Oviposition preference and larval performance of Aeolesthes sarta (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in six hardwood tree species

Sarta longhorned beetle (SLB), Aeolesthes sarta Solsky, is an economically important pest of fruit and shade trees in central and east Asia. Choice, no-choice, and larval insertion experiments were conducted to determine SLB oviposition preference and larval host suitability on six hardwood tree species including Ulmus carpinifolia Borkh., Ulmus carpinifolia var. umbraculifera Rehd., Platanus orientalis L., Populus alba L., Salix alba L., and Fraxinus rotundifolia Miller subsp. persica (Boiss.), under laboratory conditions. In the choice and no-choice experiments, significantly greater numbers of eggs and living larvae, and greater mass of living larvae were found on U. carpinifolia and U. carpinifolia var. umbraculifera compared to those on the other tree species. In the choice experiment, oviposition did not occur on F. rotundifolia subsp. persica . There were a few eggs on P. alba but no living larvae. The mean mass of living larvae was lowest on P. orientalis . In addition, in the no-choice experiment significantly fewer numbers and mass of living larvae were found in P. alba and F. rotundifolia subsp. persica . In the larval insertion experiment, more larvae survived on U. carpinifolia and U. carpinifolia var. umbraculifera compared to the other trees. Larvae recovered from U. carpinifolia and U. carpinifolia var. umbraculifera weighed significantly more than larvae from the other trees. These results suggest that U. carpinifolia and U. carpinifolia var. umbraculifera are the most preferred and suitable hosts for SLB adults and larvae. Salix alba is an acceptable host for adult oviposition and a potentially suitable host for larval development. Platanus orientalis and P. alba are less suitable, and F. rotundifolia subsp. persica appeared to be unsuitable as a host for SLB.