Effect of stages and host plant species on aging of adult metallic wood boring beetle, Sternocera ruficornis

Abstract

The study of stages and nine host plant species Phan sat Erythrophleum succirubrum Gagnep, Teng Shorea obtusa Wall.&Blume, Daeng Xylia xylocarpa Taub., Krabok Irvingia malayana Oliv.ex. A.W.Benn., Ma kha tae Sindora siamensis Teijsm. & Miq., Pradu Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz., Ta baek Lagerstroemia calyculata Kurz., Phai pak Vietnamosasa pusilla and Siao Desmodium renifilium Baker& Kurz on aging of adult metallic wood boring beetle,Sternocera ruficornis was performed. S. ruficornis consumed the highest old leaf stage of Teng 0.22 g, 4.4 fold of young leaf Ta back, Phai pak and Siao showed the highest amount consumed 0.12 g of young leaf. The S. ruficornis preferred host plant in old leaf stage (0.015-0.216 gram/day) to young leaf (0.050-0.124 gram/day). Comparing the leaf stage of the host plant on longivity of S. ruficornis, it was found that old leaf stage resulted in longer age of male and female and higher body weight than young leaf stage. The male S. ruficornis fed on young leaf has greater width and body length than that fed on mature leaf whereas the body size of female fed on both stages did not show the difference. The host plants leaf contained chemical compositions of dry matter 87.16-95.02%, ash 0.77-9.37%, crude protein 3.93-14.72% fiber 0.03-0.84% and fat 0.99-7.45%. Old leaf stage contained all components higher than young leaf except in protein.