Preference of brinjal hadda beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) to different solanaceous weed plant hosts

Surveys were conducted to record the incidence of hadda beetle Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata on Solanaceous weed hosts during the brinjal off-season during 2021 and 2022. The maximum mean population of hadda beetle was recorded on Physalis angulata (20.59) followed by Solanum trilobatum (6.88), Datura metal (6.26) and Solanum nigrum (6.06). The preference and biology of hadda beetle observed on the solanaceous weed hosts at the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India. Feeding preference towards the solanaceous hosts was P.angulata >S. nigrum>S. trilobatum>D. metal. The oviposition preference was P.angulata >D. metal>S. nigrum>S. trilobatum.The shotest total larval period was on P.angulata(12.55 days) followed by S. nigrum (13.30 days), S. trilobatum (14.30 days) and D. metal (15.75 days). The maximum female longevity observed on P. angulata (54.35 days) followed by S. nigrum (52.30 days), D. metal (37.20 days) and S. trilobatum (36.20 days). Similarly, the longevity male was maximum on P. angulata (56.55 days) followed by S. nigrum (53.60 days), S. trilobatum (40.40 days) and D. metal (35.25 days).