POLLEN BEETLE (MELIGETHES AENEUS) OVIPOSITION AND FEEDING PREFERENCE ON DIFFERENT HOST-PLANT SPECIES

The oviposition and feeding preferences of the pollen beetle, Meligeth es aeneus, were determined in choice and no-choice tests in field, sem i-field and greenhouse trials. Plant species used were Brassica napus, B. campestris, B. juncea, B. nigra, B. carinata, Sinapis alba and Cra mbe abyssinica. With respect to number of eggs laid, S alba and C. aby ssinica were inferior to the other species. Pollen beetles laid fewer eggs on B. nigra than on the other Brassica spp. in no-choice tests, h owever this difference was partly due to fewer eggs laid per bud rathe r than fewer buds used for oviposition. Most eggs, for all plant speci es, were deposited in buds sized 2-3 mm. Feeding damage on all plant s pecies was relatively similar. Pollen beetles seem to have a wider hos t range for feeding than for oviposition. There was good agreement in plant species ranking as oviposition hosts between the field, semi-fie ld and greenhouse trials.