LEAF CONSUMPTION BY Diabrotica speciosa (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) ADULTS ON DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS

ABSTRACT: Studies related to the feeding behavior of pest insects provide information that will aid the development of control tactics. Leaf consumption by Diabrotica speciosa adults fed on bean, corn, potato and soybean was determined in the laboratory under free-choice (multiple or double-choice) and no-choice (confinement) conditions. In the multiple-choice tests leaf circles were randomly arranged in a circular pattern (arena) inside Petri dishes. The degree of preference for the hosts was determined under double-choice conditions, where common bean was considered the standard host and the remaining plants (soybean, potato and corn) as test hosts. In all trials, two Diabrotica speciosa couples were released and maintained within the dish for 24 hours; the leaf area consumed by the insects was determined after this feeding period. Food type (host) influenced leaf area consumption by D. speciosa adults both in free-choice and in no-choice tests (P < 0.05). Under free-choice conditions, the insects preferred to feed on bean rather than on soybean, potato or corn, with no differences among these last three host plants (P> 0.05). As to the no-choice test, the consumption was higher for corn than for potato, probably to compensate the low nutritional quality of the first host