Soyasaponins as feeding stimulants to the oriental clouded yellow larva, Colias erate poliographus (Lepidoptera : Pieridae)

Abstract

Feeding stimulation of soyasaponins on oriental clouded yellow larva, Colias erate poliographus, which feeds on Leguminosae, was investigated. Soyasaponin Bb showed strong feeding stimulation, and Ba and Bc exhibited moderate activity. HPLC analysis of soyasaponins revealed that the content of soyaspaonin Bb was considerably higher than those of Ba and Bc. These results indicated that soyasaponin Bb acts mainly as a feeding stimulant in the host selection of soybean by oriental clouded yellow larvae. The role of soyasaponins in the host selection of oriental clouded yellow larva is discussed.