syzygium cumini and Buchanania lanzan. Mated female moths were released freely into the nylon cage to observe their oviposition preference in the choice test. Whereas, half of both fore wings and hind wings of mated female moths were excised and individually placed in an earthen cup for oviposition. The total number of eggs laid on the host plants in both experiments was recorded and analysed. Results: Mated females released freely within the cage have laid the majority of their eggs on the floor and net instead of their host plants. Among the host plants, the highest number of oviposition was recorded on the S. robusta, T. tomentosa and T. arjuna compared to other host plants. The highest number of eggs per moth was observed on T. tomentosa and followed by S. robusta, T. arjuna and Z. mauritiana, and exceeded the numbers of eggs in the control in the no-choice experiment. Interpretation: The study revealed that both S. robusta and T. tomentosa were highly preferred host plants of A. mylitta for oviposition. Therefore, the volatiles or feeding supplements of S. robusta and T. tomentosa may be identified and applied to A. mylitta during rearing and grainage to enhance seed production. Key words: Host plants, Oviposition preference, Sericulture, Tasar silkworm, Terminalia tomentosa