Feeding and oviposition of Anoplophora chinensis on ornamental and forest trees

摘要

Studies were conducted on maturation feeding and oviposition of Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a recently introduced quarantine pest in Europe on different plant species of great importance for urban and forest environments in Italy. The tested plant species were Aesculus hippocastanum, Acer negundo, A. campestris, Castanea sativa, Corylus avellana, Platanus x acerifolia, Quercus petrea, Q. pubescens, Q. rubra, Tilia platyphyllos, Ulmus minor and U. pumila. Tested adults of A. chinensis originated from a population of a recently infested site in Italy (Rome) and all experiments were conducted in a walk-in insect cage under quarantine conditions. Adults of A. chinensis showed a maturation feeding preference for twigs of Acer species (A. negundo and A. campestris) and for C. avellana. In the oviposition experiments conducted on bolts of tested plant species, A. chinensis females did not show clear preferences and some data did not reflect the preferences shown during the feeding experiments. Nevertheless, A. negundo and A. campestris were well accepted plant species for oviposition besides A. hippocastanum and T. platyphyllos.