Plants species associated with Leucanella hosmera (Schaus 1941) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panama

Resumen

The Hemileucinae subfamily (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) includes species of medical importance, whose larvae armed with stinging spines connected to poison glands can cause damage to people who come into contact with them. The species Leucanella hosmera (Schaus 1941) has been found in productive agroecosystems of Cerro Punta, so the study aimed to identify the plants associated with this insect. The nature of the research was descriptive and exploratory, for which, from October 2022 to August 2024, random sampling was carried out in a location where the presence of the insect was
previously reported. A photographic record was kept and specimens were collected for preservation and subsequent confirmation in the laboratory. The results revealed the identification of four plant species associated with Leucanella hosmera (Schaus 1941), which are Faramea occidentalis (Linnaeus 1759) (Rubiaceae), Coffea arabica Linnaeus (1753) (Rubiaceae), as well as cultures of Allium cepa Linnaeus (1753) (Alliaceae) and Lactuca sativa Linnaeus (1753) (Asteraceae). It is known that these caterpillars are polyphagous, and to synthesize the venom they possess, they can sequester secondary metabolites
present in plants such as Rubiaceae. Although there are reports of other host plants, this work confirmed at least one wild and three cultivated plant species associated with Leucanella hosmera in Cerro Punta.