Stink Bugs

Dados ecológicos são praticamente desconhecidos, mas sabe-se que algumas espécies vivem sobre gramíneas que crescem em ambientes pantanosos (dados de etiquetas), e ainda existem alguns exemplares coletados na periferia de lavouras de arroz no Rio Grande do Sul. A partir do desenvolvimento do trabalho de revisão do gênero, que atualmente encontra-se em andamento, teve-se a oportunidade de analisar grupos de exemplares pertencentes ao gênero com características distintas das espécies já conhecidas. O presente trabalho descreve um destes grupos de exemplares como uma nova espécie de Mecocephala, baseado na morfologia geral, com ênfase na genitália. A metodologia envolveu a preparação, estudo e ilustração das principais características com auxílio de câmara clara acoplada a estereomicroscópio, e segue Grazia, Fernandes & Schwertner, 1998. A nomenclatura adotada para as peças genitais segue Dupuis, 1970 (CNPq-PIBIC/UFRGS).

The economic value of natural regulation of agricultural pests by bats has been estimated both by avoided cost models and by experimental predator-exclusion approaches. We review published studies globally from both complementary approaches. We further present an economic model for the avoided cost of bat predation on stinkbugs, the major economic pest of macadamias in South Africa, currently the world's largest macadamia producer. We calculated both the direct (reduced stinkbug damage due to bat predation) and indirect (reduced pesticide use) avoided costs. We estimated the density of bats in a macadamia-growing region of South Africa to be 7.5-22.5 bats/ha, based on opportunistic data from the Merlin DeTEct (Inc.) avian-avoidance radar system. Current economic parameters for macadamia production, stinkbug injury coefficients and life history were obtained from the literature and from the Southern African Macadamia Association (SAMAC).We estimated the level of bat predation on pest stinkbugs in macadamia orchards from published dietary studies combined with both high and low published values for insect consumption rates relative to bat body mass. We found that the protected yield due to bat predation of stink bugs amounted to 0.53% (low consumption rates) to 1.29% (high consumption rates) of annual macadamia production in South Africa for 2015. Based on current macadamia prices, the approximate avoided cost values of these combined direct and indirect bat predation services varied between 9% and 23% of the current annual estimated cost of damage caused by stinkbugs to South African macadamia orchards (US$613/ha). Losing bats to disease epidemics, wind farms, human persecution or excessive or highly toxic pesticide applications could therefore significantly increase annual losses to the macadamia industry in South Africa caused by stinkbugs.

For an efficient use of parasitoids as biological control agents their bioecology and of their hosts need to be knowledge. In this work were conducted field studies in a area of soybean of 3 ha, boarding by natural vegetation (mata ciliar), rest or sorghum culture from winter cropping, a pasture area and the own culture (10 ha). The work was oriented to establish the colonization dynamic of the culture by stink-bugs and their natural enemies (egg parasitoids), population fluctuation of this guilds and parasitism indexes. Sticky traps, sampling cloth and sentinels eggs distributed in survey areas of were used in 2500 m 2 areas in the culture and in the neighbor areas, with weekly surveys during all the culture cycle. Results show that vegetation structure near cultivated fields influenced the colonization dynamics of soybean by stink-bugs and parasitoids. The colonization of the culture was initiated in the reproductive period (flowering), the stink-bugs ingress in the soybean field, principally, from areas previously cropping with sorghum. Weeds and invasive plans show important influence in the distribution of stink-bugs in the soybean field. Areas with high densities of Bidens pilosa and Acanthospermum hispidum show higher median value of stink-bugs. Colonization dynamics of culture by parasitoids show the same trends. Native vegetation doesn't show a relevant influence in stink-bug or parasitoid populations. Results of this work may indicate that colonization and fluctuation of stinkbugs and parasitoids in cultivated areas it's hardly conditioned by neighboring vegetation, principally by winter crops and by weeds or invasive plants. This fact may be considered in stink-bug management programs, specially those that use biological control with egg parasitoids. However for a better comprehend of effects of vegetal diversity in the ecological dynamics of stink-bugs and their natural enemies it's necessary extend this studies in a bigger space-temporal scale.

Natural habitats surrounding annual crops influence biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services within the cultivated habitats. Soybean, an important crop worldwide and the main crop in Argentina, is affected by several pest species, including stink-bugs that damage soybean pods. Here, we studied the effects of Chaco Serrano forests on arthropod herbivores and natural enemies and on biological control of stink bugs on soybean, at landscape (forest cover) and local (forest proximity) scales. We sampled arthropods on soybean plants by using the beating-sheet method, on nine landscapes (with low and high forest cover) and at 5, 25, 50 and 100 m from the forest, during soybean flowering and pod-filling stages. Biological control of stink bug eggs was assessed via sentinel-egg experiments in soybean and forest habitats. We found that landscapes with high forest cover presented higher richness and abundance of natural enemies and higher levels of biological control on stink bug eggs (both in the cropland and in the forest), while a similar trend for herbivores was restricted to soybean flowering stage. Community composition of both functional groups was also affected by forest cover and crop phenological stage. Forest proximity had more limited effects: natural enemies showed more species and individuals at 5 m from the forest than at larger distances and, conversely, stink bug abundance was lower at the closest distance to the forest. We conclude than forest amount at landscape scale is more influential for arthropod biodiversity and biological control in soybean than forest proximity. Moreover, our results suggest that maintaining remnants of forest in agricultural landscapes can be effective for conservation of arthropod biodiversity while contributing to biological control of stink bugs in soybean fields.

The study was done on the biological aspects of Piezodorus guildinii under laboratory conditions. The objective was to evaluate the development of nymphs in four natural diets and an artificial one. Diet N1 (Phaseolus vulgaris) lasted 35.09 days and diet N4 (Glycine max, Arachis hipogaea and Phaseolus vulgaris) lasted 23.60 days, with a lower mortality (20%). Artificial and natural diets with peanuts (A. hipogaea) did not allow the development of nymphs. In the adult phase three natural diets were evaluated. The entire cycle was larger in the N1 diet with 40.20 days and in the N4 diet with 28.80 days. The shortest preoviposition period was N6 diet with 11.13 days, (G. max, A. hipogaea, P. vulgaris and Ligustrum lucidum). The egg masses average from diets N4 and N6 were similar, 9.2 and 9.4 respectively. It was observed a higher viability in diet N6 with an average of 80%. KEY WOrDs. Stink bug. Insect biology. Food natural. rEsumEN. Se realizaron estudios de los aspectos biológicos de Piezodorus guildinii en condiciones de laboratorio; evaluándose el desarrollo de ninfas en cuatro dietas naturales y una artificial. En la dieta N1 (Phaseolus vulgaris) se obtuvo una duración de 35,09 días y en la dieta N4 (Glycine max, Arachis hipogaea y Phaseolus vulgaris) fue menor, con 23,60 días; observándose también una menor mortalidad (20%) con la misma dieta. Las dietas artificial y natural con maní (A. hipogaea) no permitieron el desarrollo de ninfas. En la fase adulta se evaluaron tres dietas naturales; el ciclo total fue mayor en la dieta N1 con 40,20 días y en la dieta N4 con 28,80 días. El periodo de preoviposición fue menor en la dieta N6 (G. max, A. hipogaea, P. vulgaris y Ligustrum lucidum) con 11,13 días; en la dieta N4 y N6 el promedio de masas de huevo fue similar con 9,2 y 9,4 respectivamente observándose una viabilidad superior en la dieta N6 con un promedio del 80%. PALAbrAs cLAVEs. Chinches. Biología de insectos. Alimento natural.

Estudou-se a biologia de Euschistus heros (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) em laboratório sob 24±0,5ºC, 70±10% UR e fotofase de 14 h. O tempo médio de desenvolvimento até adulto foi de 38,6 d, sendo o 2º estádio ninfal, o de maior índice de mortalidade (10,4%). A longevidade de E. heros variou de acordo com o sexo e atividade sexual. Machos e fêmeas atingiram a maturidade sexual com 11,4 e 11,2 d, respectivamente. O tempo médio para a colocação de posturas, após o primeiro acasalamento, variou de 9,1 d para fêmeas, que acasalaram uma única vez, até 13,9 dias para fêmeas que acasalaram várias vezes durante o período de sobrevivência. O número médio de ovos por fêmea variou de 108,5 até 130,5, dependendo do número de acasalamento das fêmeas estudadas. Juntamente com a deposição das massas de ovos, foi observada a colocação de posturas isoladas com percentagens de 71,7 e 77,8 respectivamente, também dependendo do número de acasalamentos.

Objectives Assessment and identification of spatial structures in the distribution and abundance of invasive species is important for unraveling the underlying ecological processes. The invasive agricultural insect pest Halyomorpha halys that causes severe economic losses in the United States is currently expanding both within United States and across Europe. We examined the drivers of H. halys invasion by characterizing the distribution and abundance patterns of H. halys and native stink bugs (Chinavia hilaris and Euschistus servus) across eight different spatial scales. We then quantified the interactive and individual influences of temperature, and measures of resource availability and distance from source populations, and their relevant spatial scales. We used Moran's Eigenvector Maps based on Gabriel graph framework to quantify spatial relationships among the soybean fields in mid-Atlantic Unites States surveyed for stink bugs. Findings Results from the multi-spatial scale, multivariate analyses showed that temperature and its interaction with resource availability and distance from source populations structures the patterns in H. halys at very broad spatial scale. H. halys abundance decreased with increasing average June temperature and distance from source population. H. halys were not recorded at fields with average June temperature higher than 23.5°C. In parts with suitable climate, high H. halys abundance was positively associated with percentage developed open area and percentage deciduous forests at 250m scale. Broad scale patterns in native stink bugs were positively associated with increasing forest cover and, in contrast to the invasive H. halys, increasing mean July temperature. Our results identify the contrasting role of temperature in structuring regional patterns in H. halys and native stink bugs, while

Entomology Lab for their help in research. I am very grateful to my wife, Wahyu Eka Hartanti, my children Tiara C.S. Hernowo and Rifky P. Wisnuwardana Hernowo, my parents, my brothers and sister for their unwavering support that allow me to stand still during arduous moments of my study.

There are few research involving vegetables pests, especially when we consider the culture of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the presence of stinkbugs Edessa meditabunda over four cultivars of lettuce. The experiment was conducted in field conditions in the vegetable garden of farm Florentino, Novo Progresso, south Pará State (7°07'45.71"S 55°23'21.13"W), between the months october and december 2010. We used four cultivars of lettuce: Elba (curly group), Teresa (american group), Regina (smooth group), and Mimosa (clippings group). The samplings of stinkbugs were made in december, when the plants had 30 days after transplantation. In each cultivar was randomly selected one lettuce plant per line, totaling 10 plants sampled from each cultivar/day and 30 plants per cultivar during all samplings. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the averages were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Were collected 443 adults,...

Physalis angulata is native to South America. In Brazil is popularly known as camapú, balãozinho, juá-de-capote, bucho-de-rã, camambu, mata-fome, bate-testa and balão-rajado. Even being a species with wide ecological adaptation the studies on pest insects associated with these plants are incipient. Thus, this study reports for the first time the occurrence of stink bugs Edessa meditabunda on plants P. angulata in the Amazon region.

We report the first record of the stink bug Edessa meditabunda (F.) on lettuce Lactuca sativa in the organic vegetable garden "Cheiro Verde" in Tangará da Serra, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (14°37′13″ S, 57°28′46″ W). During September, October, and November 2009, we collected 1,099 adults, 43 nymphs, and 29 egg masses. Feeding by this stink bug possibly caused early bolting.

The biology of Euschistus heros (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was studied in laboratory under 24±0.5 o C, 70±10% RH and photophase of 14 h. The mean development time from egg to adult was 38.6 d, and highest mortality (10.4%) occurred during the 2nd nymphal stadium. The mean longevity of adults varied according to sex and sexual activity. Males and females reached sexual maturity at 11.4 and 11.2 d, respectively. The mean time for oviposition after the 1st mating reached 9.1 d for females which mated just once, and 13.9 d for females which mated several times during their life span. The mean number of eggs/female varied from 108.5 to 130.5 depending on the number of times females copulated. It was observed the deposition of single egg and egg masses, at percentages of 71.7 and 77.8 respectively, according to the number of matings of each tested female.

Natural habitats surrounding annual crops influence biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services within the cultivated habitats. Soybean, an important crop worldwide and the main crop in Argentina, is affected by several pest species, including stink-bugs that damage soybean pods. Here, we studied the effects of Chaco Serrano forests on arthropod herbivores and natural enemies and on biological control of stink bugs on soybean, at landscape (forest cover) and local (forest proximity) scales. We sampled arthropods on soybean plants by using the beating-sheet method, on nine landscapes (with low and high forest cover) and at 5, 25, 50 and 100 m from the forest, during soybean flowering and pod-filling stages. Biological control of stink bug eggs was assessed via sentinel-egg experiments in soybean and forest habitats. We found that landscapes with high forest cover presented higher richness and abundance of natural enemies and higher levels of biological control on stink bug eggs (both in the cropland and in the forest), while a similar trend for herbivores was restricted to soybean flowering stage. Community composition of both functional groups was also affected by forest cover and crop phenological stage. Forest proximity had more limited effects: natural enemies showed more species and individuals at 5 m from the forest than at larger distances and, conversely, stink bug abundance was lower at the closest distance to the forest. We conclude than forest amount at landscape scale is more influential for arthropod biodiversity and biological control in soybean than forest proximity. Moreover, our results suggest that maintaining remnants of forest in agricultural landscapes can be effective for conservation of arthropod biodiversity while contributing to biological control of stink bugs in soybean fields.

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) is the insect vector of the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the pathogen associated with citrus Huanglongbing (HLB, citrus greening). HLB threatens citrus production worldwide. Suppression or reduction of the insect vector using chemical insecticides has been the primary method to inhibit the spread of citrus greening disease. Accurate structural and functional annotation of the Asian citrus psyllid genome, as well as a clear understanding of the interactions between the insect and CLas, are required for development of new molecular-based HLB control methods. A draft assembly of the D. citri genome has been generated and annotated with automated pipelines. However, knowledge transfer from well-curated reference genomes such as that of Drosophila melanogaster to newly sequenced ones is challenging due to the complexity and diversity of insect genomes. To identify and improve gene models as potential targets for ...

Despite the huge human and economic costs of invasive insects, which are the main group of invasive species, their environmental impacts through various mechanisms remain inadequately explained in databases and much of the invasion biology literature. High-throughput sequencing technology, especially whole-genome sequencing, has been used as a powerful method to study the mechanisms through which insects achieve invasion. In this study, we reviewed whole-genome sequencing-based advances in revealing several important invasion mechanisms of invasive insects, including (1) the rapid genetic variation and evolution of invasive populations, (2) invasion history and dispersal paths, (3) rapid adaptation to different host plant ranges, (4) strong environmental adaptation, (5) the development of insecticide resistance, and (6) the synergistic damage caused by invasive insects and endosymbiotic bacteria. We also discussed prevention and control technologies based on whole-genome sequencing ...

El camu camu es uno de los frutales nativos con gran potencial económico para la agroindustria y agro exportación. Edessa es una de las plagas del camu camu que provoca sequedad en los brotes, y en los frutos una mancha decolorada con círculos concéntricos bien marcados y un punto central al alimentarse. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el ciclo biológico bajo condiciones de laboratorio y la fluctuación poblacional de Edessa aff. aulacosterna "Chinche del fruto del camu camu" durante enero a noviembre del 2004 en el cultivo de camu camu, en parcelas en desarrollo y producción ubicadas en áreas de restinga inundables en Pucallpa, Ucayali, Perú. Se colectaron huevos, ninfas y adultos procedentes del distrito de Yarinacocha, Pucallpa, Ucayali, Perú para iniciar la crianza artificial. El tiempo de duración del huevo al I estadio ninfal fue 5,1 días. Se encontró un 94,6% de eclosión de los huevos, variando entre 12 hasta 14 huevos por postura. El tiempo transcurr...

Recent studies have documented the economically significant impact of bats as predators of agricultural pest insects. We used Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of the cytochrome oxidase I gene to elucidate the diet of six species of bats based on faecal pellets collected from individuals and roosts in macadamia orchards at Levubu, Limpopo Province, South Africa. For five of these species, we compared the molecular data with published results from microscopic analysis of faecal pellets, culled parts and stomach contents. We provide the first description of the molecular diet of the large African molossid bat, Mops midas. Expectations from skull morphology and a single limited study of stomach contents were that this species should be a beetle-specialist. However, NGS revealed that the diet of M. midas contained a much higher prevalence and diversity of lepidopteran (81 taxa from 17 families) compared to coleopteran (two taxa) prey. While this result is predicted by the allotonic frequency hypothesis for a bat species with low echolocation frequency, it could also be explained by unequal PCR amplification, a constraint of amplicon sequencing. Apart from the above-mentioned species where our sample was probably unbiased (24 pellets from multiple roosts and occasions), sample sizes of the other five species were very low and therefore potentially biased (1-6 pellets). Nevertheless, these samples revealed for each bat species surprisingly many prey taxa spanning several insect orders, indicating that individual bats were capable of consuming a wide diversity of prey during one or two nights of foraging. Contrary to expectations, bats of all foraging groups (clutter, clutteredge and open-air) fed opportunistically on mostly-flightless cockroaches (Order Blattodea). About one third of all faecal pellets tested from five species of bats of all foraging groups contained DNA from the significant macadamia pest species, Nezara viridula (Order Heteroptera), indicating the value of intact bat communities in the biological control of pest stink bugs in macadamia orchards. Contrary to the general expectations of the allotonic frequency hypothesis, all six bat species studied fed predominantly on tympanate versus non-tympanate species of moths (57-75% of lepidopteran prey taxa), even those 'non-allotonic' bat species having intermediate echolocation peak frequencies that encompass the frequency sensitivity of hearing (tympanate) moths.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the circadian feeding rhythm of the green-belly stink bug (Dichelops melacanthus) on corn (Zea mays), and to correlate it with meteorological parameters. The experiments were conducted in corn fields in the first (summer) and second (fall) crop seasons, in the municipality of Chapecó, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Plants in the V3 and V5 stages were covered with cages and infested with adults of D. melacanthus. After 24 hours of acclimation, the number of insects feeding on the plant stem was counted every three hours (at 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00, and 0:00 h). At night, a red led flashlight was used to visualize the insects without interfering with their behavior. Meteorological parameters were monitored and correlated to the number of insects feeding on the plants. In the first and second crop seasons, the number of insects feeding on the corn stem differed among evaluation times, with peak in the afternoon, in the ...

Collaria scenica (Hemiptera: Miridae) e um inseto sugador que causa dano direto as plantas, sendo tambem uma especie pouco estudada em termos biologicos e comportamentais. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do mel como fonte de carboidrato e aspectos biologicos de C. scenica alimentados com diferentes especies de poaceas. Para tanto, utilizou-se ninfas recem-eclodidas, inoculadas em placas de Petri contendo papel filtro umedecido com agua ou solucao de mel a 5%, sendo oferecido duas folhas de planta de acordo com os tratamentos: aveia preta + agua; festuca + agua; azevem + agua; tifton 85 + agua; aveia preta + mel 5%; festuca + mel 5%; azevem+mel 5%; tifton 85 + mel 5%. Cada repeticao consistiu de tres ninfas, perfazendo 20 repeticoes (N=60). Os insetos foram mantidos a 18,0±2°C e fotoperiodo de 12 h. O alimento foi trocado a cada dois dias, quando tambem realizavam-se as avaliacoes. Para ninfas, avaliou-se o periodo de desenvolvimento, duracao de cada instar e sobrevivencia ninfal, para...

RESUMO-Estudos em laboratório com adultos de Nezara vitidula (L.) demonstraram que a sobrevivência, a longevidade, a reprodução e o ganho de peso variaram em função da troca de alimento da fase ninfal para a fase adulta e do estresse nutricional na fase adulta. Em geral, a sobrevivência e a longevidade dos adultos em vagem verde de soja [Glycine nua (L.) Merrill]-VVS-e em semente madura de soja-SMS-foram superiores quando as ninfas alimentaram-se em VVS,em comparação com adultos, cujas ninfas alimentaram-se em vagem verde de feijão (P/w.seolus vulgaris L,)-VVF. Adultos alimentados com haste + folha de soja (HFS) ou deixados em jejum, na presença de água, tiveram sua longevidade reduzida à metade. O desempenho reprodutivo foi reduzido quando VVF foi oferecido às ninfas e/ou aos adultos, em comparação com as fêmeas alimentadas em VVS ou em SMS. A reprodução de fêmeas alimentadas em HFS, ou deixadas em jejum, foi nula. Fêmeas cujas ninfas foram criadas em VVS apresentaram picos de peso maiores e mais cedo, do que aquelas criadas em VVF; fêmeas em I-IFS ou em jejum não gardianmpeso.O ganho de peso diário de adultos, previamente submetidos a jejum, foi superior na primeira do que na segunda semana de vida. O conteúdo total de lipídios decresceu em função do estresse nutricional. Termos para indexação: percevejo, soja, nutrição, biologia, lipídios.

El camu camu es uno de los frutales nativos con gran potencial económico para la agroindustria y agro exportación. Edessa es una de las plagas del camu camu que provoca sequedad en los brotes, y en los frutos una mancha decolorada con círculos concéntricos bien marcados y un punto central al alimentarse. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el ciclo biológico bajo condiciones de laboratorio y la fluctuación poblacional de Edessa aff. aulacosterna "Chinche del fruto del camu camu" durante enero a noviembre del 2004 en el cultivo de camu camu, en parcelas en desarrollo y producción ubicadas en áreas de restinga inundables en Pucallpa, Ucayali, Perú. Se colectaron huevos, ninfas y adultos procedentes del distrito de Yarinacocha, Pucallpa, Ucayali, Perú para iniciar la crianza artificial. El tiempo de duración del huevo al I estadio ninfal fue 5,1 días. Se encontró un 94,6% de eclosión de los huevos, variando entre 12 hasta 14 huevos por postura. El tiempo transcurr...

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito do regulador de crescimento lufenuron sobre Nezara viridula, considerando que esse inseticida é utilizado no controle da lagarta da soja (Anticarsia gemmatalis) e, possivelmente, entra em contato com os percevejos que se encontram na área. O bioensaio foi conduzido no Laboratório de Entomologia Aplicada da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), Ponta Grossa, PR, sob condições controladas de temperatura (25 ± 2°C), umidade relativa (60 ± 10%) e fotofase (14 horas de luz). O ensaio foi realizado em cubas de vidro, contendo 10 insetos em cada, contaminados via tarso. Os tratamentos foram (0; 0,025%; 0,0125%; 0,00625%; 0,003125%; 0,0015625 % ) de lufenuron. As avaliações da mortalidade foram realizadas após 24, 48 e 72 horas da transferência dos insetos para os recipientes. Os dados das contagens de ninfas vivas foram submetidos à análise de variância e as diferenças entre as médias, quando significativas, tratadas pelo teste de Du...

El camu camu es uno de los frutales nativos con gran potencial económico para la agroindustria y agro exportación. Edessa es una de las plagas del camu camu que provoca sequedad en los brotes, y en los frutos una mancha decolorada con círculos concéntricos bien marcados y un punto central al alimentarse. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el ciclo biológico bajo condiciones de laboratorio y la fluctuación poblacional de Edessa aff. aulacosterna "Chinche del fruto del camu camu" durante enero a noviembre del 2004 en el cultivo de camu camu, en parcelas en desarrollo y producción ubicadas en áreas de restinga inundables en Pucallpa, Ucayali, Perú. Se colectaron huevos, ninfas y adultos procedentes del distrito de Yarinacocha, Pucallpa, Ucayali, Perú para iniciar la crianza artificial. El tiempo de duración del huevo al I estadio ninfal fue 5,1 días. Se encontró un 94,6% de eclosión de los huevos, variando entre 12 hasta 14 huevos por postura. El tiempo transcurr...

Recent studies have documented the economically significant impact of bats as predators of agricultural pest insects. We used Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of the cytochrome oxidase I gene to elucidate the diet of six species of bats based on faecal pellets collected from individuals and roosts in macadamia orchards at Levubu, Limpopo Province, South Africa. For five of these species, we compared the molecular data with published results from microscopic analysis of faecal pellets, culled parts and stomach contents. We provide the first description of the molecular diet of the large African molossid bat, Mops midas. Expectations from skull morphology and a single limited study of stomach contents were that this species should be a beetle-specialist. However, NGS revealed that the diet of M. midas contained a much higher prevalence and diversity of lepidopteran (81 taxa from 17 families) compared to coleopteran (two taxa) prey. While this result is predicted by the allotonic frequency hypothesis for a bat species with low echolocation frequency, it could also be explained by unequal PCR amplification, a constraint of amplicon sequencing. Apart from the above-mentioned species where our sample was probably unbiased (24 pellets from multiple roosts and occasions), sample sizes of the other five species were very low and therefore potentially biased (1-6 pellets). Nevertheless, these samples revealed for each bat species surprisingly many prey taxa spanning several insect orders, indicating that individual bats were capable of consuming a wide diversity of prey during one or two nights of foraging. Contrary to expectations, bats of all foraging groups (clutter, clutteredge and open-air) fed opportunistically on mostly-flightless cockroaches (Order Blattodea). About one third of all faecal pellets tested from five species of bats of all foraging groups contained DNA from the significant macadamia pest species, Nezara viridula (Order Heteroptera), indicating the value of intact bat communities in the biological control of pest stink bugs in macadamia orchards. Contrary to the general expectations of the allotonic frequency hypothesis, all six bat species studied fed predominantly on tympanate versus non-tympanate species of moths (57-75% of lepidopteran prey taxa), even those 'non-allotonic' bat species having intermediate echolocation peak frequencies that encompass the frequency sensitivity of hearing (tympanate) moths.

1 Departamento de Proteccion Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay. 2 Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) y Sociedade Entomologica do Brasil (SEB). Londrina, PR, Brasil. 3 Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL). Londrina, PR, Brasil. * Autor para correspondencia ([email protected]) Recibido: 15/11/2014; Aceptado: 18/12/2014.

Almond, Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. A. Webb, is an important tree nut crop cultivated primarily in the Mediterranean climatic regions. However, the United States, specifically the state of California, is the largest producer and exporter of almond nuts in the world. At least 60 species of insect pests attack almonds worldwide. Hemipterans can be important pests in almond orchards. Some hemipteran insect pests in almonds include lace bugs, plant bugs, stink bugs, and leaffooted bugs. These pests use needle-like mouthparts to pierce and feed upon fruits or other parts of the plant, causing direct or indirect crop damage. Nonetheless, the biology, life history, and management practices for many hemipteran pests of almonds are not available in the literature or come from research of these insects on other crops and host plants. In this article, we discuss the current understanding of biology, ecology, and management of hemipteran pests of almonds and outline future research to advance the...

The brown marmorated stink bug, (Stål), is an invasive species from Asia. This polyphagous, stink bug species has posed a serious production challenge in several crop species in the areas where established. The insect has spread to all the mainland states in the U.S. in about one and half decades after its first detection in Pennsylvania. The types of crops reported to have been infested by this stink bug have increased with its spread to new geographic locations. In this study, we report the first evidence of infestation in almond fruit in California. In Stanislaus County, an adult brown marmorated stink bug in an almond orchard was first observed in May 2017. The stink bug feeding on almond fruits caused excessive gumming to the developing fruits, and damage to the kernels along with typical necrotic feeding signs on the shell (endocarp) and hull (exocarp and pericarp) of the fruit at harvest. The infestation and damage by on almond warrants further research to develop Integrated ...

Transitory wilting oftop potato leaves dueto the feeding of a stink-bug The insect cornmonly called in Brazil by the Portuguese equivalent to tomato stink-bug (Arv eli us a l b opun atat us (de Geer, 1773) Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) migrates and feeds occasionally on field potatoes, inducing a transitory wilting of one or mo re top leaves. The insect has been recorded in various parts of Brazil, including the State of São Paulo. Recebido em 22/06/85.

O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a seletividade do extrato hexânico de Ricinus communis (EHRC) sobre parasitismo de Telenomus podisi em ovos de Euschistus heros , em condicoes de laboratorio. Foram utilizados tres concentracoes (tratamentos) do EHRC (0,5, 1 e 2%) e uma testemunha constituida por alcool 90%. Para cada tratamento foram preparadas 40 cartelas contendo ovos de E. heros nao parasitados, das quais, 20 (repeticoes), foram imersas individualmente, por cerca de um segundo nos tratamentos e as outras 20 cartelas foram imersas em alcool 90%. Apos a secagem das cartelas em câmara de fluxo laminar, duas cartelas (uma com tratamento e outra com a testemunha) foram arranjadas em um tubo de vidro de fundo chato, juntamente com uma femea T. podisi . Apos este procedimento os tubos foram vedados, identificados e mantidos em sala climatizada por 24 horas. As avaliacoes foram realizadas a partir do quinto dia, quantificando-se o numero de ovos parasitados em cada cartela e numero ...

Estudou-se a biologia de Euschistus heros (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) em laboratório sob 24±0,5ºC, 70±10% UR e fotofase de 14 h. O tempo médio de desenvolvimento até adulto foi de 38,6 d, sendo o 2º estádio ninfal, o de maior índice de mortalidade (10,4%). A longevidade de E. heros variou de acordo com o sexo e atividade sexual. Machos e fêmeas atingiram a maturidade sexual com 11,4 e 11,2 d, respectivamente. O tempo médio para a colocação de posturas, após o primeiro acasalamento, variou de 9,1 d para fêmeas, que acasalaram uma única vez, até 13,9 dias para fêmeas que acasalaram várias vezes durante o período de sobrevivência. O número médio de ovos por fêmea variou de 108,5 até 130,5, dependendo do número de acasalamento das fêmeas estudadas. Juntamente com a deposição das massas de ovos, foi observada a colocação de posturas isoladas com percentagens de 71,7 e 77,8 respectivamente, também dependendo do número de acasalamentos.

The objective of this work was to compare the biology of Chinavia impicticornis and C. ubica (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), two species of stinkbugs that occur as secondary pests in soybean. Life table procedures were used for evaluating nymphs, and fecundity tables for evaluating adults, in order to establish the demographics of the two species. The two species have similar demographic parameters, and the development of immature stages, from egg to adult, had similar duration periods of approximately 30 days. In both species, eggs and second-instar nymphs were the stages with higher mortality. Total egg production did not differ between females of both species. Fecundity and survival curves for adults showed similar trends in both species. However, C. ubica had greater potential to increase its populations, since its fecundity parameters were significantly higher than those of C. impicticornis. Moreover, the generational time and the time required to double the population size were sho...

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merril) (Fabaceae) are the most important grain crop in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Recently, significant infestations of phytophagous mites were observed in different regions of this state. This research aimed to identify the mite fauna associated with the soybean crop grown in the northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul, particularly in Três de Maio and Mato Queimado counties. Assessments were made fortnightly in transgenic soybeans with irrigation (L1A) and without irrigation (L2A and B), in conventional soybeans without irrigation (L3C and D), and in edge plants (L1, 2 and 3). In soybean plants, we found 18,100 mites belonging to five families, nine genera and 12 species, besides those of Oribatida. Area L1A showed higher richness and abundance, with 10 species, followed by area L2B with insecticide application, with nine species. Lower richness was observed in L2A, with five species, and L3D showed lower abundance. Phytoseiidae showed higher richness, with five species, followed by Tetranychidae, with four species. Tetranychus urticae Koch, Mononychellus planki McGregor and Tetranychus ludeni Zacher were the most common phytophagous mites on soybean plants. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma, Pseudopronematus sp., N. californicus McGregor and N. anonymus Chant & Baker. N. idaeus were the most common predators. On edge plants, T. ludeni and T. urticae were the most abundant, while N. idaeus and Agistemus riograndensis Johann & Ferla stood out among the predatory mites.

Ischnopelta Stål, 1868 was proposed as a subgenus of Discocephala Laporte, 1832 and treated as genus by Berg, in 1891. Rolston, in 1990, redescribed the genus and included it on a identification key of Discocephalini genus. Garbelotto, in 2015, included two species in a phylogenetic analyses of the Discocephalini tribe. The analysis of the available material for the genus review, from several localities of Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina e Paraguay, revealed the existence of various new Ischnopelta species and one series with a male and three females from Venezuela whose general morphology and genitalia were not consistent with any genus of the broadheaded group or any other Dicocephalinae genus. Nevertheless, the distribution analysis of Ischnopelta species, supports the hypothesis of a plausible evolution associated to the ecosystems of the so called open vegetation formation (the Chacoan subregion) of South America. From these findings, the genus Ischnopelta was reviewed, I...

Objectives Assessment and identification of spatial structures in the distribution and abundance of invasive species is important for unraveling the underlying ecological processes. The invasive agricultural insect pest Halyomorpha halys that causes severe economic losses in the United States is currently expanding both within United States and across Europe. We examined the drivers of H. halys invasion by characterizing the distribution and abundance patterns of H. halys and native stink bugs (Chinavia hilaris and Euschistus servus) across eight different spatial scales. We then quantified the interactive and individual influences of temperature, and measures of resource availability and distance from source populations, and their relevant spatial scales. We used Moran's Eigenvector Maps based on Gabriel graph framework to quantify spatial relationships among the soybean fields in mid-Atlantic Unites States surveyed for stink bugs. Findings Results from the multi-spatial scale, multivariate analyses showed that temperature and its interaction with resource availability and distance from source populations structures the patterns in H. halys at very broad spatial scale. H. halys abundance decreased with increasing average June temperature and distance from source population. H. halys were not recorded at fields with average June temperature higher than 23.5°C. In parts with suitable climate, high H. halys abundance was positively associated with percentage developed open area and percentage deciduous forests at 250m scale. Broad scale patterns in native stink bugs were positively associated with increasing forest cover and, in contrast to the invasive H. halys, increasing mean July temperature. Our results identify the contrasting role of temperature in structuring regional patterns in H. halys and native stink bugs, while