Food plants of Chnootriba hirta

This species loves solanum plants, most usually the umsoba-type. I find it 99% of the time on Solanum chenopodioides and Solanum nigrum. The origin of these plants is murky but I gather both are European species. Curiously, it doesn't fancy the indigenous Solanum retroflexum.

Solanum chenopodioides https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9460818
Solanum nigrum https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9460819
Solanum retroflexum (indigenous) https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9460820

I used to see the ladybird on the invasive Solanum pseudocapsicum (Jerusalem cherry) but our invasive species management has reduced this infestation by 90% and they are ripped out when small.

Umsoba / msoba is the Zulu name of a nightshade berry, also known as nastergal in Afrikaans, which makes a splendid jam. (Instructions on http://janetrembath.blogspot.co.za/2014/04/how-to-make-umsoba-msoba-nightshade.html)

Posted on December 13, 2017 09:15 AM by jane_trembath