Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to ascertain the relationship between the main nutritional components in plant leaves and the feeding preference of Holotrichia parallela adults, and to identify the main nutritional components affecting its adult feeding, longevity and fecundity. 【Methods】 The longevity, feeding amount and oviposition amount of H. parallela adults on five kinds of plants (Arachis hypogaea, Juglans regia, Ulmus pumila, Ligustrum vicaryi and Populus tomentosa) in the laboratory were determined, and the correlation between the contents of four main nutritional components (amino acid, fatty acid, crude fiber and total phosphorus) in plant leaves and the feeding amount, oviposition amount and longevity of H. parallela adults was analyzed. 【Results】 The daily average feeding amount of H. parallela adults on the leaves of five kinds of plants ranked in descending order as: A. hypogaea>J. regia>U. pumila>L. vicaryi>P. tomentosa. The total feeding amount and total oviposition amount per adult on J. regia, A. hypogaea and U. pumila leaves were significantly higher than those on L. vicaryi and P. tomentosa leaves (P<0.01). The total feeding amount of H. parallela adults showed significant correlation with the content of amino acids in plant leaves (P<0.05; r=0.515). Moreover, the total oviposition amount per female adult of H. parallela showed extremely significant correlation with the contents of fatty acids and amino acids in plant leaves (P<0.01)(r=0.698 and r=0.746, respectively). The correlations between the contents of essential amino acids in plant leaves and the feeding amount and oviposition amount of H. parallela adults were similar to those between the content of total amino acids in plant leaves and the feeding amount and oviposition amount of H. parallela adults. The total feeding amount of H. parallela adults showed the most significant correlation with the content of lysine in plant leaves, and the total oviposition amount per adult showed a correlation with the contents of essential amino acids in plant leaves. Adult longevity was not correlated with the contents of nutritional components of plant leaves. 【Conclusion】 The lysine content in the plant leaves is the key factor that affects the feeding preference of H. parallela adults, and the contents of essential amino acids and fatty acids in plant leaves further affect its fecundity.

Key words: Holotrichia parallela')">Holotrichia parallela, host plant, feeding amount, fecundity, component analysis, correlation analysis