Larval food plants of Lepidoptera

species (mostly on their leaves, but sometimes on fruits or other parts).

The dependency on specific food plants (also known as host plants) is among the key factors restricting the distribution of Lepidoptera species, although food plants of certain species may vary across different geographical populations (races). It also makes some of them important pests in agriculture or forestry. As such studies require meticulous observation and experimentation, for many Lepidoptera species food plants have not yet been identified, and even for the most common European and North American species there is often some minor disagreement over the exact selection of plants suitable to them. Adult females normally lay their eggs on or near specific food plants (which often have to be abundant enough). Larvae can't feed and end up starved to death if provided with unsuitable plants on purpose, but the choice of plant species suitable for different Lepidoptera in experimentation is often wider than the choice of plants on which their eggs are laid in nature. Closely related Lepidoptera tend to have similar food plant preferences. Many caterpillars sequester the toxins from their food plants and use them as a defense against predators. Though it is common for Lepidoptera to prefer a certain plant genus or family, some species feed on a narrow selection of unrelated taxa. The choice is unrelated to nectar plant preferences of adult Lepidoptera, which are much less strict.

Lists

* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Abelia"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Achillea"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on alders
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Artemisia"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on ashes
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Aster"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Atriplex"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on beeches
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on beets
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on birches
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Brassica"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on brooms
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on buckthorns
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Buddleja"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Calluna"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Camellia"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Centaurea"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Chenopodium"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on chestnut trees
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on chrysanthemums
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Cirsium"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on clovers
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on cotton plants
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on currants
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on dandelions
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on elms
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Eucalyptus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Galium"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on goldenrods
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on grapevines
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on grasses
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on hawthorns
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on hazels
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Helianthus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on honeysuckles
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Ipomoea"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Juncus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on larches
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on lettuces
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Lotus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Malus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on maples
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on oaks
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on pear trees
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on pines
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on plantains
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Polygonum"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on poplars
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Potentilla"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Prunus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on ragweeds
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on rhododendrons
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on roses
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Rubus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Rumex"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Senecio"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Silene"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Solanum"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Sorbus"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on spruces
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on strawberry plants
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Tilia"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Vaccinium"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on "Viburnum"
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on willows

External links

* [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/hostplants/ HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants] . By Gaden S. Robinson, Phillip R. Ackery, Ian J. Kitching, George W. Beccaloni and Luis M. Hernández @ Natural History Museum, London.
* [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/warp/food-plants-a.html Larval food plant information sorted by plant] . Compiled by Markku Savela.