Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) is a toxic weed of agricultural farms, pastures and wastelands with a pan-tropical distribution. The weed causes a reduction in crop production of agricultural fields and severe health problems in humans. The Mexican beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is among the most promising candidates for the weed biocontrol. However, no previous study has evaluated assimilation of nutrients in this beetle. In the present study, feeding attributes and assimilation of nutrients by larvae of Z. bicolorata were assessed on the weed. Results revealed that the first larval instars of Z. bicolorata exhibited lowest consumption rates, and accumulated minimum concentrations of glucose, proteins and triglycerides in their body. They showed compensatory feeding, and displayed highest food utilization efficiencies and developmental rates. In contrast, the fourth larval instars exhibited higher food consumption rates and conversion efficiencies, but displayed lowest developmental rates. Accumulation of food reserves was also recorded maximum for the fourth larval instars. Overall, the findings may aid current mass-rearing efforts for Z. bicolorata in laboratories, but field trials are still needed to strengthen the present findings.

Parthenium hysterophorus L.（Asteraceae）是农业农场，牧场和荒地的有毒杂草，分布于全热带。杂草导致农田的农作物减产和人类严重的健康问题。墨西哥甲虫Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister（鞘翅目：金眼科）是杂草生物防治的最有前途的候选人之一。但是，以前没有研究评估过这种甲虫中养分的吸收。在本研究中，在杂草上评估了双色Z.幼虫的摄食特性和养分吸收。结果表明，双色Z.的第一个幼虫龄期消耗率最低，体内葡萄糖，蛋白质和甘油三酸酯的累积浓度最低。他们表现出补偿性喂养，并显示出最高的食物利用率和发育率。相比之下，第四龄幼虫表现出较高的食物消耗率和转化效率，但发育率最低。第四只幼虫的食物储量也最高。总体而言，这些发现可能有助于实验室中目前对双色Z.的大规模繁殖工作，但仍需进行现场试验以加强目前的发现。