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1967
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
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127
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HOST PLANT SPECIFICITY OF THE BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY, POLYDORUS ARISTOLOCHIAE (PAPILIONIDAE)
G. H. Munshi and S. A. Moiz
Agriculture College, Tando Jam, West Pakistan
Polydorus aristolochiae (Fabricius) is the commonest large-tailed, black butterfly of the Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent. At Tando Jam (25°26/ N; 68°32' E), West Pakistan, the larvae have been found in large numbers on Aristolochia bracteata L. This is a native species of the Family Aristolochiaceae of great medicinal value. Along with other Aristolochias, its anthelmintic properties have been known for some time, from which is derived the local name of "Kidamar" or "Kiramar" (Worm-killer) in many parts of India (Kirtarkar and Basu, 1933).
Host Plant Specificity
Witt (1909), Bell (1911), Wynter-Blyth (1957), and Alam (1962), reported Aristolochia indica L., as the only host plant of P. aristolochiae. According to Ghosh (1914) the insect probably feeds on all species of Aristolochia. He further mentioned that in the field the insect also feeds on Kadu, Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. and Luff a aegyptiaca Mill. (Cucurbita-ceae). Beeson (1941) reported Aristolochia spp. and Diascorea wallichii (Aristolochiaceae) as the host plants.
There seems to be no record of Aristolochia bracteata L. as the host plant of this butterfly. The larvae eat green leaves and fruits. In absence of green leaves, larvae depend totally on green fruits.
Alternate Potential Host Plants Ghosh (1914) quoted that in 1901, larvae were reported from Surat Farm (25°00' N; 88°39' E), Gujrat State, India, as feeding on Kadu Plant, Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. (Cucurbitaceae), and in 1905, were reported to be found on Luff a aegyptiaca Mill. (Cucurbitaceae), at Darb-hanga (SPIT N; 72°58' E), Behar, India. In his insectary, however, they did not feed on either of these plants.
Leaves of different plants in the found vicinity of Tando Jam, West Pakistan, on which either the butterfly was found sitting, or where the larvae were found pupating were offered to larvae in the laboratory to see if they would feed on such plants.
Leaves were repeatedly supplied to groups of larvae in cages, petri dishes, glass bottles, and glass chimneys to encourage them to feed. Leaves of the following plants were offered: Akk, Calotropis procera
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128
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Munshi and Moiz: Polydorus
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Vol. 21, no. 2
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(Asclepiadaceae); Karandi, Abutilon indicum (Malvaceae); Kir, Capparis aphylla (Capparidaceae); Devi, Prosopis spicigera (Leguminaceae); Ber, Zizyobus rotendifolia (Rhamnacea); Mango, Mangifera indica (Anacar-diaceae); and Babul, Acacia arabica (Leguminaceae).
In order to study the potential host range of the insect, leaves of the various plants were supplied to the captive larvae in the same manner as were the leaves of Aristolochia bracteata L. None of the larvae, aside from those reared on A. bracteata, fed upon the leaves and all died of starvation after three to five days.
It is concluded that this species does not have alternate host plant because the larvae refused to feed on all other possible host plants. Aristolochia bracteata L. is the only host plant which was recorded in the Tando Jam area.
Acknowledgment
To Kent H. Wilson (Santa Fe, U.S.A.), I extend my sincere appreciation for critically editing, correcting, and improving the manuscript.
Literature Cited
Alam, M. Z., 1962. A list of insect and mite pests of East Pakistan; p. 63 (Decca:
Govt. Press). Beeson, G. F. C., 1941. Ecology and control of the forest insects of India and
neighboring countries; pp. 663-664 (India, Dehradun: The Vasant Press). Bell, T. R., 1911. The common butterflies of plain (including) those met with
Hill Station of the Bombay Presidency. Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, 19: 3. Ghosh, C. C., 1914. Life histories of Indian insects V-Lepidoptera (Butterflies).
Mem. Dept. Agric. in India, Ent. ser. V(l): 53-58 (Pusa Agril. Res. Inst.). Kirtarkah & Basu, 1933. Indian Medicinal Plants, 2(111): 2121 Fam. Aristo-
lochiaceae (L. M. Basu, Allahabad, India). Munshi, G. H., 1964. Studies on the biology and seasonal history of Polydorus
aristolochia Fab., unpublished thesis submitted to the University of Sind, Hyderabad, West Pakistan. Witt, D. O., 1909. The butterflies of Nimar District, Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc,
21(19): 565. Wynter-Blyth, M. A. 1957. The Papilios, or the swallowtails. The Butterflies
of Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society; pp. 375-376 (Bombay:
India).
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