Abstract:

With the gradual relaxation of restrictions on insect-resistant genetically modified (GM) maize in some regions of China, target pests such as Ostrinia furnacalis, Helicoverpa armigera, and Mythimna separata have been effectively controlled. However, the non-target pest Monolepta hieroglyphica has shown an increasing occurrence every year and has emerged as a major pest in northern agricultural regions. To systematically understand this pest and provide directions for future research, this study reviews the classification, biological and ecological characteristics, damage characteristics, host plants, artificial rearing status, control methods and molecular biology progress of Monolepta hieroglyphica. The review finds that many scholars have conducted extensive research on Monolepta hieroglyphica in terms of biological and ecological characteristics, damage characteristics and control strategies. However, both the larvae and adults of this pest cause damage, the eggs have diapause, the larvae are soil-dwelling and have uneven hatching rates, and the driving factors for host plant transfer by adults are not clear, which leads to insufficient understanding of this pest by most agricultural practitioners. Based on this, the future research directions of Monolepta hieroglyphica are proposed: (1) To understand the mechanism of host plant transfer by Monolepta hieroglyphica adults; (2) to establish an artificial rearing system for Monolepta hieroglyphica; (3) to strengthen the molecular biology research of Monolepta hieroglyphica; (4) to study the interaction mechanism among host plants, Monolepta hieroglyphica and natural enemies; (5) to strengthen the breeding of crops resistant to Monolepta hieroglyphica. This review provides a systematic reference for a comprehensive understanding of Monolepta hieroglyphica and offers important implications for its integrated pest management.

Key words: Monolepta hieroglyphica, bioecological characteristics, damage characteristics, host plants