Food plants

During this project, in captivity, the caterpillars have been observed to eat the following plant species:

  • Taraxacum officinale ******
  • Plantago major ****
  • Rubus chamaemorus **
  • Vaccinium uliginosum **
  • Calluna vulgaris *
  • Ribes rubrum (cultivated) *
  • Salix phylicifolia  ***
  • Menyanthes trifoliata ***
  • Comarum palustre *
  • Persicaria maculosa *
  • Viola riviniana *
  • Larix sibirica ***
  • Rumex crispus **

The following plant species have been offered to caterpillars, but have not been touched:

  • Ledum palustris +++
  • Chamaedaphne calyculata ++
  • Ribes nigrum (cultivated) +
  • Betula nana ++
  • Achillea millefolium +
  • Rubus idaeus +
  • Rhamnus frangula +
  • Picea abies ++*
  • Usnea sp. +
  • Equisetum sylvaticum +

Number of * or + denote how many breeders have made this observation.  These findings are preliminary and may change later.  More data to follow.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith