Feeding and fecundity of leaf beetle Monolepta hieroglyphica on different tissues of corn and three weed plants

Abstract The double-spotted leaf beetle (DLB), Monolepta hieroglyphica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a polyphagous pest that causes considerable damage to corn in China. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the influence of host plants on the biology of this beetle. This study assessed the feeding of DLB on three corn tissues and three weed species, as well as the impact of host plants/tissues on DLB fecundity. The Feeding rate of DLB was significantly affected by interaction between host plants/tissues and sex, indicating sex-specific patterns of feeding choice. The feeding levels of DLB adults were affected only by host plants/tissues, following the order: common knotgrass > corn silk > corn leaf > Asian copperleaf > white goosefoot > corn kernel. The fecundity of single female adults fed on common knotgrass was the highest (44.70 ± 11.47 eggs), whereas that fed on corn leaf was the lowest (2.00 ± 0.88 eggs). These results underscore the significance of weeds as alternative DLB hosts in corn agroecosystems, improving our understanding of DLB biology and offering valuable insights for establishing and providing an integrated pest management (IPM) program.