HOST DISCRIMINATION BY A CRUCIFER-FEEDING FLEA BEETLE, PHYLLOTRETA-STRIOLATA (F) (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

The flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata (F.), was attracted to the cruciferous plants Brassica oleracea L. and Raphanus sativus L., but not to B. campestris L. and B. napus L. which are important natural host plants, nor to Pisum sativum (L.), a legume. The presence or absence of attraction was demonstrated by exposing small groups of caged plants to natural populations and trapping beetles near the plants. In choice and no-choice laboratory feeding experiments, P. striolata fed on eight Cruciferae in the genera Brassica, Raphanus, and Sinapis but not on P. sativum. Phyllotreta striolata fed less on S. arvensis L. and S. alba L. than on plants in the other genera. Within Brassica, B. oleracea, B. napus, and B. campestris were preferred over B. juncea (L.) Czern and B. nigra (L.) Koch. Discrimination at the attraction phase of host selection did not account for discrimination shown in laboratory feeding experiments nor in the natural attack of flea beetles on cruciferous crops. © 1990, Entomological Society of Canada. All rights reserved.