Life attributes of Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): challenges and future directions

ABSTRACT

Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) is an alien herbaceous weed with a pantropical distribution. The weed adversely affects grazing land productivity, native biodiversity and causes respiratory and dermal allergies in humans. The weed continues to invade new countries, with increases in CO₂ set to further enhance this spread. Biological control is among the most cost-effective management strategy for P. hysterophorus, with the leaf-feeding beetle Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) among the most promising candidates. Our review discusses the life cycle and feeding and reproductive behaviours of Z. bicolorata. We emphasise how abiotic factors and biological processes, viz. ageing, rhythmicity, multiple matings and interactions amongst species, influence the fertility and mortality parameters of the beetle. We anticipate that this review will assist in improving the strategies for rapid mass-multiplication of Z. bicolorata in laboratories. In addition, the review will support efforts to develop classical biological control approaches in regions where Parthenium is invasive.

KEYWORDS:

• Parthenium weed
• biological control agent
• invasive species
• life attributes

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to UGC-CAS and DST-FIST supported Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Bhupendra Kumar acknowledges the University’s start-up-grant and UGC-BSR research start-up-grant for financial assistance. Bhupendra Kumar and Daya Ram Bhusal acknowledge Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for NAST-INSA bilateral exchange programme under which this review article has been compiled.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.