›› 2012, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (1): 84-90.doi:

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A comparative study of development and reproduction of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on different host plants

LUO Jin-Cang, LIU Chang-Zhong, ZHOU Zhao-Xu   

  1. College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Received:2011-08-18 Revised:2011-12-23 Online:2012-01-20 Published:2012-01-20
  • Contact: LIU Chang-Zhong E-mail:liuchzh@gsau.edu.cn
  • About author:jincang1964@sohu.com

Abstract: The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is one of the most destructive pests infesting potatoes and other nightshade plants. In order to ascertain the influence of different host plants on development and reproduction of the Colorado potato beetle in Xinjiang, we conducted no-choice assays to determine the effects of four plants on the growth, development, and life table parameters of the Xinjiang population of the Colorado potato beetle. The results showed that the larva of L. decemlineata might feed on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), but it had the longest developmental duration and the lowest survival rate. Moreover, on tomato its pupae could not emerge to adults. The other three host plants, i.e., potato (Solanum tuberosum), eggplant (Solanum melongena) and Henbane (Hyoscyamus pusillus), showed no significant effect on the survival and developmental duration of the egg, larva, pupa, and preoviposition. However, the pupal weight and adult fecundity were significantly affected by host plants, and the order of the effect from high to low were as follows: potato>eggplant>henbane. The net reproductive rate (R0), the intrinsic rates of increase (rm) and index of population trend (I) of the Xinjiang population were the highest on potato, and less on eggplant and the lowest on henbane. The results suggest that the most preferred plants for the Xinjiang population of L. decemlineata is potato, and eggplant and henbane can serve as its suitable hosts but tomato can not.

Key words: Leptinotarsa decemlineata, host plant, survival rate, fecundity, life table

CLC Number: 

  • Q968.1