Ficus elastica prefers bright sunlight but not hot temperatures. It has a high tolerance for drought, but prefers humidity and thrives in wet, tropical conditions. Ornamental hybrids (such as Robusta) have been derived from "Ficus elastica" with broader, stiffer and more upright leaves than the wild form. Many such hybrids exist, often with variegated leaves. "Ficus elastica" yields a milky white latex, a chemical compound separate from its sap and carried and stored in different cells. This latex was formerly used to make rubber, but it should not be confused with the Pará rubber tree, the main commercial source of latex for
Lymire edwardsii Lymire edwardsii Lymire edwardsii, the rubber tree caterpillar or Edwards' wasp moth, is a moth of the subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. It is found in southern Florida, United States. The wingspan is 35–40 mm. The wings are bluish gray. Adults are on wing year round. The larvae feed on "Ficus" species, including "Ficus pedunculata", "Ficus altissima", "Ficus aurea", "Ficus auriculata", "Ficus benghalensis", "Ficus benjamina", "Ficus continifolia", "Ficus elastica", "Ficus lyrata", "Ficus retusa" and "Ficus rubiginosa". They feed on leaf margins or create holes in the leaves. Full-grown larvae are pale yellow with four