Ecology and Evolutionary History of Diabrotica Beetles-Overview and Update.

Astrid Eben

doi:10.3390/insects13020156

Abstract

Simple SummaryThis review provides an overview on selected aspects of the ecology and biology of Diabrotica leaf beetles. A special focus is on the western corn rootworm as a major pest insect on corn. Furthermore, general information on host plant relationships and natural enemies of this beetle group is presented. Current knowledge of these leaf beetles is mostly focused on a limited number of economically important species. For the majority of the species in the group little to nothing is known about their biology and their host plants. This information, however, could be useful for future plant breeding programs and pest control strategies.An overview is given on several aspects of evolutionary history, ecology, host plant use, and pharmacophagy of Diabrotica spp. with a focus on the evolution of host plant breadth and effects of plant compounds on natural enemies used for biocontrol of pest species in the group. Recent studies on each aspect are discussed, latest publications on taxonomic grouping of Diabrotica spp., and new findings on variations in the susceptibility of corn varieties to root feeding beetle larvae are presented. The further need for in-depth research on biology and ecology of the large number of non-pest species in the genus is pointed out.

Highlights

IntroductionLeaf beetles of the section Diabroticites (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Luperini) comprise 823 species
The majority of species (n = 354) are grouped in the fucata group, and these species are supposed to be polyphagous on a number of plant families and multivoltine with more than one generation per year, while fewer of the Diabrotica spp
Species of the genus Diabrotica are native to North and South America [2], with the greatest diversity found in Mexico and in Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Leaf beetles of the section Diabroticites (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Luperini) comprise 823 species. Species of the genus Diabrotica are native to North and South America [2], with the greatest diversity found in Mexico and in Brazil. In the 1990s, this species was accidentally brought to Serbia, in Eastern Europe, where it quickly spread over large parts of eastern and central Europe and became a threat to the corn-growing regions foremost in Hungary and Germany [12–16]. In those newly invaded regions, cultivating corn in a two- or three-year rotation with non-monocotyledon crops made it possible to maintain the populations of D. v. Kingdom [19], whereas in France and Germany, for example, populations are maintained below levels of economic damage due to intensive monitoring efforts and corn rotation strategies with particular regulations for each susceptible region and country [18]

Life Cycle

Host Plant Use—Plant Resistance

Evolutionary History

Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Relationships

Natural Enemies of Diabroticites—Old and New Findings

Conclusions