title: Influence of host plants on feeding, growth and reproduction of Papilio polytes (The common mormon).
abstract: We studied the feeding, growth and reproductive behaviour of Papilio polytes (common mormon butterfly) on five different host plants, Murraya koenigii, Toddalia asiatica, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Aegle marmelos and Citrus medica. The growth rate of P. polytes was fastest on M. koenigii followed by T. asiatica, C. medica, G. pentaphylla and A. marmelos. We related this to the nutrient contexts of the five plants. The plants T. asiatica and C. medica had higher water contents, which influenced the growth rate of the insect. M. koenigii was found to contain rich quantities of carbohydrate. M. koenigii, T. asiatica and C. medica were also rich in protein when compared to A. marmelos and G. pentaphylla. Total amino acid levels were comparatively higher in M. koenigii, T. asiatica, C. medica rather than A. marmelos and G. pentaphylla.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shobana
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murugan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naresh Kumar
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007194:India; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002241:Carbohydrates; D014867:Water