InsectNet forum

Yet another new project from this year. The larva can use a variety of plants as hostplant. In my case i used Filipendula ulmaria and Fragaria vesca. This species is also widespread in Norway, usually having only one generation. Four of my larva completed the full lifecycle this summer, producing a 2nd generation. The rest hibernates as pupa.
Lifecycle information: Full lifecycle from egg to imago lasted around 10 weeks. I lost track on how many times it molted as i was away for a couple of weeks during the breeding. It was also hard to follow the development as the larva creates a housing of the leaves, living inside.
Eggs used 7 days to hatch
Larval stages lasted 43 days
Pupal stages lasted 22 days
Difficulty rating based on % of individuals gotten through to imago(1=hard, 5=easy): 4/5

Egg


L1


Half grown larva


Full grown larva



Characteristic leaf housing


Pupa


Imago


A few more high res pictures over HERE

wolf wrote: Sat Oct 01, 2022 10:48 am The larva feed on different plants.

Please can you explain a bit more about this. I assume you mean that at a particular instar the larvae move from one species of plant to a different one.

Adam.

adamcotton wrote: Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:07 pm

wolf wrote: Sat Oct 01, 2022 10:48 am The larva feed on different plants.

Please can you explain a bit more about this. I assume you mean that at a particular instar the larvae move from one species of plant to a different one.

Adam.

Hi Adam. No, i just mean it can use a variety of plants as hostplant(i updated the original post). However it was no problem to switch back and fourth between the two hostplants i used in the middle of the larval stages.

Ah, I understand. The way you originally wrote the text suggested that they start feeding on one plant and then at some stage need to switch to a different host plant species in order to finish the larval stage. Thanks for the clarification.

Adam.

Adam, there are some species that do that, e.g. Euphydryas maturna lays on trees such as Ash (Fraxinus sp.) and feeds on that pre-hibernation, then feeds on Honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.) post-hibernation.

In Britain, Pyrgus malvae usually feeds on Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca).