Nymphal and Adult Performance of Euschistus heros (Fabr.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), as a Potential Alternative Host for Egg Parasitoids Multiplication

Abstract

-This research aimed to evaluate the potential of Euschistus heros (Fabr.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) as host for multiplication of egg parasitoids, by determining the nymphal and adult performance of E. heros from laboratory and the field, comparing with Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), under mass conditions. One hundred eggs of E. heros and N. viridula were placed among the leaves of soybean plants contained in cages (50x50x70 cm) and observation were made until adult emergence. The nymphs fed on soybean pods, dry soybean and peanuts seeds. The number of nymphs that reached adulthood and the development time were calculated. The survivorship and reproduction performance of laboratory and field populations of E. heros and N. viridula were evaluated during 13 weeks in February-May 1999. The number of eggs produced by 100 pairs of stink bugs per cage containing the same diet was recorded. Nymphal development time of E. heros and N. viridula was 33.0 and 34.0 days and 65.0% and 71.3% of nymphs reached adulthood, respectively. Adults of E. heros reared under laboratory conditions produced 2.5 times more eggs (5547.0 eggs/ cage) than those collected in the field (2262.7 eggs/cage). The adult field population of E. heros had reduced reproduction and longevity due to parasitism by Hexacladia smithii Ash. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). The N. viridula adults collected in the field produced 1.7 times more eggs (6304.9 eggs/cage) than those reared in the laboratory (3609.2 eggs/cage). E. heros laboratory reared is a promising host for egg parasitoids multiplication when compared with N. viridula collected in the field.KEY WORDS: Insecta, Glycine max, southern green stink bug, neotropical brown stink bug, rearing.

Survivorship and Egg Production of Phytophagous Pentatomids in Laboratory Rearing

“…Chocorosqui & Panizzi (2008) (Fig 1). These results demonstrate that E. heros can keep their egg production high over a period of 30 days, as also observed by Peres & Corrêa-Ferreira (2001) and Silva et al (2008). On the other hand, N. viridula and D. melacanthus decreased their fecundity during the last 10-Means (n = 3) followed by the same letter in each column do not differ signi icantly using the Tukey test (P > 0.05); ns non signi icant.…”

Euschistus heros mass rearing technique for the multiplication of Telenomus podisi

“…The pattern of survivorship curves suggests that mortality occurred independent of age ( Figure 1). Peres & Corrêa-Ferreira (2001) reared E. heros in cages (50x50x70 cm) with 100 couples, and reported a similar survival curve.…”

“…Densities of 300 and 400 eggs per Petri dish caused a mean reduction of 43% in the number of nymphs reaching the adult stage, probably due to competition for resources. For many insect species, optimal density among juveniles depends on the number and distribution of eggs (Sato et al, 2004), and high density produces high mortality, due to intraspecific competition for resources (Moe et al, 2002;Sato et al, 2004;Bauerfeind et al, 2005). There was no significant effect of density on adult sex ratio (Table 1).…”

“…However, this strategy is not available for extensive areas, due to difficulties in obtaining high numbers of the parasitoid, which depend on egg production of its preferred host, N. viridula. With the increasing population of E. heros in soybean fields, this species is a good alternative host for mass rearing of T. basalis (Peres & Corrêa-Ferreira, 2001). In addition, E. heros is the preferred host of Telenomus podisi (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), another egg parasitoid of the bugs (Corrêa-Ferreira & Moscardi, 1995;Sujii et al, 2002).…”

Methodology of mass multiplication of Telenomus podisi Ash. and Trissolcus basalis (Woll.) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on eggs of Euschistus heros (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

“…This specie can be easily reared under laboratory conditions and high rates of survivorship and fecundity can be obtained (Peres & Corrêa-Ferreira 2001). Additionally this specie is the preferential host of the important egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ash.…”