Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
J Therm Biol. 2020 Apr;89:102540. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102540. Epub 2020 Feb 14.
Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an effective biocontrol agent of Parthenium hysterophorus L. which is an alien invasive herbaceous weed with a pan-tropical distribution. The present study aimed to assess the effects of temperature and altitude on feeding attributes (consumption rate, conversion efficiency and growth rate) of adults from the wild populations of Z. bicolorata inhabiting India and Nepal. Results revealed that adults inhabiting areas of low temperature (24°C ‒ 25°C) and high altitude (415 m ‒1400 m) were large and had higher food consumption rates. In contrast, those inhabiting areas of high temperature (34°C ‒ 36°C) and low altitude (81 m ‒ 229 m) were smaller and had higher food utilization efficiencies. In all the eco-climatic regions, females were larger than males and had higher feeding attributes than their counterparts. Temperature between 27°C and 30°C was found optimal for Z. bicolorata adults to convert and utilize the food biomass to body mass. Above the optimal temperature the feeding attributes decreased. Present results suggest that there exists a possibility for decrease in body size, and thereby weed biocontrol efficiency of Z. bicolorata adults with an increase in temperature due to global climate change.
双色大蚕蛾（Coleoptera：Chrysomelidae）是一种有效的生物防治剂，可防治外来入侵性草本杂草 Parthenium hysterophorus L.，该杂草分布于热带地区。本研究旨在评估温度和海拔高度对来自印度和尼泊尔的野生种群成虫的摄食特性（取食量、转化率和生长率）的影响。结果表明，生活在低温（24°C-25°C）和高海拔（415 米-1400 米）地区的成虫体型较大，取食率较高。相反，生活在高温（34°C-36°C）和低海拔（81 米-229 米）地区的成虫体型较小，食物利用率较高。在所有生态气候区，雌性成虫的体型大于雄性成虫，摄食特性也高于雄性成虫。27°C-30°C 之间的温度最有利于双色大蚕蛾成虫将食物生物量转化为体重。超过最佳温度时，摄食特性会下降。目前的结果表明，由于全球气候变化导致温度升高，成虫的体型可能会变小，从而降低双色大蚕蛾的杂草生物防治效率。
