Abstract: The effects of young tea leaves, mature tea leaves and old tea leaves on development and fecundity of Ectropis oblique Prout were studied in laboratory. The results showed that young tea leaves increasing the amount of E. oblique Prout eggs. The mature tea leaves were beneficial in development of E. oblique larvae. The old tea leaves were not suitable to feeding of E. oblique larvae. The effects were greater on E. oblique young larvae. From the perspective of the changes of life table parameters, the mature leaves were favorable for the development of the E. oblique population. The development of E. oblique population was the slowest on the old tea leaves among the three kinds of tea leaves. These three kinds of leaves were all able to maintain the life cycle of the tested insect. The analysis of the chemical contents of tea leaves indicated that the contents of amino acids and water were the main factors affecting growth and development of E. oblique. The results of correlation analysis showed that nutritional needs on leaves were different in the different developmental stages of E. oblique. The nutrition in the young leaves and mature leaves maybe played a complementary role in the development of E. oblique.

Key words: Ectropis oblique Prout, feeding habits, reproduction, tea leaves