Are the larvæ at any period of growth susceptible to the action of phytophagic influences?
A number of observations bearing on the phytophagic variability of the Sphinx-larvæ and other caterpillars have been recorded in a previous note (p.
In the case of brightly-coloured distasteful species phytophagic variability might thus have full play, but in the case of protectively-coloured edible species, phytophagic variability would be under the control of natural selection.
Although our knowledge of this subject is still very imperfect, as a matter of fact brightly coloured larvæ, so far as I have been able to ascertain, do not appear to be susceptible of phytophagic influences.
These observations are of the highest importance, not only as adding another instance to the recorded cases of phytophagic variation, but likewise as showing that with this variability a protective habit has been acquired.
If phytophagic variability can have full play uncontrolled by natural selection in brightly-coloured caterpillars, ought not this phenomenon to be of more common occurrence in such species than in those protectively coloured?
For "Phytophagic Varieties andPhytophagic Species" see "Proc.
Walsh, a distinguished entomologist of the United States, has described what he calls Phytophagic varieties and Phytophagic species.
But no observer can determine for another, even if he can do so for himself, which of these Phytophagic forms ought to be called species and which varieties.
The caterpillars of the Sphingidæ appear also in some cases to vary in a manner very suggestive of phytophagic influences.
The above list will hopefully give you a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "phytophagic" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this word.
