Abstract:
The influence of different food plants on the growth of the arctiid caterpillar
Pericallia ricini is discussed. DJe to differences in the quality of the nutrients and
the nutrient balance in the different food plants, the pupal periods of caterpillars feeding
on the varied food plants differed significantly. The pupal weights and the
mortality of larvae and pupae differed batween the insects feeding on the different
food plants. An increased consumption of food by larvae of the later instars and by
females than males was also observed.