Adult Sitona crinitus H. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding preference on some legume species

Abstract

We determined the feeding preference under artificial infestation in plastic house conditions of Sitona crinitus Herbst on several legumes. Beginning with the least-preferred leguminous food and feed crops, the order of feeding preference by Sitona was: Vicia sativa, Lens culinaris, V. ervilia, Trifolium sativum, Medicago sativa, L. cicera, L. Sativus, L. ochrus. No significant differences in preference were found between V. sativa, L. culinaris, V. ervilia and T. sativum. However, there were significant differences in feeding preference (P<0.05) between these species and Lathyrus spp. Cicer arietinum and Vicia faba were not hosts of S. crinitus.