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VOL. 10, ISSUE 12 (2025)
Comparative growth and food conversion efficiency of Acherontia atropos larvae on different host plants
Authors
T Poolpandi, G Petchidurai, Y S Santhi Pon Indira
Abstract
The host plant is specific for an insect, an
important aspect in herbivorous insects, predominantly in the Lepidoptera order
of insects. Host plant preference is a significant characteristic in
maintaining local biodiversity and lepidopteran ecology. This aimed to
investigate larval feeding preference, growth performance, nutritional
efficiency, and estimate the excreta, the bio macromolecule, secondary
metabolites of A. atropos caterpillars treated with host plants treated J.
sambac, C. inerme, and M hortensis under laboratory
conditions. Larvae fed on J. sambac consumed the sinificanty highest
quantity of foliage (x̄ = 42.37, F3,41 = 463.73, p < 0.001) and
growth (3.44 ± 0.12ᵃ), Consumption Index (x̄ = 3.84 ± 0.12, F3,41 =
21.82, p < 0.005), growth rate R (x̄ = 0.46 ± 0.02, F3,41
= 29.56, p < 0.001), Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested food (x̄ = 38.2 ±
1.6, F3,41 = 25.48, p < 0.01). The excreta of A. atropos
larvae exhibited distinct variations in color, texture, and size depending on
the host plant consumed. The excreta protein (x̄ = 8.9 ± 0.3, F3,11
= 75.82, p < 0.005), carbohydrate (x̄ = 12.5 ± 0.4, F3,11 =
53.12, p < 0.001), J. sambac and C. inerme fed larvae. The mineral
potassium and calcium (Ca) rich in excreta of J. sambac fed larvae.
Magnesium and iron were moderately present, and trace amount of zinc and
manganese (Mn) were consistently detectable in all samples. Phytochemical
screening of A. atropos larval excreta revealed 11 major secondary
metabolites are varied significantly present in the all-host plant feed tested
excreta depending on the host plant consumed. Alkaloid (x̄ = 2.8 ± 0.1 mg/100
g), Flavonoids (x̄ = 4.5 ± 0.2 mg/100 g), flavonoid (x̄ = 3.2 ± 0.1 mg/100 g),
Saponins (x̄ = 1.5 ± 0.1 mg/100 g), Terpenoids (x̄ = 1.2 ± 0.05 mg/100 g). This
study provides a systematic evaluation of host plant preference, larval growth,
and nutritional efficiency of A. atropos. Higher protein, mineral, and
bioactive compound levels in excreta from J. sambac fed larvae indicate
differential nutrient assimilation and selective detoxification of host-derived
phytochemicals. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of host plant
selection and nutritional ecology in A. atropos and provide a baseline
for predicting larval adaptability, population dynamics, and potential
responses to changes in host plant availability.
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Pages:139-144
How to cite this article:
T Poolpandi, G Petchidurai, Y S Santhi Pon Indira "Comparative growth and food conversion efficiency of <i>Acherontia atropos</i> larvae on different host plants". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 10, Issue 12, 2025, Pages 139-144
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