Feeding Stimulants for Various Leaf Beetles(Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae)in the Leaf Surface Wax of Their Host Plants

Abstract

The feeding response of six chrysomelid beetles to alkane, alcohol, and carboxylic acid fractions in the leaf surface wax of their respective host plants was investigated. The false melon beetle, Atrachya menetriesi, was stimulated to feed by an alkane fraction from the soybean Glycine max leaves. The feeding of Chrysolina aurichalcea was stimulated by an alcohol fraction from the mugwort, Artemisia princeps. Both alkane and acid fractions from the strawberry, Fragaria ananassa, stimulated the feeding of the strawberry leaf beetle, Galerucella vittaticollis. Feeding of the viburnum leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta humeralis, was stimulated by alkane fraction from the viburnum, Viburnum awabuki. Feeding stimulation by authentic homologous chemicals was also tested. Series of alkane, C₂₁-C₂₅ and C₃₀-C₃₆ were stimulating for A. menetriesi, alkane C₃₁-C₄₀ and acid C₂₄-C₂₆ for G. vittaticollis, alcohol C₂₁-C₂₄ for C. aurichalcea, and alkane C₂₈ and C₂₉ for P. humeralis. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis suggested that the beetles were stimulated to feed by dominant wax components of each of the host plants.