POTENTIAL RISK OF LOSSES IN MAIZE CAUSED BY Dichelops melacanthus (DALLAS) (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) IN BRAZIL

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The incidence of the green belly stink bug, Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), on maize crop in Brazil has increased with time, especially due to the continuous availability of food throughout the year. This insect causes injury to seedlings, killing them shortly after their emergence from the soil. If the plant survives, it is possible to see areas with necrotic lesion that increase in a transverse pattern on the sheet, with perforations on the leaves or tillers (side shoots). This pest is currently one of the most important to maize, in conventional and Bt hybrids.The research compared the behavior of theses cultivars infested by the green belly stink bug, D. melacanthus. Bt and conventional maize cultivars were evaluated in a protected environment (greenhouse) and only Bt maize was evaluated at field. Evaluations based on plant development and insect injury occurred after seven days of the infestation period.The results indicated variability among cultivars related to insect infestation, measured by a visual scale for damage determination and plant development. Grain yield obtained from infested plots was 6352.2 kg ha -1 whereas in the non- Sorgo, v.15, n.3, p. 386-397, 2016 ABSTRACT: The incidence of the green belly stink bug, Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), on maize crop in Brazil has increased with time, especially due to the continuous availability of food throughout the year. This insect causes injury to seedlings, killing them shortly after their emergence from the soil. If the plant survives,

Damage by the green-belly stink bug to corn

“…The higher susceptibility of new corn plants to the damage by the stink bug may be due to sap feeding or the presence of indole-3-acetic acid, a compound considered toxic to plants in their initial developmental stages (Hori, 2000;Cruz et al, 2016).…”

“…Since plants define their productive potential in stages V1 to V6 (Fancelli & Dourado Neto, 2003), which are characterized as susceptible periods to the attack of the stink bug, the farmer must use control measures to avoid economic losses during these first stages of corn development (Cruz et al, 2016).…”

“…The damage by the D. melacanthus stink bug to corn plants occurs when the insect feeds near the collar of the seedlings, penetrating into the plant with their buccal stylet and secreting toxic saliva, which causes the rupture of cells inside the plant tissue (Panizzi & Lucini, 2019). These salivary secretions result in typical injuries as the corn leaves develop, causing necrosis and yellowing, leaf deformation, or even corn plant tillering (Roza-Gomes et al, 2011;Cruz et al, 2016).…”

Role of herbivore‐induced maize volatiles in the chemotactic behaviour of Telenomus podisi and Diceraeus melacanthus

“…The production losses due to the damage caused by D. melacanthus feeding on maize can reach up to 30% (Bianco, 2004; Cruz et al, 2016; Bueno et al, 2021; Da Silva et al, 2021). Nowadays, pesticide application (mainly neonicotinoids) is the only method used for controlling stink bugs in arable crops.…”

Damage caused by Diceraeus (= Dichelops) melacanthus in maize plants subjected to combinations: bioinoculation and imidacloprid seed treatment

“…Currently, one of the main maize crop pests in Brazil is the stink bug Diceraeus (= Dichelops) melacanthus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), which causes crop losses of 20% (Cruz et al, 2016) to approximately 100% (Silva et al, 2019;2021). The use of insecticides for seed treatment Orcial Ceolin Bortolotto et al…”