Resistance of temperate Chinese elms (Ulmus spp) to feeding by the adult elm leaf beetle (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)

Newly acquired Ulmus species from the temperate regions of China growing at The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, were evaluated in laboratory bioassays fo r feeding preference and suitability for larvae and adults of the elm leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta luteola (Muller). larval and adult no-choice and adult mu ltiple-choice feeding studies revealed that U. changii, U. lanceaefolia, U. prunifolia, U. pseudopropinqua, and U. taihangshanensis were the least sui table for feeding and reproduction by the elm leaf beetle. Ulmus wallichian a and the highly preferred U. pumila were more suitable for feeding and rep roduction. Suitability had no significant effect on male and female longevi ty. The least suitable species of U. changii, U. lanceaefolia, U. prunifoli a, U. pseudopropinqua and U. taihangshanensis show promise for future elm b reeding programs.