Plantes nourrici è res Saturniidae

[Chris Conlan]

I suppose this is as good a time as any to point out that the reference in
Stone's book for Rhescyntis feeding on Ligustrum is an error.  It is the
result of a simple miscommunication.  You might as well put a line through
it.  The genus Rhescyntis is very rarely raised outside of its native
habitat as the plants on which it feeds are very tropical in nature and only
survive in a greenhouse in temperate zones.  There are confirmed records for
plants in the family Myristacaceae (nutmeg and virola) and a reliable source
has indicated that Cacao (Sterculiaceae) has been used in Brazil.  On a few
occasions artificial diets have been able to get the larva (a very
impressive looking creature!) part way but not to maturity.

Chris

----------
>From: mjs323 at aol.com (MJS323)
>To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
>Subject: Re: Plantes nourricières Saturniidae
>Date: Tue, Feb 15, 2000, 9:55 AM
>

> Per Steve Stone's, Foodplants of Worldwide Saturniidae, you might try the
> following hostplants if they are available in your area.
>
> For the Rheyscenthis species, you might try Privet (Ligustrum) which has been
> successfully used for species in that genus in the past.
>