Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to assess the influence of host plants on the cold hardiness of Athetis lepigone mature larvae. 【Methods】 The 4th instar larvae of A. lepigone were fed with leaves of cotton， peanut， soybean， sweet potato and maize， respectively， for 6 d to maturity. The supercooling point， freezing point， fresh body weight， water content， and fat， glycogen and sorbitol contents of A. lepigone mature larvae were measured. 【Results】 The freezing point， fresh body weight， and the contents of fat and glycogen significantly differed among mature larvae of A. lepigone fed with leaves of different host plants. The larvae fed with soybean leaves had the highest freezing point (-2.80℃) and the lowest fresh weight (0.056 g) and fat content (12.47%). The larvae fed with cotton leaves had the lowest freezing point (-5.45℃)， and the highest fat (32.12%) and glycogen contents (54.07 mg/g). The fresh body weight of larvae fed with maize leaves was the highest (0.118 g). There were no significant differences in the supercooling point， water content and sorbitol content among mature larvae fed with different plant leaves. 【Conclusion】 The host plants have no significant influence on the supercooling point of mature larvae of A. lepigone， but have significant influence on their fresh body weight and fat and glycogen contents.

Key words: Host plant, Athetis lepigone, cold hardiness, supercooling point, fat, glycogen