Abstract:

Abstract: In order to illustrate the effect of different plant hosts on nutrient function and activity of the esterase and carboxylesterase of Monochamus alternatus in the food replenishing period, M. alternatus was fed respectively with Pinus massoniana, Cedrus deodara, P. teada, P. elliottii and P. thunbergii. The results showed that there were significant differences in the nutrient status, and activity of the esterase and carboxylesterase of the insect fed with the five different plants. The insects fed with P. massoniana or C. deodara gained body mass from the fifth day after eclosion, and others fed with the other three plants gain mass from the seventh day. The relative consumption rate, relative metabolic rate and efficiency of conversion of ingested food of the adult fed with P. massoniana were higher than those fed with the other four plants. Furthermore, enzyme activity of esterase and carboxylesterase of the M. alternatus fed with P. massoniana significantly higher than those fed with the other four plants. The experiment demonstrated that P. massoniana was the most preference plant for M. alternatus in food replenishing period

Key words: Key words: Monochamus alternatus, plant hosts, nutritional indices, esterase, carboxylesterase