Population of Scaptocoris castanea Perty (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) in a Crop–Livestock Integration System

Abstract

The population of the brown root stink bug, Scaptocoris castanea Perty, was studied in a crop-livestock integration system. This integrated system consisted of corn crop associated with Brachiaria decumbens pasture at the Unidade de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, in São José do Rio Preto (49°26' W; 20°49' S), state of São Paulo, Brazil. In each plot of the integrated crop-livestock system, which was consisted of six treatments and four replicates, four 0.25 m(2) and 0.30-m-deep samples of soil and roots were taken for analysis. These samples were stratified in 0.10-m layers, in which the number of nymphs and adults of S. castanea were assessed. These evaluations occurred monthly, from November 2008 to April 2009. The number of brown bug nymphs and adults was higher in areas where corn was cultivated for two consecutive years and in plots where pasture was renewed every 2 years. Lower insect population densities were observed in plots that remained as Brachiaria pasture. Therefore, S. castanea population is larger in integrated crop-livestock system (corn crop associated with B. decumbens), with no tillage.

Burrower Bugs (Cydnidae)

“…For some nymphs (e.g., Scaptocoris spp. ), dry periods may determine their location at greater depths in the soil, apparently in search for higher humidity (Oliveira and Malaguido 2004 ;Nardi et al 2007 ;Pereira et al 2012 ).…”

“…Host plants include small size plants, such as A. hypogaea , to larger-sized Eucalyptus spp. Very often these insects are reported as agricultural pests, and, depending on the population level, the symptoms of their occurrence can be checked on the shoots, whose leaves turn yellow and dry (Gallo et al 2002 ;Riis et al 2005b ;Oliveira and Malaguido 2004 ;Pereira et al 2012 ).…”

“…Pereira et al ( 2012 ) showed that S. castanea population is larger in integrated crop-livestock system (corn associated with Brachiaria decumbens Stapf), with no tillage. Both nymphs and adults of S. castanea were more numerous in areas where corn was cultivated for two consecutive years and where pasture was renewed every 2 years.…”

Morphology, Ontogeny, Reproduction, and Feeding of True Bugs

“…Plants of several families have been reported as hosts (Timonin 1958 ;Becker 1967 ;Riis et al 2005 ;Mayorga and Cervantes 2001 ;Chapin et al 2006 ), ranging from small-sized plants, such as A. hypogea , to larger-sized ones, such as Eucalyptus spp. Very often these insects are reported as agricultural pests and, depending on the population level, the symptoms of their occurrence can be checked on the shoots, whose leaves turn yellow and dry (Gallo et al 2002 ;Riis et al 2005 ;Oliveira and Malaguido 2004 ;Pereira et al 2012 ).…”

Anatomy, Histology, and Ultrastructure of Salivary Glands of the Burrower Bug,Scaptocoris castanea(Hemiptera: Cydnidae)

“…The burrower bugs (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) are phytophagous generalists with some other agricultural pest species (Becker, 1996; Riis et al, 2005; Chapin et al, 2006). Scaptocoris castanea Perty, 1830 (Cydnidae) is a pest of cotton, corn, soybean, and pastures (Oliveira & Malaguido, 2004; Pereira et al, 2012) and feeds on roots (JFSC, personal observation). Since salivary glands are the main source of saliva production responsible for damaging the plants (Oliveira & Malaguido, 2004; Matias et al, 2011; Peiffer & Felton, 2014), more detailed information on this organ have yet to be explored.…”