Resistance in Soybeans to the Mexican Bean Beetle: II. Reactions of the Beetle to Resistant Plants1

Abstract

Mexican bean beetles (Epilachna varivestis Mulsant) displayed differential preference reactions when fed foliage from resistant soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) genotypes PI 229358, PI 227687, and PI 171451. These reactions included reduced longevity and fecundity in adults and weight loss and high mortality in larvae. These symptoms appeared similar to starvation and hypothetically resulted from reduced consumption of resistant foliage by the insects.Larvae tended to fall from plants of the genotypes PI 229358 and PI 171451 possibly because lack of feeding stimulants or presence of repellents caused high larval movement and leaf surfaces provided poor footing for the insects.