Journal of Economic Entomology (1999) 92, 351-356

Gema P. Farinos, Ana Taberner, Vicente Marco and Pedro Castañera (1999)
Development of an artificial larval diet for a new sugar beet pest, Aubeonymus mariaefranciscae (Coleoptera : Curculionidae), and its oviposition behavior
Journal of Economic Entomology 92 (2), 351-356
Abstract: We have developed an artificial larval diet that can be used successfully for rearing Aubeonymus mariaefranciscae Roudier from neonate to adult. Four artificial larval diets and fresh sugar beet petioles were tested. Petiole-fed larvae were unable to survive to pupae. The significantly higher survival rates and shorter developmental times obtained with diets containing sugar beet root homogenate and vitamin mixture suggest that these nutritional components are essential for normal larval development. The best performance was obtained for those larvae fed on diet D, which had the highest survival rate (78%). Three consecutive generations were reared on diet D without significantly affecting their survival, developmental time, and reproductive capacity; however, adult weight was reduced. Four larval instars were recorded and consistent data on their developmental periods were established. When whole plants were supplied, the preferred oviposition site was the root, where ~40% of the eggs were laid in the crown, 57% in the roots, and nearly 3% were laid on the leaf petioles. When detached leaves, inserted in moistened sand, were supplied, 91% of the eggs were laid in the portion of the petioles below soil level and 9% on the aerial part. Adults refused to oviposit on any of the artificial substrates provided. The eggs always were concealed in the plant tissues, which probably prevented them from desiccating and provided protection from potential predators.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Pedro Castañera, Vicente Marco

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aubeonymus mariaefranciscae	Beet/sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)