Abstract: 【Aim】 Problepsis superans is a pest, which feeds the leaves of the garden plant Ligustrum quihoui Carr. No research has been done on other host plants and their effects on life history of P. superans. The study can help understand the influence of L. quihoui and two potential host plants, Ligustrum × vicaryi Hort. and Ligustrum lucidum Ait., on the development and reproduction of P. superans. 【Methods】 Age-stage two-sex life tables of the experimental population of P. superans on three ligustrum species, i.e., L. × vicary, L. quihoui, and L. lucidum were constructed under the conditions of 25±1℃, 75%±5% R. H. and 16L∶8D photoperiod. 【Results】 The results showed that there were significant differences in larval longevity and fecundity of P. superans on the three ligustrum species, however, no significant differences were found in egg and pupal duration, adult preoviposition period (APOP), and male survival time. The total larval duration of P. superans on L. × vicaryi (21.33 d) was significantly shorter than that on L. quihoui (23.46 d) and L. lucidum (27.28 d)； however, the fecundity on L. × vicaryi (529.1 eggs/female) was significantly higher than that on L. quihoui (442.5 eggs/female) and L. lucidum (339.7 eggs/female). The intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (λ) and the net reproductive rate (R₀) of P. superans on L. × vicaryi and L. quihoui were significantly higher than that on L. lucidum; however, there was no significant difference between on L. × vicaryi and on L. quihou. The mean generation time (T) of P. superans on the three species differed significantly and ranked as L. × vicaryi < L. quihoui < L. lucidum. However, there were no significant differences in the gross reproduction rates (GRR) of P. superans on the three species. 【Conclusion】 L. vicaryi and L. quihoui provide better quality food for P. superans than L. lucidum, and L. vicaryi and L. lucidum may serve as hosts or temporary hosts of P. superans.

Key words: Problepsis superans, host plants, experimental population, growth and development, reproduction, age-stage two-sex life table, Ligustrum