LARVAL MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION AND ITS RELATION TO HOST PLANTS IN SYNCIRSODES PRIMATA (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) VARIACION MORFOLOGICA LARVAL Y SU RELACION CON PLANTAS HOSPEDERAS EN SYNCIRSODES PRIMATA (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE)

Morphological variations in larvae of Syncirsodes primata (Walker 1862) from different hosts were studied. Three different morphs, varying in the number of dorsal tubercles and color, were detected. It appears that these variations depend upon the species of host plant on which the larvae inhabit. The results suggest that the selection of host plants may determine the color, indicating phenotypic plasticity. However, constancy in tubercle number, independent of a change of host plant, suggests genetic differences among morphs Se estudió la variación morfológica en larvas de Syncirsodes primata (Walker 1862) provenientes de distintos hospedadores. Se detectaron tres morfos diferentes que varían en número de tubérculos dorsales y color, dependiendo de la especie hospedero en que se encuentran. Los resultados sugieren preliminarmente que las plantas hospederas determinan el color, respondiendo a un fenómeno de plasticidad fenotípica. En cambio, la constancia del número de tubérculos, independientemente del cambio de hospederos, sugeriría diferencias genéticas entre morfos