两种野生寄主对马铃薯甲虫繁殖策略及后代生长发育的影响

为明确野生寄主植物对马铃薯甲虫种群繁殖及生长发育方面的影响,本研究比较了天仙子、刺萼龙葵2种野生寄主对马铃薯甲虫产卵量、孵化率、发育历期以及种群生命参数的影响.结果表明:取食不同寄主植物的马铃薯甲虫产卵量和孵化率均有显著差异(P＜0.05),卵期无显著差异(P＞0.05),取食天仙子的雌虫产卵量显著低于取食马铃薯和刺萼龙葵雌虫产卵量;1龄幼虫的存活率有显著性差异(P＜0.05),取食天仙子的雌虫的下一代1龄幼虫存活率显著低于其他寄主植物1龄幼虫;取食不同寄主植物的下一代马铃薯甲虫种群净增值率(R0)、内禀增长率(rm)、周限增长率(λ)都有显著差异(P＜0.05),世代平均周期(T)无显著性差异(P＞0.05);取食天仙子的马铃薯甲虫下一代种群净增值率(R0)、内禀增长率(rm)、周限增长率(λ)显著小于取食马铃薯、刺萼龙葵的下一代种群.由此可知,天仙子作为马铃薯甲虫野生过渡寄主植物,对马铃薯甲虫种群繁殖策略的作用弱于马铃薯和刺萼龙葵.在马铃薯甲虫前沿分布区,应进一步加强对刺萼龙葵野生寄主的铲除,防止马铃薯甲虫种群进一步扩散,保障马铃薯产业健康发展和粮食安全.     

不同寄主植物对马铃薯甲虫的引诱作用

随着马铃薯甲虫不断扩展其分布范围,其对寄主的适应性也在发生变化。在我国,马铃薯甲虫的主要寄主植物是马铃薯、茄子、番茄和天仙子。为进一步明确马铃薯甲虫对不同寄主植物的嗜食程度,研究了以上4种寄主植物对马铃薯甲虫的引诱作用,以及取食量的影响,同时进行了田间寄主选择性的调查。选择性试验结果表明:不同寄主植物对马铃薯甲虫的引诱作用差异显著,其中马铃薯、天仙子引诱作用显著高于茄子和番茄;取食量研究结果表明:马铃薯甲虫各龄期对不同寄主24 h取食量的大小依次为:马铃薯>茄子>天仙子>番茄;1—2龄幼虫取食量小,3—4龄幼虫及成虫暴食寄主叶片,是马铃薯甲虫造成危害的主要阶段。     

栎黄枯叶蛾生长发育与几种寄主内含物的关系

【目的】探讨饲喂不同寄主植物对栎黄枯叶蛾Trabala vishnou gigantina Yang生长发育及繁殖的影响,分析寄主植物内含物与其生长发育及繁殖的关系,为研究不同寄主植物对栎黄枯叶蛾种群动态的影响提供理论依据。【方法】在室内条件下,利用沙棘Hippophae rhamnoides、山杏Armeniaca sibirica、山杨Populus davidiana、旱柳Salix matsudana饲养该虫,观察幼虫发育历期、蛹历期、蛹重及产卵量等指标,同时测定寄主叶片中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质、水分、单宁及黄酮的含量,并进行线性回归分析。【结果】不同寄主植物饲喂栎黄枯叶蛾幼虫的发育历期、蛹历期、蛹重及产卵量均存在显著差异。取食沙棘的幼虫历期最短,仅为(74.50?1.76)d,而取食旱柳历期最长,达(106.00?1.51)d。取食山杨的蛹历期最长,为(44.00?1.41)d,最短的是取食旱柳的,仅为(32.70?3.13)d。饲喂沙棘和山杏的雌、雄蛹重和成虫产卵量显著高于饲喂山杨和旱柳的。对不同寄主的营养物质、次生物质和水分含量测定结果表明:不同寄主间营养物质、次生物质与水分的含量差异显著。回归相关分析表明:幼虫发育历期与寄主植物可溶性蛋白质含量呈显著负相关;雌蛹重和产卵量与寄主植物可溶性糖含量呈显著负相关;雌、雄蛹重与寄主植物含水量呈显著正相关;蛹历期与单宁含量呈显著正相关,但黄酮含量的高低与栎黄枯叶蛾生长发育等指标无相关性。【结论】沙棘是栎黄枯叶蛾生长发育及繁殖的最适寄主植物;并且寄主植物中可溶性糖、单宁的含量低、含水量和可溶性蛋白质含量高有利于栎黄枯叶蛾的生长发育和繁殖。     

桔小实蝇和番石榴实蝇对6种寄主果实的产卵选择适应性

植食性昆虫对寄主植物的选择适应性是研究昆虫和植物协同进化关系的核心内容之一。评估寄主植物对植食性昆虫种群的适合度,需要综合分析昆虫对寄主的产卵选择性和寄主对昆虫的取食适合性。以桔小实蝇和番石榴实蝇为研究对象,分别测定了这两种实蝇对6种寄主果实:番石榴、香蕉、杨桃、木瓜、甜橙、番茄的产卵选择性以及幼虫取食后对其生长发育的影响。寄主产卵选择性实验分别采用完整寄主果实直接供试产卵和块状寄主果实气味引诱产卵两种处理方式;在生长发育适应性实验中,以幼虫和蛹的存活和生长发育等相关参数作为评价指标。实验结果表明,寄主的供试方式不同,两种实蝇的选择性均有明显差异;对寄主气味选择性强的寄主更适合于两种实蝇后代的生长发育。两种实蝇对6种寄主果实的产卵选择性和后代发育适合性两者相关性不显著,与许多文献报道单一地采用发育适合性(如发育历期、存活率或蛹重等)作为评价寄主选择性的结果不一致。两种实蝇之间对6种寄主果实的产卵选择和幼虫取食适合性既具相似性也具差异性,表明这两种实蝇在寄主生态位上既有重叠性又有分化性。     

草地贪夜蛾对2种豆科蔬菜的取食和产卵选择性及其适应性研究

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda是一种多食性昆虫,为明确该害虫对不同寄主的选择性和适生性,本文比较了草地贪夜蛾对玉米Zea mays、豇豆Vigna unguiculata和四季豆Phaseolus vulgaris等3种寄主的取食及产卵偏好性,并分析了取食不同寄主对其生长发育及繁殖的影响。结果表明：草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫（初孵幼虫和2龄）对玉米叶和豇豆叶表现出取食偏好性,而高龄幼虫（3龄和5龄）对3种寄主不同组织的取食选择性无明显差异;草地贪夜蛾取食3种寄主植物均可以完成世代发育,但取食豇豆叶和四季豆叶的幼虫历期、蛹历期显著变短,化蛹率、羽化率显著降低;取食豇豆叶对其蛹重、成虫寿命无显著影响,但取食四季豆叶的蛹重显著变轻、雄成虫寿命显著变短;种群生命表参数显示,草地贪夜蛾在3种寄主上的繁殖力表现为玉米叶（1 138.29）>豇豆叶（1 179.00）>四季豆叶（585.50）,处理间差异显著;取食2种非嗜好寄主的种群内禀增长率（rm）和周限增长率（λ）均显著降低,平均世代历期（T）显著延长,取食豇豆叶的雌雄性比显著降低;草地贪夜蛾对寄主玉米具有明显的产卵偏好性,选择豇豆和四季豆的产卵量仅占植物着卵量的4.19%和18.23%,显著低于玉米着卵量。结果表明草地贪夜蛾偏好选择玉米进行取食和产卵,但在豇豆和四季豆寄主植物上可以实现种群繁衍,当其种群密度大时存在转移为害豇豆和四季豆的潜在风险。     

新烟碱类杀虫剂拌种对马铃薯甲虫幼虫食物利用和生长发育的影响

为研究马铃薯甲虫Leptinotarsa decemlineata（Say）幼虫取食新烟碱杀虫剂噻虫嗪和吡虫啉处理（有效成分18 g/100 kg种薯拌种）播种90 d后马铃薯叶片的消化吸收和生长发育情况,在室内采用重量法测定了幼虫取食量、体重增加量、食物利用率,近似消化率以及蛹重等营养指标。 结果表明：70%噻虫嗪种子处理可分散粉剂拌种后,马铃薯甲虫幼虫的取食量、体重增加量、食物利用率、食物转化率、近似消化率和相对生长率以及蛹重显著低于10%吡虫啉可湿性粉剂拌种和空白对照（P＜0.05）,发育历期显著长于10%吡虫啉可湿性粉剂拌种和空白对照（P＜0.05）;而10%吡虫啉可湿性粉剂拌种后,马铃薯甲虫幼虫的取食量和3～4龄期的体重增加量与空白对照差异显著（P＜0.05）,蛹重、1～2龄幼虫的体重增长量、食物利用率、食物转化率、近似消化率、相对生长率和生长发育历期与空白对照差异不显著（P＞0.05）。 说明70%噻虫嗪种子处理可分散粉剂拌种对马铃薯甲虫幼虫的取食有显著抑制作用,不能很好地满足其生长发育营养物质的需要,幼虫取食其叶片后,近似消化率和相对生长速率显著降低,生长发育历期显著延长。 这有利于减少当季世代数,降低危害。     

寄主植物对亚洲玉米螟生长发育及雄蛾保护酶活性的影响

【目的】为了明确不同寄主植物对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)生长发育、繁殖及雄蛾保护酶活性的影响。【方法】在温度为(25±5)℃、湿度为75%±5%、光照周期为L∶D=16∶8的恒定条件下,研究了7科12种寄主植物对亚洲玉米螟发育历期、蛹期、成虫期、羽化率、雌蛾繁殖力及雄蛾体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力的影响。【结果】亚洲玉米螟能够在12种寄主植物上完成生长发育。取食苍耳的幼虫历期较短(17.4 d),蛹期较短(5.9 d);成虫寿命较长(9.0 d),蛹重较大(50.7 mg);取食油菜的幼虫单雌产卵量较大(210粒/雌),取食油菜和油麦菜的幼虫成活率和蛹羽化率较高,均在80.0%以上。幼虫取食不同植物后,雄蛾体内保护酶的活性差异显著,幼虫取食酸模叶蓼后,雄蛾体内SOD活性较高,幼虫取食苍耳后,雄蛾体内POD和CAT活性较高。【结论】不同寄主植物对亚洲玉米螟生长发育、繁殖及雄蛾保护酶活性均有显著影响。取食苍耳和酸模叶蓼有利于亚洲玉米螟的生长发育。玉米螟在不同寄主植物上的生长发育和繁殖与保护酶活性呈现正相关性。亚洲玉米螟在取食不同寄主植物时,能调节自身保护酶的活性,来适应寄主,满足生长发育的需要。     

寄主植物对B型烟粉虱形态学和生物学特性的影响

为了解B型烟粉虱(Bemisiatabaci)在不同寄主植物上的生物学特性,以制定科学的综合治理措施,作者在271℃的条件下,研究测定了B型烟粉虱在棉花(Gossypiumhirsutum)、一品红(Euphorbiapulcherrima)、甘蓝(Brassicaoleraceavar.capitata)、黄瓜(Cucumissativus)、西葫芦(Cucurbitapepo)、茄子(Solanummelongena)和番茄(Lycopersiconesculentum)上各虫态大小、成活率、发育历期、成虫寿命、平均产卵量等生物学参数。结果表明:取食不同寄主植物的烟粉虱伪蛹在黄瓜和棉花上体型最大,在一品红上最小;烟粉虱从卵到成虫羽化,发育历期以在一品红上最长(22.0d),黄瓜上最短(17.3d);平均单雌产卵量以在番茄上最多(266.5粒/雌),一品红上最少(112.9粒/雌);成虫的寿命在番茄、黄瓜和茄子上显著长于在其他4种寄主植物上。烟粉虱从卵发育到成虫的存活率以在黄瓜上最高(77.8%),西葫芦上最低(55.6%),两者差异显著。综合比较7种寄主植物,黄瓜是烟粉虱种群生长发育和繁殖的最适寄主。     

马铃薯甲虫幼虫

正马铃薯甲虫Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)是世界著名的入侵害虫,也是我国禁止进境检疫性有害生物和全国农业植物检疫性有害生物。该虫隶属于鞘翅目Coleoptera、叶甲科Chrysomelidae,对马铃薯可造成毁灭性危害,其成虫和幼虫也危害和取食茄子、番茄、天仙子和刺萼龙葵等。马铃薯     

温度对沙蒿金叶甲生长发育和繁殖的影响

为了明确温度对沙蒿金叶甲Chrysolina aeruginosa Faldermann生长发育和繁殖的影响, 本实验在恒温条件（13, 18, 23, 28和33℃）下, 以白沙蒿Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch为寄主植物, 研究了温度对沙蒿金叶甲实验种群生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明： 温度对沙蒿金叶甲各虫态的发育历期、 存活率以及种群繁殖力有显著影响。在13～28℃范围内, 各虫态的发育历期均随温度的升高而缩短, 发育速率与温度呈显著正相关。但是, 当温度上升至33℃时, 幼虫和蛹生长发育受到抑制, 其幼虫发育历期与18℃, 23℃和28℃下相比延长并达到了显著差异水平(P<0.05), 成虫不能羽化出土; 低温影响沙蒿金叶甲卵的存活率, 高温影响其蛹的存活率, 说明温度过高或过低均不利于沙蒿金叶甲的生长发育。成虫产卵量随环境温度变化的大小顺序为28℃＞23℃＞18℃＞13℃, 并存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。由直接最优法计算得到沙蒿金叶甲卵期、 1-3龄幼虫期、 4龄幼虫+蛹期的发育起点温度分别为9.72℃, 7.11℃和8.77℃, 有效积温依次为115.36, 441.91和448.40日·度。研究结果为沙蒿金叶甲发生期的预测预报提供了基础参考数据, 对指导生产实践有实际的应用意义。     

Host plant choice experiments of Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Virginia

Field and laboratory-choice experiments were conducted to understand aspects of host plant orientation by the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in Virginia. In laboratory bioassays, L. decemlineata oriented to volatiles emitted by potato, Solanum tuberosum L., foliage over both tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum L., and eggplant, Solanum melongena L., foliage, and eggplant over tomato foliage, all of which had been mechanically damaged. Field choice tests revealed more L. decemlineata adults, larvae, and egg masses on eggplant than on tomato. In other experiments, counts of live L. decemlineata on untreated paired plants and counts of dead beetles on imidacloprid-treated plants did not differ between potato and eggplant. L. decemlineata was significantly attracted to eggplant over both tomato and pepper. To determine whether feeding adults affected orientation to host plants, an imidacloprid-treated eggplant or potato plant was paired with an untreated eggplant or potato plant covered in a mesh bag containing two adult male beetles. Significantly more adults were attracted to eggplant with feeding male beetles paired with another eggplant than any other treatment combination. These results indicate that the presence of male L. decemlineata on plants affects host plant orientation and suggests that the male-produced aggregation pheromone may be involved.     

Pymetrozine causes a nontarget pest, the Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), to leave potato plants

Pymetrozine is a selective insecticide that targets aphids. Published assessments of the effects of pymetrozine on nontarget organisms focus mainly on predatory insects, and they rarely indicate toxicity. In a laboratory bioassay, survival of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), larvae was not affected by pymetrozine exposure. We subsequently used pymetrozine to implement low-aphid-density treatments in a field experiment that involved separate manipulations of Colorado potato beetle density. Unexpectedly, the addition of Colorado potato beetle adults and eggs did not increase the densities of Colorado potato beetle larvae in plots that were sprayed with pymetrozine (applied with water and an adjuvant). In control plots sprayed with water and adjuvant (without pymetrozine), addition of Colorado potato beetles increased densities of their larvae. Data collected on a smaller scale suggest that a behavioral mechanism underlies the population-level pattern: Colorado potato beetle larvae become more active and are less likely to remain on a host plant after exposure to pymetrozine. Thus, potato, Solanum tuberosum L., growers who use pymetrozine against aphids also might benefit in terms of Colorado potato beetle control.     

Potato field colonization by low-density populations of Colorado potato beetle as a function of crop rotation distance

Monitoring of 10 and 12 commercial potato, Solanum tuberosum L., fields in 2004 and 2005, respectively, confirmed for a low-density population of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), that potato fields nearest to the previous year's potato fields are significantly more colonized by this beetle than more distant fields. This pattern is partially explained by the presence of a reservoir of colonizers estimated at 35% of the season-long colonizing population in 2004 and 2005. These beetles, which emerged before potato plants broke the ground, were ready to establish themselves on nearby potato plants. The colonizing Colorado potato beetles dispersed within the maximum range of 1.5 km over a season, and the colonization risk for the new crop decreased with distance from the previous year's crop. There was no evidence that rotation distance delayed colonization. In terms of pest management, although the findings confirm that only long 1.5-km rotations can prevent Colorado potato beetle colonization, they also demonstrate that short rotations of 100 m or more can make substantial contributions to pest management programs for low-density beetle populations.     

短时低温对马铃薯甲虫种群增长的影响

[目的]马铃薯甲虫Leptinotarsa decemlineata是我国重要的检疫性害虫,对茄科植物危害严重.本研究旨在明确出现倒春寒短时低温对马铃薯甲虫种群增长的影响.[方法]马铃薯甲虫卵在8℃下分别处理1,3和5d,以27℃下饲养的卵作为对照,调查卵孵化率及孵化后幼虫的生长发育和成虫繁殖情况,用种群参数评估短时低...     

Flight take-off performance of Colorado potato beetle in relation to potato phenology

The flight take-off frequency of adult Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), from potato plants, Solanum tuberosum L. 'Red Pontiac' at the bloom stage of development was 2.2-2.5-fold that of Colorado potato beetle from plants at the vegetative stage. Tests were conducted in a flight chamber over a period of 3 h. Prefeeding Colorado potato beetles for 48 h on potato plants at the bloom or at the vegetative stage before placing them into the flight chamber resulted in the same significantly higher flight take-off frequency from potato plants at the bloom stage than from plants at the vegetative stage. These results demonstrate that the factor in potato plants in bloom that stimulates the flight take-off of the Colorado potato beetle is independent of the feeding history of the beetles and begins acting only when the beetles are in the presence of the plant. According to these results, the dispersal of adult Colorado potato beetles from potato fields in bloom to younger potato fields with plants at the vegetative stage, previously reported in the literature, is at least partly explained by the effect of plant phenology on the frequency of flight take-off. Results confirm the value of planting potato fields of similar phenology over as wide an area as possible to reduce Colorado potato beetle dispersal between fields. Results also imply that staggering the planting dates of conventional potato refuge areas near Colorado potato beetle transgenic or conventionally resistant potato fields is a sound management practice, because it promotes the movement of wild beetles over to the adjacent younger resistant crops.     

Effects of temperature on survival and preimaginal development rates of Colorado potato beetle on potato and horse-nettle: potential role in host range expansion

The effect of temperature on the ability of Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Say) to use horse-nettle (Solanum carolinense L.) as a host plant was determined for larvae from colonies originating from two geographically separated populations, one adapted to horse-nettle (NC) and the other unadapted to horse-nettle (MA). Survival and developmental rate on horse-nettle and potato were measured for larvae from both colonies over a range of constant temperatures (12–30 °C) and one fluctuating temperature regime (22 °C to 30 °C). The ability of Colorado potato beetles to use horse-nettle as a larval host was strongly influenced by temperature, but the effects of temperature differed greatly between beetles from the two colonies. Survival of adapted larvae on horse-nettle was highest and comparable to that on potato at the constant 30 °C and the fluctuating temperature regime. Below 30 °C, survival of adapted larvae decreased drastically but some larvae survived at all temperatures except the lowest (12 °C). In contrast, survival of unadapted larvae to adult occurred only at 30 °C, and was low (10%). At lower temperatures, all larvae died. On potato, the effect of temperature was less dramatic, and consistent across colonies. At 12 °C, survival to adult was poor (ca. 10%), but at higher temperatures, survival increased sharply and larvae from both colonies survived equally well. On potato, small but statistically significant differences in developmental rates between beetle colonies were detected at the constant but not at the fluctuating temperature regimes. Also, the developmental day degree requirements (DD) and the low temperature development threshold (T0) values for the various developmental stages did not differ between colonies on potato. On horse-nettle, development times for both colonies were always significantly longer and DD requirements were greater than on potato. At 30 °C, the only constant temperature at which larvae from the unadapted colony completed development, the development rate to adult emergence was similar to that of beetles from the adapted colony. Differences between colonies in performance on horse-nettle were not a result of host-independent, genetically based differences in the thermal requirements of the two populations. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that adaptation to horse-nettle by Colorado potato beetle may be facilitated by a genotype × environment interaction involving temperature. These findings have important implications for host plant utilization, host range expansion and selection of pest biotypes adapted to plant resistance traits used in crop protection.     

危害茄科蔬菜的外来入侵害虫——马铃薯甲虫

马铃薯甲虫是世界著名的入侵害虫,是我国的重要检疫性有害生物,主要危害马铃薯、茄子和西红柿等茄科蔬菜。该甲虫目前分布于美洲、欧洲和亚洲等30多个国家和地区,于1993年入侵我国新疆,到2010年扩散到36个县市,最前沿为木垒县。该文介绍了马铃薯甲虫的扩散历史、危害情况、发生规律以及防治措施,指出我国在西北方向遭受新疆马铃薯甲虫入侵内地威胁的同时,也在东北方向遭受俄罗斯滨海边区马铃薯甲虫对黑龙江及东北地区入侵的严重威胁,应加强防范。     

Components of tomato leaf homogenate suppress responses from galeal chemoreceptors of the adult Colorado potato beetle

Abstract. Effects of both potato and tomato residues (obtained following vacuum distillation of leaf homogenate) on responses to galeal chemosensilla of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), to trans- 2-hexenol, one of the leaf alcohols that stimulate a highly uniform gustatory response in this system, are described. Tomato residue suppressed the response to hexenol in a dose-dependent manner whereas potato residue had no effect. Suppression was detectable 0.3 s after the first application began and the normal response to hexenol recovered within 2 min. Alkaloids from potato (solanine) and tomato (tomarine) also suppressed the response to hexenol but the characteristic actions of these compounds could not fully explain the activity of the tomato residue. Constituents of tomato residue, in addition to tomatine, are probably responsible for its significant effect on galeal chemosensory responses and these probably comprise a complex set of active compounds that allow the Colorado potato beetle to distinguish potato and tomato leaves.     

Colorado potato beetles compensate for tomato cathepsin D inhibitor expressed in transgenic potato

We reported earlier the importance of digestive cathepsin D-like activity for initiating dietary protein hydrolysis in Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say [Brunelle et al. (1999) Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 42:88-98]. We assessed here whether transgenic lines of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) expressing a cathepsin D inhibitor (CDI) from tomato would show resistance to the beetle, or if the insect would compensate for the loss of cathepsin D activity after ingesting the recombinant inhibitor. Transgenic potato lines expressing tomato CDI were developed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens genetic transformation, and selected based on their relative amount of CDI. After confirming the absence of detectable visible effects of CDI on the plant's phenotype, diet assays with control and transgenic lines were carried out to assess the impact of the inhibitor on growth and development of the insect. Leaf consumption, relative growth rate, molting incidence, and digestive protease activity were monitored at 12-h intervals over 132 h for 3rd-instar larvae provided with transgenic potato foliage. Leaf consumption and relative growth rate were slightly reduced during the first 12 h for larvae fed CDI, but no significant differences were observed thereafter. In contrast, time for molting to the 4th larval stage was significantly longer for larvae fed modified plants, with developmental delays of approximately 10 h (0.5 day) compared to control larvae. Recombinant CDI also had an impact on the insect's digestive physiology, readily inducing overproduction of digestive proteases (rubiscases), followed by a gradual decrease of total and pepstatin-sensitive activity. Overall, these observations show the ability of Colorado potato beetle to compensate for the loss of cathepsin D activity by modulating its digestive protease complement in response to aspartate-type inhibitors in the diet. From a practical viewpoint, these data stress the importance of devising improved strategies for the effective inhibition of insect digestive proteinases in vivo, based on the use of hybrid inhibitors active against different protease classes.