DOI: 10.5061/dryad.p2ngf1w2r
title: Data from: Temperature modulates feeding attributes, biochemical assimilation of macronutrients and rate of development in larvae of Parthenium beetles

description: The present study assessed the feeding efficiency, macronutrient
 assimilation, and larval development of the Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma
 bicolorata Pallister, a biocontrol agent for the invasive Parthenium weed,
 under varying temperature conditions. We hypothesized that deviations from
 the optimal temperature (~25°C) would impair larval feeding efficiency due
 to temperature-induced stress. Our results revealed that both larval
 consumption and growth rates declined at temperatures below (15°C, 20°C)
 and above (30°C) the optimal temperature (25°C). In contrast, food
 conversion efficiency improved as temperatures increased from 15°C to
 30°C. Protein assimilation by larvae decreased across the temperature
 range, while glucose assimilation increased. Triglyceride assimilation
 initially decreased from 15°C to 20°C/25°C but increased from 20°C/25°C to
 30°C. As temperatures increased from 15°C to 30°C, both the body size and
 developmental durations of larvae decreased. These findings suggest that
 Z. bicolorata larvae adopt different survival strategies depending on
 temperature conditions. At suboptimal temperatures, larvae grow larger,
 assimilate more proteins and triglycerides, but consume and utilize food
 more slowly. Conversely, at supraoptimal temperatures, larvae exhibit
 reduced body size and food consumption rates, but their food utilization
 efficiency improves, leading to faster development. Therefore, both low
 and high temperatures could limit the biocontrol efficiency of Z.
 bicolorata larvae in the Indian subcontinent.
description: # Temperature modulates feeding attributes, biochemical assimilation of
 macronutrients and rate of development in larvae of Parthenium beetles
 Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.p2ngf1w2r](10.5061/dryad.p2ngf1w2r) ##
 Description of the data and file structure The present study investigates
 the feeding efficiency, macronutrient assimilation, and larval development
 of the Parthenium beetle, *Zygogramma bicolorata* Pallister—a widely
 recognized biological control agent for the invasive *Parthenium*
 weed—under a range of temperature conditions. To evaluate the impact of
 temperature on larval performance, key physiological and developmental
 parameters were measured across four temperature regimes: 15°C, 20°C,
 25°C, and 30°C. The parameters included food consumption rate (CR)
 (mg/day), food conversion efficiency (CE), mean body biomass (MBB) (mg),
 and growth rate (GR). Additionally, biochemical assays were conducted to
 quantify the concentrations of essential macronutrients—triglycerides
 (TAG) (mg/ml), soluble proteins (P) (mg/ml), and glucose (G) (mg/ml), and
 their ratios (TAG/MBB, P/MBB, G/MBB) — within larvae at the first, second,
 third, and fourth instar stages (ten replicates per stage per temperature
 condition). These comprehensive data provide insights into the thermal
 sensitivity of larval metabolism and development, with implications for
 optimizing the use of *Z. bicolorata* in biocontrol programs under varying
 climatic conditions.