Food plant

Many species of insect have highly specific nutritional preferences. Often a particular species will only feed on a single type of plant.

This specificity is often most noticeable in caterpillars of butterflies and moths. For example, caterpillars of the Mullein moth specialise on feeding on the Great Mullein plant.

Without access to the correct food plant some species are unable to complete their life cycle.

The brightly coloured larvae of the Mullein Moth, Shargacucullia verbasci.

Other names for (or types of) Food plant include:

• Pabulum

Related terms

• Caterpillar
• Herbivore
• Lepidoptera

Related groups of terms

• General biology
• Insect life cycles

Related pages on this web site

• Butterflies and Moths - Order Lepidoptera
• Caterpillar caresheet
• Insect life cycles
• Leaf Insect caresheet
• Moon Moth caresheet
• Stick Insect caresheet

See other words beginning with F