Seasonal host shifts based on midgut residues of Protaetia brevitarsis

Abstract

White-spotted flower chafer adult (Protaetia brevitarsis), a serious omnivorous pest in regions with multiple fruits and crops, to gain a deeper understanding of its harmful patterns, we used DNA molecular tracking technology to identify host plant residues in the midgut of adult and determined their preferred plant species during the growing season. The combined results for 2019 and 2021 show that adults fed on 32 plant species among 23 families in multi-cropped regions, with a preference for grapes (Vitis vinifera; 40%), peach (Prunus perisica; 23%), and mulberry (Morus alba; 14%). Some adults fed on multiple plant hosts, with four species detected in one adult and two to three species detected in one-third of adults. Adults shifted among host species during the season, from mulberry or grape to peach and then back to grape. These results provide a scientific basis for in-depth research to develop green integrated control technologies against P. brevitarsis adults.