Oviposition preference of the cottonwood leaf beetle, Chrysomela scripta F., on poplar clones, Populus spp.

Oviposition preference of the cottonwood leaf beetle, Chrysomela scripta F., was determined for 12 Populus clones. Oviposition was observed in multiple choice and no choice greenhouse experiments and in a field plot experiment. Oviposition preference was quantified by number of egg masses and mean number of eggs/mass for each clone. Significant differences were found for number of egg masses among the clones. No significant differences were found for mean number of eggs/mass among the clones. Means for the three experiments were 55 to 59 eggs/mass;Populus clones in the Aigeiros and Tacamahaca sections were more preferred for oviposition than Leuce clones. Hybrid clones between Aigeiros and Tacamahaca sections were generally less preferred for oviposition than either of the parent sections, especially hybrids of 25% Aigeiros + 75% Tacamahaca composition. Location of egg deposition within a tree showed a greater frequency on leaves from the top third of young trees;Oviposition preference was compared with results for other studies of cottonwood leaf beetle activities. A comparison of oviposition and adult feeding preferences showed differences in clonal rankings between these activities. However, a comparison of oviposition preference and larval development times revealed a very consistent relationship of clonal ranking. Results from two field studies on cottonwood leaf beetle injury levels can be explained, at least partially, by a combination of adult feeding preference, larval development time, and oviposition preference for the various clones