Host plants of the phytophagous ladybird beetle, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in Southeast Asia and Japan

Abstract

The host plants of Epilachna vigintioctopunctata in the Southeast Asia region are still not fully known. Larval survival and development of E. vigintioctopunctata on solanaceous, cucurbitaceous and leguminous plants were examined for seven local populations from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. All populations showed the highest emergence rate and largest adult body size when reared on plants of the genus Solanum (Solanaceae). On Cuccinia indica (Cucurbitaceae), the Malaysian population had an emergence rate of 32% and the Thailand and two Indonesian populations each had an emergence rate of ca. 10%. However, newly emerged adults of these four populations were not able to produce the next generation when reared on C. indica because of very low fecundity and hatchability. On Centrosema pubescens (Leguminosae), the Malaysian and two Indonesian populations each had an emergence rate of ca. 30%. Newly emerged adults of these three populations showed 62 to 72% hatchability when reared on Ce. pubescens. It is concluded that the major host plants of E. vigintioctopunctata in Southeast Asia are solanaceous plants and this species is unable to complete its life cycle solely on cucurbitaceous plants.