Let me tell you a story :Phyllanthus is a host Plant for Moth

These are the Summary of Moth study in CUBE Homelab Cherukkad,Kozhikode starting from September 2022.

Collaboraters @sakshiconsultant2002 @SaraKalamudeen & others

Once I noticed that @sakshiconsultant2002 from NES Ratnam college observed caterpillar on her Phyllathus plant .
CUBE Homelab Bhandup,Maharashtra .

Do we get Caterpillars on Phyllathus plants !!!
Is there any reference on that …!
We started our journey

Breaking news

Caterpillars are found on Phyllanthus urinaria plants.Out
of 4 ,one was transferred into the Glass pot.
Objective : To observe the transformation of caterpillar to adult form .

Hypothesis : The caterpillar will transform to Moth.
Also observed Ants on Phyllanthus plant.
Date:2/09/2022
Place:Cherukkad,Kozhikode
Time :6.30pm
Data collected by:Theertha

Transferred into a plastic box .

Named this caterpillar as PUC1

9/09/2022

I got one more caterpillar from Phyllanthus plant. Named as PDC1 .

This is the plant in which i got Caterpillar .

This is the Phyllanthus plant in which i got PDC1 caterpillar ,identified using following characters .
Phyllanthus debilis.
‌Leaves:
Alternate .
Leaf base-equal.
Leaf tip-pointed.
Symmetry-equal symmetry.
Fruit:
Capsule.
surface-smooth.
Stem:Angular in shape.
Flower:
Tepal:6
Place:Cherukkad ,Kozhikode
Date:9/09/2022
Theertha.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285787527_Systematic_studies_in_herbaceous_Phyllanthus_spp_region_Tiruchirappalli_district_in_India_and_a_simple_key_to_authenticate_'Bhumyamalaki’complex_members

Please correct me if i went wrong ,I also find some similarity with Phyllathus fraternus @Chitralekha @Ichha

Measured size of caterpillar by using graph paper

Observations:

The small Caterpillar(PUC1)that got from Phyllanthus plant were died .

What may be the reason for that ?
I regularly (every day evening)changing the leaves and adding new leaves to it .
Yesterday evening i observed the PUC1 caterpillar in the base of the pot,and i cleaned the pot.

Today also i saw the caterpillar on the same position ,no movement and no response was observed.
Date:9/09/2022
Time:2.40pm.
Place:Cherukkad,Kozhikode.
Theertha.

Goofups:

Without proper communication with Collaboraters i confirmed caterpillar died and cleaned it .

The Caterpillar that I got from Phyllanthus debilis (on
9/09/2022 )changed to moth.

11/09/2022 PDC1 forming a hairy network :thinking::thinking:

Stages

The moth should be olepa ricini @SaraKalamudeen @sakshiconsultant2002 @Shraddha276 @Smiti & others

I observed 4 more Phyllanthus caterpillars on Phyllanthus
urinaria on 20/09/2022.

Time:12.55pm
Date:20/09/2022.

Lifecycle of one( PC1 )of the Caterpillar

Caterpillar turned to Moth

Lifecycle of 2nd caterpillar (PC2)

changed into Moth .

This could be Tussock moth !? @Chitralekha @Shraddha276 @sakshiconsultant2002 & others

Lymantriinae - Wikipedia.

Video:

3 Likes

Sakshi’s Discovery of caterpillars in Phyllanthus Plant.

@sakshiconsultant2002 How do you identified this as Spodoptera litura

Following are the observation from My homelab ,

Video.Guru_20230717_015840346.mp4 - Google Drive

2 Likes
1 Like

very nice to hear from you about the caterpillars and nice video taken of caterpillar eating the leaves
Keep up the spirit.

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Breaking News
Phyllanthus (plant )is again proved as a host plant for moth .
Observed a caterpillar on phyllanthus plant
Date:1/09/2023
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:11.50am
Theertha .

Placed in a glass pot and added the leaves of Phyllanthus amarus .
Date:2/09/2023
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:10.23pm
Theertha



Close view of caterpillar.
Date:5/09/2023
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:10.58 am
Theertha

Eating the leaves of phyllanthus amarus
Date:8/09/2023
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:12.20 pm
Theertha

Eating the leaves of phyllanthus urinaria too.
Date:13/09/2023
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:12.20 pm
Theertha

Caterpillar became pupa on 20/09/2023.
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:5.26pm
Theertha

A Moth emerged today .is it a male gypsy moth!?

Date:30/09/2023
place :cherukkad, Kozhikode
Time:9am
Theertha




Why not repost in Context2curriculm WhatsApp group for more feed back from current cubists? @Theertha

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