【Background】Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) is widely distbitued in China and has many host plants. The larvae and adults destory flowers, leaves and the young fruit by its raspingsucking mouthparts, which seriously influence the appearance of plant and the quality of fruits. There are, however, very few studies on host plant suitability on various host plants. 【Method】S.rubrocinctus were fed on different plants in the laboratory, with the developmental duration and mortality in the nymph instars, pre-pupa and pupal stage recorded daily; longevity and dault oviposition were also recorded. 【Result】S.rubrocinctus can not complete their nymphal and pre-pupal development on Sapium sebifera, Pyrus pyrifolia, Paulowinia fortunei, Prunus persicaf.duplex and Broussonetia papyrifer, the species can complete its individual development on Platanus acerifolia, Photinia serrulata, Rhododendron simsii, and Castanea mollissima. The longest development from 1st instars to adults was 8.5 d on Photinia serrulata, from 2nd nymphal instar to adult was 6.9 d on R.simsii, the longest recorded prepupa stage was 5.5 d on C.mollissima, and of pupa stage was 5.7 d on B.papyrifera; There were significant differences in adult longevity when fed on different host plants. The adult longevity of S.rubrocinctus on Platanus acerifolia and Photinia serrulata were the highest (>7 d), were 5.8 d on R.simsii, and 3.5 d on C.mollissima. There were no significant difference in fecundities in females fed on different host plants, while the oviposition of S.rubrocinctus on Platanus acerifolia, Photinia serrulata, R.simsii, C.mollissimawere higher than other host palnts. 【Conclusion and significance】Platanus acerifolia, Photinia serrulata, R.simsii, C.mollissima were the most suitable host plants for S.rubrocinctus in this study.