<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The paper presets the results of the study on the life span, survival, body weight and fecundity of cockchafer (<italic>Melolontha</italic> spp.) adults feeding on the leaves of <italic>Betula pendula</italic> Roth., <italic>Quercus robur</italic> L., <italic>Q</italic>. <italic>rubra</italic> L., <italic>Acer platanoides</italic> L., <italic>Tilia cordata</italic> Mill. and <italic>Pinus silvestris</italic> L. inflorescences. The life span and body weight of adults, as well as female fertility were examined in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2015, the tested common cockchafer (<italic>Melolontha melolontha</italic> L.) adults and forest cockchafer (<italic>Melololntha hippocastani</italic> F.) adults were fed on <italic>B. pendula., Q. robur</italic> and <italic>P. silvestris.</italic> In 2016, forest cockchafer adults were fed on <italic>B. pendula, Q. robur, Q. rubra, T. cordata,</italic> and in 2017 – on <italic>B. pendula., Q. robur T. cordata</italic> and <italic>A. platanoides</italic>. Adults of both species feeding on <italic>Q. robur</italic> were treated as the control. Adult specimens observed under laboratory conditions were collected in the field, shortly after leaving their overwintering sites in the soil. Our results showed that feeding on the leaves of <italic>Q. robur</italic> and <italic>Q. rubra</italic> had the greatest positive effects on the life span, body weight and fecundity of the studied cockchafer adults. <italic>M. melolontha</italic> females reared on the leaves of <italic>B. pendula</italic> laid no eggs. The leaves of A. <italic>platanoides</italic> constituted an adequate food source for the development of <italic>M. hippocastani. P. silvestris</italic> inflorescences proved to be the right food only for <italic>M. melolontha</italic> females. <italic>M. hippocastani</italic> adults feeding on <italic>T. cordata</italic> and <italic>B. pendula</italic> were characterized by a short life, decreasing body weight in the first days of observation and low fertility.</p></abstract>

The paper presets the results of the study on the life span, survival, body weight and fecundity of cockchafer (Melolontha spp.) adults feeding on the leaves of Betula pendula Roth., Quercus robur L., Q. rubra L., Acer platanoides L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Pinus silvestris L. inflorescences. The life span and body weight of adults, as well as female fertility were examined in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2015, the tested common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha L.) adults and forest cockchafer (Melololntha hippocastani F.) adults were fed on B. pendula., Q. robur and P. silvestris. In 2016, forest cockchafer adults were fed on B. pendula, Q. robur, Q. rubra, T. cordata, and in 2017 – on B. pendula., Q. robur T. cordata and A. platanoides. Adults of both species feeding on Q. robur were treated as the control. Adult specimens observed under laboratory conditions were collected in the field, shortly after leaving their overwintering sites in the soil. Our results showed that feeding on the leaves of Q. robur and Q. rubra had the greatest positive effects on the life span, body weight and fecundity of the studied cockchafer adults. M. melolontha females reared on the leaves of B. pendula laid no eggs. The leaves of A. platanoides constituted an adequate food source for the development of M. hippocastani. P. silvestris inflorescences proved to be the right food only for M. melolontha females. M. hippocastani adults feeding on T. cordata and B. pendula were characterized by a short life, decreasing body weight in the first days of observation and low fertility.

Effects of food quality on <italic>Melolontha</italic> spp. adults

Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection

Folia Forestalia Polonica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

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The paper presets the results of the study on the life span, survival, body weight and fecundity of cockchafer (Melolontha spp.) adults feeding on the leaves...

Effects of food quality on Melolontha spp. adults

Published Online: Jul 20, 2018

Page range: 108 - 121

Received: Jan 23, 2018

Accepted: Jan 18, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ffp-2018-0011

Keywords
common cockchafer, mortality, food quality, forest cockchafer, forest pests, relative growth rate

© 2018 Danuta Woreta et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Effects of food quality on Melolontha spp. adults

Published Online: Jul 20, 2018

Page range: 108 - 121

Received: Jan 23, 2018

Accepted: Jan 18, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ffp-2018-0011

Keywordscommon cockchafer, mortality, food quality, forest cockchafer, forest pests, relative growth rate

© 2018 Danuta Woreta et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
common cockchafer, mortality, food quality, forest cockchafer, forest pests, relative growth rate