Combined effect of temperature, age and sex on food consumption

Abiotic and biotic factors play key roles on the feeding attributes of herbivorous insects.  We therefore evaluated the combined effect of temperature, age and sex on food consumption and utilization efficiencies of Parthenium biocontrol agent, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister. This Mexican beetle is known as the most promising candidate for the biocontrol agent of Parthenium hysterophorus Linnaeus, a serious weed of wastelands, pastures and agricultural fields.