Rearing the southern green stink bug using an artificial dry diet and an artificial plant

Abstract

-Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted with an artificial dry diet to rear nymphs, and with an artificial plant as substrate for egg laying by the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). The artificial diet was composed of: soybean protein (15 g); potato starch (7.5 g); dextrose (7.5 g); sucrose (2.5 g); cellulose (12.5 g); vitamin mixture (niacinamide 1 g, calcium pantothenate 1 g, thiamine 0.25 g, riboflavin 0.5 g, pyridoxine 0.25 g, folic acid 0.25 g, biotin 0.02 mL, vitamin B 12 1 g -added to 1,000 mL of distilled water) (5.0 mL); soybean oil (20 mL); wheat germ (17.9 g); and water (30 mL). Nymphs showed normal feeding behavior when fed on the artificial diet. Nymphal development time was longer than or similar to that of nymphs fed on soybean pods. Total nymphal mortality was low (ca. 30%), both for nymphs reared on the artificial diet, and for nymphs fed on soybean pods. At adult emergence, fresh body weights were significantly (P<0.01) less on the artificial diet than on soybean pods. Despite the lower adult survivorship and fecundity on artificial plants than on soybean plants, it was demonstrated for the first time that a model simulating a natural plant, can be used as a substrate for egg mass laying, in conjunction with the artificial diet.Index terms: Pentatomidae, Nezara viridula, Glycine max, nymphs, oviposition, rearing techniques.CRIAÇÃO DO PERCEVEJO-VERDE USANDO DIETA ARTIFICIAL SECA E PLANTA ARTIFICIAL RESUMO -Foram conduzidos estudos em laboratório e em casa de vegetação, com uma dieta artificial seca para a criação de ninfas e com um modelo de planta artificial como substrato para a colocação de ovos por adultos do percevejo-verde, Nezara viridula (L.). Os componentes da dieta artificial foram: proteína de soja (15 g); fécula de batata (7,5 g); dextrose (7,5 g); sacarose (2,5 g); celulose (12,5 g); mistura vitamínica (niacinamida 1 g, pantotenato de cálcio 1 g, tiamina 0,25 g, riboflavina 0,5 g, piridoxina 0,25 g, ácido fólico 0,25 g, biotina 0,02 mL, vitamina B 12 1 g, adicionada em 1.000 mL de água destilada) (5,0 mL); óleo de soja (20 mL); germe de trigo (17,9 g); e água (30 mL). As ninfas alimentaram-se normalmente da dieta, embora o tempo de desenvolvimento tenha sido em um caso, maior, e em outro, semelhante, ao das ninfas que se alimentaram de vagens da soja. A mortalidade total das ninfas foi baixa (ca. 30%), tanto na dieta como na vagem de soja. Na emergência, os adultos apresentaram peso fresco significativamente (P<0,01) menor na dieta que na soja. Apesar de a sobrevivên-cia e a fecundidade terem sido menores nas plantas artificiais do que na soja, fica demonstrado, pela primeira vez, que um modelo simulando uma planta natural pode ser usado como substrato para oviposição pelo percevejo N. viridula, em conjunto com a dieta artificial.Termos para indexação: Pentatomidae, Nezara viridula, Glycine max, ninfas, oviposição, técnicas de criação.

<![CDATA[<B>Development of a dry artificial diet for <I>Nezara viridula</I> (L.) and <I>Euschistus heros</I> (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)</B>]]>

“…The development and improvement of a host rearing methodology, as well as of an artificial diet, are essential for the large-scale production and release of parasitoids in soybean fields. Several attempts have been made to develop or adapt artificial diets for stink bug rearing with only partial success (Jensen & Gibbens 1973, Brewer & Jones 1985, Jones & Brewer 1987, Panizzi et al 2000.…”

“…However, Panizzi et al (2000) used a dry artificial diet for Nezara viridula (L.) rearing, and obtained low nymph mortality (ca. 30%); however, developmental time was longer and adult body weight was lower compared with those reared on soybean pods.…”

Use of artificial substrates of different colors for oviposition by the brown stink bug Euschistus heros (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae)

“…Among earlier experiments, Panizzi et al (2000b), studying the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.), demonstrated for the first time that a model simulating a natural plant can be used as substrate for oviposition along with an artificial diet. Later, Panizzi et al (2004) successfully used cheesecloth treated with soybean plant extracts for oviposition of this stink bug.…”

Oviposition preference of the neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros on artificial substrates of different colors

“…However, the major challenge to rear stink bugs in the laboratory is to provide adequate substrates of oviposition to concentrate postures and reduce the time of handling during the maintenance of colonies. Studies using artifi cial oviposition substrates with different species of stink bugs show that these insects can lay eggs on paper towel hanging inside cages (SHEARER & JONES, 1996), in voil (BUNDY & McPHERSON, 2000), on plastic structures that mimic soybean leaves (PANIZZI et al, 2000b) on cheesecloth stretched treated with chemical extract of soybean pods (PANIZZI et al, 2004), on wool yarn, (SILVA & PANIZZI, 2008), and also on cotton balls (SILVA & PANIZZI, 2007). All these artifi cial substrates have proved to be appropriate for oviposition of several pentatomids species, but not evaluated the color of the substrates as attractive characteristics to stink bugs.…”