Primary Food Plant Research Articles

Molecular markers for genetic analysis of Indian tropical tasar ecoraces and hybrid populations (Antheraea mylitta.d)

The tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta D., a wild sericigenous and polyphagous insect is cultivated in the dense, humid, tropical forests of eastern, central and southern India. Its primary food plants are Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia tomentosa and Shorea robusta. The improved varieties of these silkworms can be evolved by hybridization through backcross method, to improve the traits in the upcoming generation by selective parental selection. The present studies of genetic relations between Andhra local and Daba TV ecoraces is identified by DNA markers viz., simple sequence repeats (SSRs), most of which have produced polymorphic bands and based on phylogeny of tasar ecoraces using SSR markers, which further provides molecular evidence of the fact that climatic factors, the changes at DNA level and its wide range of distribution in varied geographic conditions would lead to genetic divergence ultimately leading to the formation of new ecorace.. KEYWORDS :Antheraea mylitta, tasar ecorace, microsatellites, phylogeny, genetic diversity, Breeding, Backcross

Artificial diet for Samia ricini: key considerations and formulation strategies – a review

Abstract This review paper critically examines the components, limitations, and future prospects of artificial diets, and their impact on the rearing performance of Eri silkworm Samia ricini. In conventional rearing practices, the demand for a consistent supply of fresh leaves, particularly from the primary food plant, Ricinus communis (castor), poses significant challenges due to leaf quality variations and scarcity. This predicament sometimes renders the rearing process uncertain and time-consuming. The review emphasizes the pivotal role of artificial diets, particularly those comprising Ricinus communis (castor), soybean, agar agar, preservatives, gelling agents, carbohydrates, sterols, inositol, salt mixtures, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and water, in addressing these challenges. These carefully formulated diets have demonstrated their ability to provide a stable and uniform source of nutrition, significantly impacting key parameters such as hatchability, larval and pupal durations, and shell ratio in comparison to traditional leaf-based diets. Furthermore, the study highlights the potentiality of various artificial diet compositions that can serve as viable alternatives for Samia ricini rearers. By embracing these innovative nutritional approaches, rearers can not only enhance their livelihoods but also contribute to increased silk production. Through an extensive analysis of experiments and studies, this review underscores the importance of thoughtful diet selection in achieving successful rearing of Samia ricini, paving the way for sustainable and efficient sericulture practices.

Air pollution tolerance index of Persea bombycina: Primary food plant of endemic muga silkworm (Antheraeaassamensis)

Air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, ecosystems, and the livelihood of tribal communities. This study focuses on understanding the impact of air pollution on the primary food plant som (Persea bombycina Kost.) of the endemic Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis) and its implications for muga silk production. The study was conducted at two sites in northeastern India, one free from atmospheric pollutants (FAP) and the other affected by pollution from an oil refinery (PAS). Various atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, were found to be higher at the PAS site. The study investigated biochemical parameters like ascorbic acid, relative water content, total chlorophyll, and extractable pH in the leaves of P. bombycina to determine its air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Results showed that the ascorbic acid content in the leaves increased significantly at the PAS site (p < 0.05), indicating the plant's adaptation to air pollution stress. Similarly, the APTI values were higher during summer compared to winter, suggesting better tolerance during the former season. Positive correlations were found between APTI and ascorbic acid content (p < 0.05), emphasizing the role of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant in mitigating the effects of air pollution. The study highlights the importance of understanding the tolerance levels of P. bombycina to develop protective measures for sustaining Muga silk production in the face of rapid industrialization and increasing pollution. This research can aid policymakers in balancing economic growth with environmental conservation and protecting traditional practices of tribal communities.

Responses of common chuckwallas and their food plants to increasing aridity

Desert regions are becoming both warmer and more arid, potentially challenging the ability of even arid-adapted species to exist within their current ranges. Here we analyzed the sensitivity of the common chuckwalla, Sauromalus ater, a vegetarian lizard restricted to western North America's warm deserts, to predicted increases in temperature and aridity. We also assessed the response by their primary food plants to these changing conditions. Our study area included both east-west and elevational aridity gradients. At the eastern, most arid end of this gradient the highest population densities of chuckwallas were restricted to the top elevation category, 600-699 m. In the middle of the east-west gradient, higher chuckwalla densities occurred at elevation categories of 400-599 m and above. At the western, least arid end of the gradient, high chuckwalla densities occurred from elevation categories beginning at 200 m. Their food plants mirrored that distribution trend. We also constructed independent habitat models to predict current and future suitable ranges for both the lizards and their food plants. Potential climate refugia exist where modeled current and predicted future ranges overlap. Our empirical elevation data for where chuckwallas and their food plants exist at higher densities mirrored the climate refugia predicted by our models; current higher density populations largely already reside in putative climate refugia. Chuckwallas residing below these refugia will find conditions increasingly challenging, and all populations will need to shift to higher elevations if future levels of aridity exceed the values used in our models.

Morphological Variation of Antheraea assamensis Helfer upon Semi-domestication: A Study on Rearing, Disease Incidence and Seed Production Performance

Muga silkworm is multivoltine and primarily feeds on two primary food plants Som (Persea bombycina King. syn. Machilus bombycina) and Soalu (Litsea polyantha Kost. syn. Litsea monopetala). Muga silkworm Antheraea assamensis (n=15) is a semi-domesticated silk moth mentioned in literature as early 1662 BC. In its annual life cycle there are six crops of cultivated muga silk worm whose nomenclature is based on the local Assamese names of month. By virtue of the narrow ecological distribution of host food plant Antheraea assamensis is confined to only Assam and North East state of India. Empirical observations show that the population is declining due to depletion of natural habitat and lack of genetic variability among population. The wild muga silkworm which is tri or tetra voltine in nature is also found nearby forest area of human habitat in different host plant in N E state of India. A stock of wild muga silkworm collected from the nearby area of Nongpoh and Mendipathar Meghalaya. reared and maintained in muga farm and grainage activities of both wild and cultivated muga were conducted for comparative study. Details of morphology, economic characters and disease occurrence of wild and cultivated muga was studied for future improvement and breed development and also for future strategy of muga silkworm. The morphology of wild muga silkworm are little variant than cultivated muga and economic characters i.e. fecundity of wild muga was recorded 220 - 227 nos. in against the fecundity of cultivated muga observed 120-170 nos. and one gram total numbers of egg contain 120 -135 nos in wild muga in against 134 -145 nos.in cultivated muga. Average cocoon weight wild muga cocoon is ♂= 5.80 g &amp; ♀= 6.60 g in against average cocoon weight ♂= 5.10 g &amp; ♀= 5.54 g in cultivated muga silkworm. Average shell weight ♂= 0.51 g &amp; ♀= 0.60 g in wild muga silkworm and average shell weight ♂= 0.43 g &amp; ♀= 0.51 g in cultivated muga silkworm were recorded. Study revealed that the fecundity, weight of eggs, cocoon weight and shell weight are higher in wild muga silkworm than cultivated muga silkworm. Thereafter it is found that only protozoon disease was reported in wild muga silkworm and other disease i.e. Flacherie, Grasserie, Muscardine was not reported in wild muga silkworm. The mono race muga have no high yielding breed or hybrid and hence breeding programme between wild and cultivated muga may be carried out to get more heterosis, vigourity and yield enhancement.

Results of monitoring winged aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on potato plantations in the conditions of the Northern region of Russia

The studies were carried out in the conditions of the northern part of the Arkhangelsk region in the period 2017-2021. The purpose of the research is to determine the abundance and species composition during the annual monitoring of the flight of winged aphids on potato plantations, to establish patterns of insect migration. To catch winged individuals, yellow water traps were used, installed along the perimeter of the field at the beginning of the potato germination phase. The last extraction of the catch was carried out after the desiccation of the potato tops. As a result of the monitoring, 22 species of winged aphids were identified. Of the total number, direct and potential vectors of viruses are represented by 6 species ‒ Acyrthosiphum pisum Harr., Aphis fabae Scop., Aphis nasturtii Kalt., Aulacorthum solani Kalt., Hyperomyzus lactucae L., Rhopalosiphum padi L., their share in the abundance structure ranged from 69.8 to 91.7 %. From the group of aphids-carriers of viruses, 5 species annually migrate to plantings: A. corni F., A. fabae Scop., A. nasturtii Kalt., A. solani Kalt., R. padi L. The total number of winged aphids ranged from 61 individuals in 2020 to 107 individuals in 2018, and in 2021 there was an outbreak of mass reproduction R. padi L. and A. fabae Scop., which increased the total number of captured winged aphids to 1778 individuals. In the period from 2017 to 2020, the prevalence of virus vectors corresponded to a low value (16-27 individuals per 1 water trap), in 2021, against the background of an outbreak of mass reproduction, the prevalence of virus vectors increased to an average value (445 winged individuals per 1 water trap during the growing season). The accumulation of a large migratory potential of aphids occurs under favorable weather conditions in the winter and spring periods, and also, if possible, feed on the primary food plant for a long time. If the host plant is unsuitable for feeding, aphids migrate in search of food, as a result of which their number decreases.

Multiproxy analysis on Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) dung from Little Rann of Western India and its implications for the palaeoecology and archaeology of arid regions

The dung of the Indian wild ass was analyzed using biotic and abiotic proxies to determine its dietary habits in relation to the plant diversity and ecology in the arid region of western India. The presence of both micro and macrobotanical remains of Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Fabaceae indicates they are the primary food plants of the wild ass. The continuous recovery of arboreal pollen taxa chiefly, Prosopis, Acacia, and Ephedra is indicative of dry thorny forest under semi-arid to arid conditions which display the existing vegetation and climate in the region. The recovery of marshy pollen taxa like Cyperaceae and Onagraceae along with Arcella indicates utilization of water-logged environments in the habitat. Spores of coprophilous fungi, Sporormiella, Sordaria, and Podospora are also present in the dung samples. The low value of stellate trichomes in winter dung samples reflects the seasonal migration of wild ass. Average δ13C values ranging between −15.8‰ and–26.3‰ are indicative of a mixed diet of both C3 and C4 plants. The generated multiproxy data from dung samples can provide a reliable counterpart to modern data for the interpretation of the palaeoecology in relation to the palaeoherbivory and palaeodietary analysis in the region. This study also provides a basis to distinguish between wild and domesticated herbivores by analyzing coprolites and cultural sediments in archaeological sites.

Effect of rearing seasons and food plant combinations on economic traits of cocoons and yarn of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer)

Muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a multi-voltine polyphagousinsect which produces golden yellow muga silk. Muga silkworm feeds on leaves of many tree plant speciesbut primarily the leaves of Persea bombycinaKost. (Som) and Litseamonopetala Roxb. (Soalu). The farmersrear the silkworm mainly in two seasons for commercial purposes although the silkworm can be reared sixtimes (crops) in a year. Productivity of silkworm rearing is dependent on cocoons and yarn characteristicswhich are affected by the type of food plants at the time of rearing. In this study, an attempt was made toevaluate the economic characters of cocoons and yarn of muga silkworm reared in different combination ofprimary food plants in different seasons. Two primary food plants P. bombycina and L. monopetala wereselected in four combinations (T1 –T4) for rearing in two commercial crop seasons namely Kotia (V1), Jethua(V2) and two seed crop i.e. Bhodia (V3) and Chotua (V4). Cocoon weight and pupal weight were higher inthe cocoons harvested from the silkworm reared in L. monopetala only and mainly in Kotia (October-November) seasons followed by Jethua (April-May), Bhodia (August-September) and Chotua (February-March)seasons. Shell weight, shell ratio, filament weight, filament length and non-breakable filament length (NBFL)were higher in the silkworms reared in P. bombycina (T1) irrespective of seasons followed by treatmentcombination T4 (L. monopetala up to 3rd instar then P. bombycina). Benefit cost ratio (BCR) was higher in T1combination during Kotia (10.61:1) seasons followed by Jethua, Bhodia and Chotua crop seasons. As such, P.bombycina is the preferred food plant for commercial rearing of muga silkworm, however the silkworm canbe reared in L. monopetala up to 3rd instar and thereafter in P. bombycina till maturation for higher productivityin terms of cocoon and yarn characteristics.

EVALUATION OF ECONOMIC CHARACTERS OF C2 BREED OF ERI SILKWORM (Samia ricini, DONOVAN) REARED ON CASTOR (Ricinus communis) AND KESSERU (Heteropanax fragrans ROXB.) FOOD PLANT

Eri-silkworm Samia ricini (Donovan) is multivoltine and polyphagus in nature that can feed on various food plants and the yield of silkworm largely depends on the availability and supply of preferred food plants having good agronomics and nutritional value. Among all food plants, castor (Ricinus communis) is the primary food plant for eri-silkworm and kesseru stands second. The rearing performance of a high yielding breed of eri-silkworm C2 developed by central silk board, CMER&amp;TI, Ladoigarh, Jorhat also differ significantly when reared on different food plants. As successful production of eri silk rely on nutritive value of castor leaves and the economic parameters of eri silkworm are influenced by the food plant and their nutritive contents. Thus the study evaluation of economic characters of C2 breed of Eri-silkworm (Samia ricini, Donovan) reared on castor (Ricinus communis) and kesseru (Heteropanax fragrans) food plant was carried out in the laboratory of Nowgong College and all the quantitative parameters are noted accordingly. The results of the study revealed that performance of C2 breed with Castor leaves and it shows higher productivity in larval and cocoon parameters in comparison to Kesseru as a food plant.

Geographical and seasonal variation of plant taxa detected in faces of Cervus nippon yakushimae based on plant DNA analysis in Yakushima Island

AbstractRecently, plant DNA analysis of feces has been successfully used to evaluate the food species composition of sika deer Cervus nippon. Here, we applied this method to Yaku‐sika C. nippon yakushimae, which increased its population and had a great negative impact on understory vegetation in Yakushima Island. We identified food plants of C. nippon yakushimae by sequencing chloroplast DNA fragments (rbcL region) of plants remaining in feces collected in the field in April, June, August, and October 2018, using a next‐generation sequencer. We collected feces from populations in two areas where populations have been managed by capture and three areas where those were not managed. The top two food plants in terms of the number of sequences determined were evergreen tall trees in all five areas. In addition to evergreen trees, understory herbaceous plants, including ferns, were included in the top 15 taxa in all areas. The diversity of food plants was higher in the managed areas than in the unmanaged areas. These results indicate that evergreen tall trees are the primary food plants of C. nippon yakushimae, but deer also forage on herbaceous plants as a side dish. Under this side dish effect, understory vegetation is reduced even under the high availability of food resources from tall trees. The high diversity of food plants in the managed areas suggested that understory plant diversity was restored when deer density was reduced by management.

The relevance of transition habitats for butterfly conservation

Biodiversity is declining across the globe. Main drivers causing the vanishing of species are habitat destruction and the transformation of former heterogeneous landscapes into homogeneous and intensively used landscapes. Modern land management focuses on the creation of landscape configuration with sharp boundaries between ecosystems. In consequence, transition zones between two ecosystems such as between forest and open grassland are rare, as it counteracts the efficient and commercial use of space. However, there are many species relying on such transition zones between habitats, as the Clouded Apollo butterfly Parnassius mnemosyne. This highly endangered butterfly species occurs in light deciduous forests, interspersed with extensively used grasslands. In our study, we analysed habitat requirements of this butterfly species. We recorded larvae and feeding marks at its primary larval food plant, Corydalis cava, and assessed microhabitat characteristics, including microclimatic conditions. We captured high-resolution multispectral aerial imagery with an unmanned aerial vehicle. We subsequently combined ground-truthing data with information from high resolution aerial pictures to calculate habitat suitability models. We found that P. mnemosyne larvae mainly occur in the transition zone between deciduous light forest and extensively used grasslands with C. cava. Caterpillars of P. mnemosyne are particularly found around trees, basking on foliage and grass to rapidly reach high operation temperatures. Results from Species Distribution Models underline the relevance of transition zones between habitats for P. mnemosyne, and for biodiversity in general. The Clouded Apollo may serve as excellent indicator species for light deciduous forests, and as flagship to promote the conservation and restoration of transition zones between habitats in nature conservation.

Polyploidy and growth-defense tradeoffs in natural populations of western quaking Aspen.

Polyploidy, the expression of more than two sets of chromosomes, is common in plants, and is thought to influence plant trait expression and drive plant species evolution. The degree to which polyploidy influences interactions among physiological processes such as growth and defense in natural populations through its effect on phenotypic variability is poorly understood. We link broad plant genotypic features (including polyploidy) to phenotypic expression of growth and chemical defense in natural populations of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) to examine patterns in resource allocation that might drive growth-defense tradeoffs. Quaking aspen are capable of rapid growth, and are also a primary food plant for a large range of herbivores, including insects and ungulates. While often diploid, aspen can exhibit polyploidy as triploid clones. We tested for the effect of genotype, cytotype (ploidy level, divided between diploids and triploids), and ramet age on relationships between growth and leaf chemistry across natural aspen clones in northern Utah. Substantial genotype variability in growth and leaf chemistry occurred across both cytotypes. Phenolic glycosides, but not condensed tannins, were negatively related to growth. Ramet age was also negatively related to growth. Phenolic glycosides were negatively related to condensed tannins, but only for the diploid clones. Triploid clones exhibited ~ 20% higher levels of phenolic glycosides than diploids. Growth in quaking aspen was likely sacrificed for the production of phenolic glycosides. Our study underscores the importance of considering polyploidy, genetic variability, and ramet age in understanding growth-defense tradeoffs in natural populations of clonal organisms, such as quaking aspen.

Biology and morphometric study of Soalu leaf roller (Pleuroptya scinisalis walker)

The Soalu, primary food plants of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer) was severely caused by leaf roller (Pleuroptya scinisalis walker). The soalu leaf roller moth laid off white coloured eggs singly on the lower surface near the midrib. The larvae is yellowish green in colour and has five larval instars. The total larval duration ranged from 14 to15 days during summer and 91 to 95 days during winter season as the larvae passed through a diapausing state extending over a period of 77 to 80 days. Pupa were obtect type, brown with tapering posterior end and the pupal duration varied from 16 to 22 days. The adults were yellowish with marginal black band on both the pairs of wings with 3 - 4 days duration.

Effect of INM Practices on the Leaves Parameters of Terminalia tomentosa Food Plant of Antheraea mylitta Drury

Background: Terminalia tomentosa is a primary food plant of Antheraea mylitta Drury a polyphagous insect of Saturniidae family which is exploited commercially for the production of silk. Good quality of silk production depend on the nutrient of leaf. So, to optimize the nutrient of leaf integrated nutrient management practices has been used to increase soil fertility and to supply plant nutrient at an optimum. Methods: In order to evaluate the effect of INM practices on the leaves parameters of Terminalia tomentosa food plant of Antheraea mylitta Drury. An experiment based on randomised complete block design with 21 treatments and three replication was conducted at Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Nagri, Ranchi in the year 2019-20. Result: Results revealed that the application of INM treatments are significant on various leaf parameters. Highest single leaf length and breadth mean was observed in T19 (23.29 cm; 11.96 cm) was applied with 75% RDF through fertilizer+25% through vermicompost+ Azotobacter + PSB, weight of single leaf was found to be highest in T13 (5.19 g). The number of leaf was recorded highest in T19 (1892). The fresh leave yield ranged from 1617.317-5208.224 g with average mean of 4085.72 g, T19 (5032.1 g) recorded the highest fresh leaf yield. The dry matter content was found highest in T19 (340.56 g). The moisture content was recorded higher in T4 (71%) followed by T15 (69%).

Infectious Disease (Fungal, Bacterial, Viral, and Nematodal) of Mulberry Plant and Its Control Measure: A Review

Sericulture is an allied agricultural activity. It is concerned with the production of silk (and its byproducts). The silks produced in sericulture can be widely categorized as Mulberry silks and Non-Mulberry silks (also called Vanya silk meaning wild silks). Mulberry silk is most widely produced and it plays an essential role in the economic growth of the industry. Mulberry silk is obtained by rearing mulberry silkworms (Bombyx mori L). During rearing, they are fed mulberry leaves which are obtained from the mulberry plants; the primary food plant of the silkworm. The mulberry plant is perennial in nature. It belongs to the Moraceae family and the genus Morus with a wide variety of species, viz. Morus alba, Morus nigra, Morus serrata, etc. Mulberry plants are widely distributed all around the world in Tropical, Subtropical, and Temperate regions. It finds its early roots in Southeast Asia. The Mulberry plant falls prey to many diseases caused by various organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and nematodes. The occurrence and severity of the diseases vary with season, varieties, agro-climatic zones, and the cultural practices that are undertaken. These diseases affect the mulberry leaves, stems, and different parts of the plant. Affected plants stop the growth and reduced leaf yield. As well as, these leaves are not suitable for silkworm feeding. This review mainly focuses on infectious diseases (fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode) of mulberry plants and their management.

A Novel Origin of Pteridivory among the New World Noctuoidea: Fern-Feeding “Litter Moths” (Erebidae: Herminiinae)

Surveys of the caterpillars of Area Conservacion de Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica, documented an array of litter moths (Erebidae: Herminiinae) feeding on ferns in at least 17 families. This represents the first documentation of extensive oligophagous fern-feeding among Herminiinae and possibly within New World Erebidae. Collectively, the taxonomic composition of foodplants of pteridivorous Herminiinae in ACG differs markedly from those of corresponding fern foodplants of sympatric Noctuidae: they are less concentrated in Polypodiales and tree ferns (Cyatheaceae) are among the primary foodplants of several herminiines. These have been recorded only rarely as foodplants of ACG noctuids. Pteridivorous herminiines also appear closely related to species variously recorded from dead leaves, algae, mosses (Bryophyta), spikemosses (Selaginaceae), palms (Arecaceae), and the exclusively New World family Cyclanthaceae. Feeding on monocots and mosses by caterpillars with pteridivorous congeners may even represent a more general pattern that is shared, for example, with certain sawflies (Tenthredinidae).

Plant Pathogen Invasion Modifies the Eco-Evolutionary Host Plant Interactions of an Endangered Checkerspot Butterfly

Simple SummaryTaylor’s checkerspot butterfly is a critically endangered species of northwestern North America that has become dependent on an exotic food plant, English plantain, which was acquired over a century ago. In the mid-2000s, a non-native plant pathogen from Europe, invaded Taylor’s checkerspot populations causing English plantain leaves to die in the winter when Taylor’s checkerspot larvae are feeding. We characterized butterfly and larval food plant (native and non-native) timing in Oregon and Washington populations and discovered that the invasive plant disease is active for ~60 days when larvae are feeding in January, February and March. Only one native larval foodplant, the annual Collinsia parviflora, can provide food for caterpillars during the time the plantain disease is common. However, this plant is rare in Taylor’s checkerspot habitat and may only be suitably timed to Washington checkerspot populations. Other native perennial larval food plants (Castilleja levisecta and likely C. hispida) do not appear suitably timed to provide resources throughout the entire Taylor’s checkerspot lifecycle in the low-elevation English plantain dependent populations. Understanding and accounting for the plant population disease dynamics is essential for the long-term conservation of Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.New plant pathogen invasions typified by cryptic disease symptoms or those appearing sporadically in time and patchily in space, might go largely unnoticed and not taken seriously by ecologists. We present evidence that the recent invasion of Pyrenopeziza plantaginis (Dermateaceae) into the Pacific Northwest USA, which causes foliar necrosis in the fall and winter on Plantago lanceolata (plantain), the primary (non-native) foodplant for six of the eight extant Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly populations (Euphydryas editha taylori, endangered species), has altered eco-evolutionary foodplant interactions to a degree that threatens butterfly populations with extinction. Patterns of butterfly, larval food plant, and P. plantaginis disease development suggested the ancestral relationship was a two-foodplant system, with perennial Castilleja spp. supporting oviposition and pre-diapause larvae, and the annual Collinsia parviflora supporting post-diapause larvae. Plantain, in the absence of P. plantaginis disease, provided larval food resources throughout all butterfly life stages and may explain plantain’s initial adoption by Taylor’s checkerspot. However, in the presence of severe P. plantaginis disease, plantain-dependent butterfly populations experience a six-week period in the winter where post-diapause larvae lack essential plantain resources. Only C. parviflora, which is rare and competitively inferior under present habitat conditions, can fulfill the post-diapause larval feeding requirements in the presence of severe P. plantaginis disease. However, a germination timing experiment suggested C. parviflora to be suitably timed for only Washington Taylor’s checkerspot populations. The recent invasion by P. plantaginis appears to have rendered the ancestrally adaptive acquisition of plantain by Taylor’s checkerspot an unreliable, maladaptive foodplant interaction.

The therapeutic potential and the health benefits of Morus indica Linn.: a mini review

Morus indica (L.) commonly known as Indian mulberry belonging to the family Moraceae is a fast growing perennial plant and is the primary food plant for the monophagous insect Bombyx mori has a special significance in the sericulture industry. Medicinal properties of this plant have been depicted in the ancient literature of Ayurveda. Some of the ayurvedic preparations use fruits, leaves, roots, bark or latex of the mulberry plant as potential treatment aid against various diseases. Because of the presence of several bioactive compounds like steroids, phenolics, alkaloids, reducing sugars, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates etc., it is traditional being used as natural medicine for- anti-bacterial, anti-fugal, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hypoglycaemic, anti-hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-pyretic, high antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The present review reveals the wide range of important uses of Indian mulberry including its phytochemical composition, antioxidants and medicinal properties and management towards human diseases.

Forage preference identification of wildGynanisa maja (Klug, 1836) and perspectives for improved livelihoods in Zambia

Gynanisa maja (Klung, 1836) is the wild edible caterpillar of a speckled emperor moth belonging to the order Lepidoptera and the family Saturniidae. It is a species of nutritional and economic importance and provides food security at household level during its harvesting season. Despite the significant value this caterpillar has, it is harvested seasonally and harvested in unsustainable ways such as cutting down of its food plants resulting in habitat destruction likely to lead into species extinction consequently, threatening food security. Therefore, this study aimed at identifying the preferred food plants of wildG. maja that will help in the definition of the actions needed for conservation of theG. maja moth consequently contribute positively towards combating food and nutrition insecurity. The household survey was carried out in 61 villages from five clusters of Luampa district to determine the knowledge of people on the food plants ofG. maja and the structured questionnaire was used to collect data via face to face interview. A total of 400 respondents participated and five food plants belonging to the family Fabaceae were mentioned which include;Julbernadia paniculata (Benth.) Troupin,Erythrophleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms,Brachystegia longifolia Benth,Albizia antunesiana Harms andBrachystegia spiciformis Benth. All (100% of respondents) mentionedJ. paniculata (Benth.) Troupin as the primary preferred food plant ofG. maja while others indicated the other four food plants as secondary or alternatives. Based on these findings, the food plant likeJ. paniculata can be utilised for embarking on farmingG. maja which will result in the conservation ofG. maja and its food plant.

Assessment of Bark Eater Infestations and Its Management in Terminalia Arjuna, Primary Food Plant of Tasar Silkworm

Assessment of Bark Eater Infestations and Its Management in Terminalia Arjuna, Primary Food Plant of Tasar Silkworm