Insect Plant Interaction And Sharing A Common Microhabitat

Abstract

The study reveals the total life history of butterfly, Tirumala limniace(Cramer, 1775) on its host plant Dregea volubilis(L.f) Benth. and its association with two other phytophagous in­ sects occupying a similar microhabitat. It is interesting to note that Aphis neriiB.de Fonsc. and Spilostethus pandurus(Scopoili, 1763) are the two hemipterans who can defend themselves by sequestering toxic phytochemicals from their host plants. All these three insects have been studied together from the same host plant.