An apparatus and method for determining feeding preferences of phytophagous flying insects

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of insect feeding preference test, and discloses a device and a method for measuring the feeding preference of phytophagous flying insects, which comprises a rearing box main body and a host fixing device located in the interior of the rearing box; a circular opening is formed in the top of the host fixing device; the internal cavity of the host fixing device is a nutrient solution storage cavity; the internal cavity of the host fixing device also has a host plant fixer; the host plant fixer comprises a fixing ring and a support; the lower end of different varieties of host plants is inserted into the fixing ring and into the nutrient solution storage cavity containing nutrient solution through the circular positioning hole. In the device, the host placing grooves are distributed at the bottom corners of the regular polygon, the branch exposure heights are consistent, and the nutrient solution storage cavity containing nutrient solution is equipped, so that the fairness of the feeding selection of the anoplophora chinensis is ensured, the freshness of the host branches can be effectively maintained, and the measurement result is more accurate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of insect feeding preference testing technology, and specifically to an apparatus and method for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects. Background Technology

[0002] Star longhorn beetle ( Anoplophora chinensis The Asian longhorn beetle (Spodoptera litura) is a highly destructive borer in forestry production. It damages numerous host plants, and accurately determining its feeding preferences is crucial for developing targeted control strategies, rationally allocating tree species, and implementing ecological regulation.

[0003] Currently, the main methods for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects, including the Asian longhorn beetle, are field observation and indoor rearing. Field observation is greatly affected by natural environmental factors, such as weather changes and other biological disturbances, making it difficult to guarantee the accuracy and repeatability of the results. Indoor rearing methods typically use simple equipment, often ordinary rearing boxes, lacking proper design in the placement of host plants. The Asian longhorn beetle's feeding choices are easily influenced by location factors, leading to unreliable results. Furthermore, existing methods are cumbersome to operate and difficult to efficiently measure multiple host plants simultaneously, significantly impacting experimental efficiency.

[0004] Furthermore, in the feeding behavior observation device, since the host plant material used was harvested from living plants, it gradually lost water and wilted over time during the experiment, leading to a decrease in tissue freshness. Simultaneously, key volatile substances within the plant that attract longhorn beetles also continuously volatilize and degrade, causing a gradual decrease in the content of effective components. These changes in physiological state and chemical signals may further interfere with the longhorn beetle's recognition and selection of host plants, thus affecting the natural expression of its feeding behavior and ultimately impacting the accuracy and reliability of the experimental results. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects, thereby solving the problems in the prior art where the determination of feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects is easily affected by environmental and location interference, and the host plant material is prone to deterioration and loss of key volatile substances, thus affecting the accuracy and reliability of the results.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects, the apparatus comprising a rearing box and a host fixing device located at the bottom corner of the rearing box; The host fixing device has a circular opening at its top; The internal cavity of the host fixation device is a nutrient solution storage cavity; The host fixing device also contains a host plant fixing device; The host plant fixation device includes a fixing ring and a support; The lower ends of different host plant varieties are passed through the circular opening and inserted into the nutrient solution storage cavity containing the nutrient solution through the fixing ring.

[0007] In one optional embodiment, the feeding box has a regular polygonal structure; The feeding box has an open top structure, with a removable mesh covering the top opening; Each side of the feeding box has a circular ventilation hole, which is covered with a removable mesh.

[0008] In one optional implementation, the regular polygon structure is selected from one of a triangle, a square, a regular pentagon, and a regular hexagon; The feeding box is made of transparent plastic sheet, with a thickness of 2-5mm, a height of 35-40cm, and an outer radius of 25-50cm; It should be noted that the transparent plastic sheet can be made of common transparent plastic sheets such as acrylic sheets and PVC sheets.

[0009] The detachable mesh has a mesh count of 20.0-30.0. The diameter of the vent hole is 8.0-10.0 cm; The center of the vent hole is located at the center of the side.

[0010] In one alternative embodiment, the host anchoring device is located at the bottom corner of the rearing box; The host fixing device is a regular polygonal structure, selected from one of the following: triangle, square, regular pentagon, and regular hexagon; The host fixing device is made of transparent plastic sheet, with a height of 2.5-3.0cm and an outer radius of 2-5cm; The diameter of the circular opening and the fixing ring is 0.8-1.5cm.

[0011] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a method for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects using the apparatus described in the first aspect, comprising the following steps: (1) Take the pretreated host plant branch, insert it into the fixing ring through the circular opening of the host fixing device, and insert it into the nutrient solution storage chamber containing the nutrient solution. (2) Take herbivorous flying insects, starve them, put them into the top center of the rearing box, cover them with a removable mesh, and place them in an artificial climate chamber for rearing.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, in step (1), the nutrient solution comprises: sucrose 15-22 g / L, diammonium citrate 0.6-1.2 g / L, potassium sulfate 0.2-0.5 g / L, gibberellin 10-15 mg / L, indolebutyric acid 5-9 mg / L, 6-benzylaminopurine 8-14 mg / L, potassium nitrate 0.4-0.7 g / L, potassium dihydrogen phosphate 0.35-0.50 g / L, calcium nitrate 0.30-0.45 g / L, magnesium sulfate 0.20-0.35 g / L, boric acid 20-35 mg / L, copper sulfate 2-5 mg / L, zinc sulfate 6-12 mg / L, sodium benzoate 0.4-0.6 g / L; the solvent is water. The concentration of sucrose can be any one of 15, 16, 18, 20, 22 mg / L or a range between any two values. The concentration of the diammonium citrate can be any one of 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 mg / L or a range between any two values; The concentration of potassium sulfate can be any one of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mg / L or a range between any two values; The concentration of the gibberellin can be any one of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 mg / L or a range between any two values. The concentration of indolebutyric acid can be any one of 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of 6-benzylaminopurine can be any one of 8, 10, 12, or 14 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of potassium nitrate can be any one of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 mg / L or a range between any two values; The concentration of potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be any one of 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, or 0.5 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of calcium nitrate can be any one of 0.3, 0.4, or 0.45 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of magnesium sulfate can be any one of 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, or 0.35 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of the boric acid can be any one of 20, 25, 30, or 35 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of copper sulfate can be any one of 2, 3, 4, or 5 mg / L, or a range between any two values. The concentration of zinc sulfate can be any one of 6, 8, 10, 12 mg / L or a range between any two values; The concentration of sodium benzoate can be any one of 0.4, 0.5, or 0.6 mg / L, or a range between any two values.

[0013] In one optional implementation, in step (1), the host plant includes, but is not limited to, Acer sanguinis, Prunus, Hickory, and Acer palmatum; And / or, the host plant branches are one-year-old branches that are in good condition and free from pests and diseases; And / or, the pretreatment is: pruning the host plant branches to a length of 12-15 cm; And / or, the volume of nutrient solution in the nutrient solution storage chamber is 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the volume of the nutrient solution storage chamber.

[0014] In one optional implementation, in step (2), the herbivorous flying insects are of normal activity and uniform size; And / or, the starvation treatment lasts for 24-48 hours; And / or, the rearing conditions in the artificial climate chamber are: temperature 23-27℃, relative humidity 60%-70%, light cycle of 12-16h light / 8-12h darkness, and rearing time of 24h.

[0015] In one alternative embodiment, the herbivorous flying insects include longhorn beetles, phyllobeta, scarab beetles, etc. In one alternative implementation, the longhorn beetle family includes *Stellaria media*, *Stellaria media var. glabra*, *Stellaria media var. gloriosa*, and *Stellaria media var. rosae*. In one alternative embodiment, the leaf beetle family includes *Spodoptera litura*, *Cyprinus fulvidraco*, and *Spodoptera litura*. In one alternative implementation, the superfamily Scarabaeidae includes the Dark-browed Scarabae, the Northern Black-browed Scarabae, and the Green-browed Scarabae.

[0016] In one alternative embodiment, 1-3 herbivorous flying insects are placed in the rearing box.

[0017] The technical solution of this invention has the following advantages: 1. This invention provides a device for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects. The device includes a rearing box body and a host fixing device located inside the rearing box. The top of the host fixing device has a circular opening. The internal cavity of the host fixing device is a nutrient solution storage chamber. The host fixing device also contains a host plant fixing device. The host plant fixing device includes a fixing ring and a support. The lower ends of different varieties of host plants are passed through the circular positioning hole, inserted into the fixing ring, and into the nutrient solution storage chamber containing the nutrient solution. The host placement slots are distributed at the base corners of a regular polygon, and the exposed branches are at a uniform height. The presence of a nutrient solution storage chamber ensures fairness in the feeding choices of herbivorous flying insects and effectively maintains the freshness of the host branches.

[0018] 2. The present invention provides a method for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects. The insects are raised in an artificial culture chamber, and environmental conditions are precisely controlled to avoid interference from natural environmental factors, thus improving the accuracy and repeatability of the results. The method uses an electronic balance to precisely measure the initial and remaining weight of branches to calculate the amount of food consumed, making the measurement of feeding preferences more intuitive and accurate. This overcomes the indirectness of traditional time-based measurements and enhances the persuasiveness of the data. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the device for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the host fixation device in the device for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the host plant fixation device in the host fixing device of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Reference numerals: 1. Host plant fixing device; 2. Circular opening; 3. Nutrient solution storage chamber; 4. Host plant fixing device; 5. Fixing ring; 6. Support; 7. Ventilation hole. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following embodiments are provided to better understand the present invention, but the following embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the content and scope of protection of the present invention. Any product that is the same as or similar to the present invention, derived by any person under the guidance of the present invention or by combining the features of the present invention with other prior art, falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Unless otherwise specified, all experimental steps or conditions in the examples were performed according to conventional experimental procedures and conditions in the art. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all commercially available products.

[0023] Example 1 This embodiment provides a device for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects, such as... Figure 1-3 As shown.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a rearing box and a host fixing device; the rearing box is a cube structure with an open top (each side is 40cm long, the circumscribed circle radius is approximately 28.284cm, the rearing box is made of transparent plastic sheet with a thickness of 2mm), and the top is covered with a removable mesh (mesh count: 20 mesh); each of the four sides of the rearing box has a circular ventilation hole with a diameter of 8cm at the center, and the ventilation hole is covered with mesh (mesh count: 20 mesh); like Figure 2 As shown, the host fixing device is a cube structure (each side is 3cm long, the radius of the circumscribed circle is about 2.121cm, the material of the host fixing device is a transparent plastic plate with a thickness of 2mm), located at the four bottom corners of the cube-shaped breeding box; there is a circular opening with a diameter of 1cm at the center of the top of the host fixing device, and the internal cavity is a nutrient solution storage chamber. like Figure 3 As shown, the host fixing device also contains a host plant fixing device (the host plant fixing device is made of transparent plastic), which includes a fixing ring and a bracket. One end of the bracket is fixed to the inner wall of the four sides of the host fixing device.

[0025] Example 2 This embodiment uses the apparatus of Embodiment 1 to provide a method for determining the feeding preferences of longhorn beetles, including the following steps: (1) Collection of adults: During the peak emergence period of adult longhorn beetles in June and July, adult longhorn beetles were collected from the Xiangjiaba Yangtze River Rare Plant Cultivation Base in Shuifu City, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province using insect-catching nets for later use. (2) Take one-year-old branches of Acer sanguinis, Prunus cerasifera, Caryota chinensis and Acer rubrum in good condition and free from pests and diseases. Trim the bottom of the branches flat and make them 15cm long. Weigh each branch with an electronic balance and record the initial weight (M1). Add plant nutrient solution (18.0g / L sucrose, 1.0g / L diammonium citrate, 0.4g / L potassium sulfate, 12mg / L gibberellin, 6mg / L indolebutyric acid, 12mg / L 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.60g / L potassium nitrate, 0.45g / L potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.40g / L calcium nitrate, 0.30g / L magnesium sulfate, 30mg / L boric acid, 4mg / L copper sulfate, 10mg / L zinc sulfate, 0.50g / L sodium benzoate) to the nutrient solution. The liquid level of the nutrient solution is 2cm. Place the branches into four host fixing devices. (3) Select one healthy, active, and uniformly sized adult longhorn beetle. After starvation treatment for 24 hours, put it into the rearing box from the top center and cover it with a mesh screen. Repeat this process 3 times.

[0026] (4) Place the breeding box in an artificial climate chamber, set the temperature to (25±2)℃, the relative humidity to 65%, and the light time to 16h light and 8h darkness; after 24h of cultivation, take out the host branch, weigh it and record the weight (M2).

[0027] Comparative Example 1 This comparative example uses the apparatus of Example 1 to provide a method for determining the feeding preferences of longhorn beetles. The steps and parameters are the same as in Example 2, except that in step (2), no nutrient solution is added to the nutrient solution storage chamber.

[0028] Experimental Example 1 1. Results of food intake Example 2 was used as experimental group 1, and Comparative Example 1 was used as experimental group 2. The experiment was conducted using their respective methods, and the initial mass (M1) and mass (M2) of the branches after 1 day of feeding were recorded. Control group 1 was set up, and other conditions were the same as in Example 2, except that no adult longhorn beetles were introduced. The initial mass (M) and the mass (M0) of the branches after 1 day were recorded, and the results were repeated 3 times. Control group 2 was set up, with other conditions the same as comparative example 1, except that no adult longhorn beetles were introduced, and the initial mass (M) and the mass (M0) of the branches were recorded, with 3 replicates. The calculation formula is as follows: E = (M - M0) / M × 100; M q = (M1-M2)×(1+E); Where E is the water loss rate, M is the initial mass of the control group branches, M0 is the mass of the control group branches after 1 day; M1 is the initial mass of the experimental group branches, and M2 is the mass of the experimental group branches after 1 day of feeding.

[0029] The results are shown in Table 1.

[0030] Table 1. Feed intake results of the Asian longhorn beetle.

[0031] 2. Food preference assessment The feeding preference index of the Asian longhorn beetle for each host species was calculated based on its food intake, using the following formula: Feeding preference index = (Amount of food consumed by the Asian longhorn beetle on a particular host / Total amount of food consumed) × 100%; The feeding preference index was used to determine the degree of feeding preference of the Asian longhorn beetle for these four host plants.

[0032] The food preference index of experimental group 1 was calculated as follows: Total food intake = 10.22 + 2.89 + 6.81 + 4.53 = 24.45g; The feeding preference index of Acer sanxiaense is approximately 41.80% (10.22 / 24.45) × 100%. Li's food preference index = (2.89 / 24.45) × 100% ≈ 11.82%; Pecan consumption preference index = (6.81 / 24.45) × 100% ≈ 27.85%; Red maple feeding preference index = (4.53 / 24.45) × 100% ≈ 18.53%; The data above shows that the feeding preferences of the Asian longhorn beetle for the four host plants, from highest to lowest, are: *Acer sanguisorba* (41.80%) > *Juglans regia* (27.85%) > *Acer rubrum* (18.53%) > *Prunus cerasifera* (11.82%). This result indicates that *Acer sanguisorba* is the most preferred host plant of the Asian longhorn beetle, while *Prunus cerasifera* is its least preferred host plant. This method, with standardized operating procedures and using feeding amount as the core indicator, objectively reflects the feeding preferences of the Asian longhorn beetle, providing a scientific basis for targeted control of the Asian longhorn beetle and the rational allocation of host plants.

[0033] The food preference index of experimental group 2 was calculated as follows: Total food intake = 7.80 + 3.14 + 5.51 + 3.95 = 20.4g; The feeding preference index of Acer sanxiaense is approximately 38.24% (7.8 / 20.4) × 100%. Li's food preference index = (3.14 / 20.4) × 100% ≈ 15.39%; Pecan consumption preference index = (5.51 / 20.4) × 100% ≈ 27.01%; Red maple feeding preference index = (3.95 / 20.4) × 100% ≈ 19.36%; Based on the data above, the feeding preferences of the Asian longhorn beetle for the four host plants, from highest to lowest, are: Acer sanguinis (38.24%) > Hickory (27.01%) > Acer palmatum (19.36%) > Prunus persica (15.39%). This result indicates that Acer sanguinis is the most preferred host plant of the Asian longhorn beetle, while Prunus persica is its least preferred host plant; however, the amount consumed by each plant is less than that in experimental group 1.

[0034] The sum of food intake and food preference index of experimental groups 1 and 2 is shown in Table 2.

[0035] Table 2. Results of food intake and food preference index in experimental groups 1 and 2.

[0036] Table 2 shows that in experimental group 1, where the host branches were kept fresh using nutrient solution, the consumption of the four host plants by the Asian longhorn beetle was higher than in experimental group 2, where no nutrient solution was used for preservation. This indicates that the Asian longhorn beetle is more active in feeding when the branches are fresh. Conversely, wilting of the host plants due to water loss may lead to the volatilization or degradation of key volatile substances released by them, thus biasing the results of the feeding preference measurement.

[0037] Although the feeding preference order of the Asian longhorn beetle for the four host plants was consistent under both conditions (all three-leaved maple > hickory > red maple > plum), the feeding amount and preference index for red maple and plum, which showed lower preference, were relatively similar between groups, indicating a close feeding intention. Therefore, if nutrient solution preservation is not used and feeding preference is only measured for these two plants, the results may have significant uncertainties.

[0038] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A device for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects, characterized in that, The device includes a rearing box body and a host fixing device (1) located inside the rearing box; The host fixing device (1) has a circular opening (2) at its top. The internal cavity of the host fixation device (1) is a nutrient solution storage cavity (3). The host fixing device (1) also contains a host plant fixing device (4). The host plant fixation device (4) includes a fixing ring (5) and a support (6); The lower ends of different host plants are passed through the circular positioning hole (2), inserted into the fixing ring (5), and into the nutrient solution storage cavity (3) containing the nutrient solution.

2. The apparatus for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding box has a regular polygonal structure; The feeding box has an open top structure, with a removable mesh covering the top opening; Each side of the feeding box has a ventilation hole (7), and a removable mesh is covered over the ventilation hole (7).

3. The apparatus for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects according to claim 2, characterized in that, The regular polygon structure is selected from one of the following: triangle, square, regular pentagon, and regular hexagon; The feeding box is made of transparent plastic sheet, with a thickness of 2-5mm, a height of 35-40cm, and an outer radius of 25-50cm; The detachable mesh has a mesh count of 20.0-30.

0. The diameter of the vent (7) is 8.0-10.0 cm; The center of the vent (7) is located at the center of the side.

4. The apparatus for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects according to claim 1, characterized in that, The host fixing device (1) is located at the bottom corner of the breeding box; The host fixing device (1) is a regular polygonal structure, selected from one of the following: triangle, square, regular pentagon, and regular hexagon; The host fixing device (1) is made of transparent plastic sheet with a thickness of 2-5mm, a height of 2.5-3.0cm, and an outer radius of 2-5cm; The diameter of the circular opening (2) and the fixing ring (5) is 0.8-1.5cm.

5. A method for determining the feeding preferences of herbivorous flying insects using the apparatus described in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Take a pretreated host plant branch and insert it into the nutrient solution storage chamber (3) containing nutrient solution through the circular opening (2) of the host fixing device (1) and the fixing ring (5); (2) Take herbivorous flying insects, starve them, put them into the top center of the rearing box, cover them with a removable mesh, and place them in an artificial climate chamber for rearing.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step (1), the nutrient solution comprises: sucrose 15-22 g / L, diammonium citrate 0.6-1.2 g / L, potassium sulfate 0.2-0.5 g / L, gibberellin 10-15 mg / L, indolebutyric acid 5-9 mg / L, 6-benzylaminopurine 8-14 mg / L, potassium nitrate 0.4-0.7 g / L, potassium dihydrogen phosphate 0.35-0.50 g / L, calcium nitrate 0.30-0.45 g / L, magnesium sulfate 0.20-0.35 g / L, boric acid 20-35 mg / L, copper sulfate 2-5 mg / L, zinc sulfate 6-12 mg / L, and sodium benzoate 0.4-0.6 g / L; the solvent is water.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step (1), the host plants include, but are not limited to, Acer sanguinis, Prunus, Hickory, and Acer palmatum; And / or, the host plant branches are one-year-old branches that are in good condition and free from pests and diseases; And / or, the pretreatment is: pruning the host plant branches to a length of 12-15 cm; And / or, the volume of nutrient solution in the nutrient solution storage chamber is 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the volume of the nutrient solution storage chamber.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, In step (2), the herbivorous flying insects have normal activity levels and are of uniform size; And / or, the starvation treatment lasts for 24-48 hours; And / or, the rearing conditions in the artificial climate chamber are: temperature 23-27℃, relative humidity 60%-70%, light cycle of 12-16h light / 8-12h darkness, and rearing time of 24h.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that, The herbivorous flying insects include those belonging to the families Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, and Scarabaeoidea.

10. The method according to any one of claims 5-9, characterized in that, Place 1-3 herbivorous flying insects into the rearing box.

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