DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0vt4b8hc7
title: Semiochemicals from coccinellid beetles modulate feeding attributes, reproductive parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities in Parthenium beetle, <em>Zygogramma bicolorata</em> Pallister

description: Parthenium is a toxic invasive weed that widely infests agroecosystems
 worldwide. It hosts both phytophagous chrysomelid beetles used as
 biocontrol agents and the predaceous coccinellid beetles. This study
 evaluated reproductive traits, nutrient assimilation, and antioxidant
 enzyme activities of the Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata
 Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the presence of semiochemical
 tracks left by coccinellid beetles. Results revealed that the presence of
 coccinellid semiochemical tracks on the weed significantly reduced
 fecundity and egg viability in Z. bicolorata females. Age-specific
 fecundity and egg viability followed a triangular pattern, with exposed
 females reaching peak oviposition and maximum egg viability earlier than
 unexposed females. Females exposed to semiochemical tracks also showed
 lower assimilation of triglycerides, glucose, and proteins compared to
 those not exposed. Triglyceride assimilation increased with age, whereas
 glucose and protein assimilation declined. Activities of superoxide
 dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were higher in the absence of
 semiochemical tracks, while lipid peroxidation (LPO) was elevated in their
 presence. SOD and CAT activities initially increased with age in both
 control and experimental setups, but declined in older females. In
 contrast, LPO activity increased initially and then declined with age in
 the control group, but continued to rise with age in the experimental
 setups. The feeding deterrent effects of semiochemical tracks were
 species-specific. Overall, these findings indicate that coccinellid
 semiochemical tracks on Parthenium interfere with the biological control
 efficacy of Z. bicolorata females.
description: # Semiochemicals from coccinellid beetles modulate feeding attributes,
 reproductive parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities in Parthenium
 beetle, *Zygogramma bicolorata* Pallister Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.0vt4b8hc7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0vt4b8hc7) ##
 Description of the data and file structure This study examined the effects
 of heterospecific semiochemical tracks—chemical cues deposited by the
 coccinellid beetles *Coccinella transversalis* and *Menochilus
 sexmaculatus*—on the physiological and reproductive performance of female
 *Zygogramma bicolorata* Pallister, commonly known as the Parthenium
 beetle. Specifically, the study evaluated the impact of these chemical
 cues on female fecundity and egg viability over a 40-day period following
 exposure to semiochemical tracks left by either *C. transversalis* or *M.
 sexmaculatus*. In addition to reproductive parameters, nutrient
 assimilation in females was assessed by measuring triglyceride, protein,
 and glucose levels on the 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, and 50th days post-adult
 emergence. The activities of key antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase
 (SOD) and catalase (CAT)—were also quantified, along with lipid
 peroxidation (LPO) levels as an indicator of oxidative stress. All
 physiological and biochemical measurements were conducted under the same
 semiochemical exposure conditions. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Data.xlsx The dataset is provided in a file entitled *Data.xlsx* and
 consists of two worksheets: 1. **Reproductive data:** This dataset
 contains records of female fecundity (number of eggs laid per day) and egg
 viability (number of viable eggs per day) over a 40-day period under three
 experimental conditions: exposure to tracks left by *M. sexmaculatus*
 (MS), exposure to tracks left by *C. transversalis* (CT), and a control
 group with no semiochemical exposure. 2. **Biochemical and enzymatic
 data:** This worksheet includes measurements of nutrient assimilation
 (triglycerides, proteins, and glucose expressed in mg/ml) and oxidative
 stress markers (SOD, CAT, and LPO expressed in U/mg) in females sampled on
 days 10, 20, 30, and 40 under MS, CT, and control conditions. Elucidating
 the role of semiochemical communication in regulating these physiological
 and reproductive processes offers valuable insights into the chemical
 ecology of *Z. bicolorata*. Furthermore, these findings may contribute to
 optimizing the use of this beetle as a biological control agent against
 *Parthenium hysterophorus*, a highly invasive weed.