Figure 1. Experimental setup. The present study is based on two
switch experiments in which the larvae were moved to a different host
plant. during their development. (a ) The first switch
experiment (Switch A) included Urtica dioica (Ud ),Salix caprea (Sc ) and Ulmus glabra (Ug ). For
the second experiment (Switch B) Urtica dioica , Salix
caprea and Ribes uva-crispa (Ru ) were used. A summary of
all host combinations are given for each switch experiment. Here rows
correspond to the original host (Host 1) and columns to the host the
larvae were transferred to. (b ) In both experiments larvae were
first reared on one out of three established host plants (Host 1). When
reaching the fourth larval instar, caterpillars were moved to a new host
plant (Host 2). This new host could either be of the same (Control, e.gUdUd ) or one of the alternative plant species (Switch, eg.UdSc ). After the transfer larvae were allowed to feed for 2
respectively 17 hours on Host 2 before the midgut was collected for
RNA-extraction and sequencing. A summary of all host combinations per
sampling time point are given for each switch (d ande ). Here rows correspond to the original host, while columns
represent the host the larvae are transferred to. Switches to the same
host species (Control) are highlighted in grey.