Abstract: In this paper, the influence of four host plant species, including Phoenix canariensis, Trachycarpus fortunei, Phoenix hanceana and Livistona chinensis, on the developmental duration, feeding and reproduction of Octodonta nipae was studied, and the main nutrient components in those four host plants affecting feeding and reproduction of O. nipae were analysed. The results indicated that O. nipae obviously preferred to P. canariensis and T. fortunei, while had the lowest selectivity to L. chinensis. Significant differences existed in contents of four nutrient components of different palm leaves (crude fat: F_3,8=153.508, P=0.000; soluble sugar: F_3,8=56.922, P=0.000; soluble protein: F_3,8=150.309, P=0.000; free amino acid: F_3,8=41.278, P=0.000). The nutrient components of free amino acids, soluble sugar and soluble protein in P. canariensis were relatively high, with the content of 1.13%, 1.05% and 19.50%, respectively. However, the content of crude fat in L. chinensis was higher (7.04%) compared with the contents of other three nutrient components in L. chinensis. Principal component analysis showed that the free amino acid, soluble sugar and soluble protein were the key factors that affect the feeding and reproduction of O. nipae, and their contribution rates were 56.1%, 26.7% and 13.7%, respectively. In addition, the significant correlations were found between the three nutrient components of palm leaves and the feeding and reproduction of O. nipae on their respective hosts. This research has important significance for analysis host adaptive variation of O. nipae and its mechanism.

Key words: Octodonta nipae, feeding, reproduction, host plants, nutrient components, principal component analysis