Thanks Keith. I was hoping that some one would respond with a species name for the larval food plant. Perhaps, it could have been one of the 31 species of Diospyros found in Sri Lanka! The larval food plant in Sri Lanka is still unknown. Michael
________________________________ From: Keith Wolfe <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, January 22, 2011 9:04:35 AM Subject: Re: [ButterflyIndia] Life cycle of Red Spot Duke........ Hi Michael, I cannot attest to the resulting adult; however, the hostplant (Diospyros, Ebenaceae) and pupa certainly agree well with my rearing of the Redspot Duke (Dophla evelina) in Borneo. FYI, Gaudy Baron larvae look like this . . . http://www.hkls-forum.org/viewtopic.php?t=1932 (in India too, confirmed by a photo Rafeek Khalid recently sent me) . . . and reportedly feed only on mistletoes (Loranthaceae). Nevertheless, Hemant's caterpillar DOES appear noticeably different from my own larval images as well as other pix I have seen of the Redspot Duke's mature cat, including these I identified for a Danish friend -- http://www.danske-natur.dk/images12/lepb0110a.jpg. Of course geographic variation is a possibility, but with so many unknown early stages of Indian (and Sri Lankan) butterflies, additional breeding attempts would prove interesting and perhaps even enlightening. Best wishes, Keith From: Michael van der Poorten <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:44:01 -0000 (UTC) Subject: Re: [ButterflyIndia] Life cycle of Red Spot Duke........ Hemant, Early instars and ova remarkably similar to the Gaudy Baron (E. lubentina). What is this larval food plant? KK, have we the correct taxa here?! Best, Michael van der Poorten From: hemant ogale <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 10:28:29 AM Subject: [ButterflyIndia] Life cycle of Red Spot Duke........ Dear All, Here is link for the Life cycle of Red Spot Duke... http://www.flickr.com/photos/9403324@N08/sets/72157625852772152/ Cheers. Hemant -- Enjoy
