We carried out a quantitative assessment of the consumption of herbaceous plants by Opatrumsabulosum (Linnaeus, 1761) - a highly significant agricultural pest species. We researched the feeding preferences of this pest species with respect to 33 uncultivated and 22 cultivated plant species. This species of darkling beetle feeds on many uncultivated plant species, including those with hairy leaves and bitter milky sap, such as Scabiosaucrainca (5.21 mg/specimen/24 hours), Euphorbiavirgata (3.45), Solanumnigrum (3.32), Centauriascabiosa (2.47), Lamiumalbum (2.41), Aristolochiaclematitis (1.76), Chenopodiumalbum (1.73), Arctiumlappa (1.51), Asperulaodorata (1.20). A high rate of leaf consumption is also characteristic for cultivated species, for example, Perillanankinensis (5.05 mg/specimen/24 hours), Lycopersiconesculentum (3.75), Tropaeolummajus (3.29), Nicotianatabacum (2.66), Rumexacetosa (1.96), Betavulgaris (1.27). Opatrumsabulosum is capable of feeding on plants which are poisonous to cattle. This species of darkling beetle consumes 95.5% of the cultivated and 48.5% of the uncultivated herbaceous plants researched.
Keywords: Food Preferences; Laboratory Experiments; Opatrumsabulosum; Plant-eating Insects; Tenebrionidae.