Development and food preference of sugar beet flea- beetle on different host plants in Kermanshah province

This research was carried out in Kermanshah province both in field and laboratory conditions during three years (1982-1984) and flea-beetle host plants were identified as follows : Beta vulgaris ssp.  Rapa war altissima , Beta vulgaris ssp. Rapa var. rubra, Chenopodium botrys L., Rumex dentatus subsp, Halacyi (Rech. Pat.) Rech. Fil., Portulaca oleracea L., Cardaria draba(L.) Desv. For the study on development and food preference of sugar beet flea-beetle on different host plants, these were planted in the pots and adults of flea-beetle were released on them and the pots were covered. The results that the flea-beetle prefer to feed on Beta vulgaris, Chenopodium spp., Amaranthus albus and Cardaria draba but development stages of this pest oleracea were only fed by adults. Convolvulus spp. Plants were used as shelter in unsuitable environmental conditions as wind and rainfall. Infestation percentage of flea-beetle host plants was higher in late cultivated fields than early and mid cultivated ones, because of a higher population density of adults in these fields. Infestation percentage all higher when the adults of new generation appear. Chenopodium spp. Are the most preferred host and amaranthus albus and Cardaria draba are next.