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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
First record of Acherontia styx (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) larva feeding on Withania somnifera in Pune District, Maharashtra, India
Authors
Vinod Borse, Sadashiv Nimbalkar, Deepak Patil, Dr. Jayant Khadase
Abstract
This Study reports the first record of larval feeding of Acherontia
styx (Westwood, 1847) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) on Withania somnifera
(L) Dunal in Pune District, Maharashtra, India. A larva was observed feeding on
cultivated W. somnifera during routine field surveys at the BAIF Central
Research Station, Urali Kanchan. Identification was based on characteristic
sphingid larval features, including a robust body, oblique lateral stripes, and
a distinct curved caudal horn. Although Species of Acherontia are known
to utilize a wide range of host plants, particularly within Solanaceae, there
are no previous confirmed records of W. somnifera as a host for A.styx.
This observation expands the known host range for the species and highlights
its ecological adaptability in agroecosystems.
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Pages:121-122
How to cite this article:
Vinod Borse, Sadashiv Nimbalkar, Deepak Patil, Dr. Jayant Khadase "First record of <i>Acherontia styx</i> (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) larva feeding on <i>Withania somnifera</i> in Pune District, Maharashtra, India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 121-122
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