Species checklist and research status of alfalfa insect pests reported in China

Alfalfa is a high quality forage grass widely cultivated in China. Insect pests have been becoming one of the most important factors that limited alfalfa’s yield and quality. In this study, research papers of alfalfa insect pests published since 1980 were obtained by searching the CNKI database, and the catalogue of alfalfa insect pests has been listed out by analyzing all these articles in detail. Results showed that a total of 297 species belonging to 48 families of 8 orders had been reported in China, among which the most extensively studied were Loxostege sticticalis, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Therioaphis trifolii, Heliothis dipsacea and Odontothrips loti. A total of 226 studies are related to alfalfa insect pests, including 2 PhD dissertations, 40 master dissertations and 184 journal articles. All these studies involved bioecology characteristics, control, species and diversity survey, population dynamics and community structure, as well as biochemistry and molecular biology. Among them, the first two were the most studied, whereas the last was the least. For the future prospects of alfalfa insect pest studies, the suggest that it is necessary: 1) to further investigate species diversity of alfalfa insect pests, and determine key pests occurred in each alfalfa planting region; 2) to enhance bioecology characteristics study; 3) to promote biochemistry and molecular biology study; 4) to establish integrated pest management system for alfalfa insect pests.