Kudzu-deprived First-generationMegacopta cribraria(F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) Are Capable of Developing on Alternative Legume Species1

Abstract

The biology of Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) is not well understood in its new North American distribution, especially its development on alternative host plant species. We investigated whether overwintered M. cribraria could directly feed and oviposit on other legume species (Fabales: Fabaceae) without feeding on kudzu, Pueraria montana (Loureiro) Merrill var. lobata (Willdenow) Maesen & S. Almeida, and subsequently complete a first-generation on these species in no-choice greenhouse assays. Overwintered M. cribraria successfully oviposited on mung bean, Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek; black-eyed pea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp; lima bean ( = butter bean), Phaseolus lunatus L.; soybean, Glycine max L. Merrill; and kudzu. There were no differences in oviposition or the hatch rates on different legume species, although hatch rate was highest for soybean followed by kudzu, lima bean, mung bean, and black-eyed pea, respectively. First-generation M. cribraria developed on all legume species except black-eyed pea in 55.6 ± 1.6 d with little variation in developmental time of the instars. However, there were significantly more first instars molting to second instars on kudzu (19.6 ± 3.3), soybean (14.7 ± 3.0), and mung bean (19.0 ± 1.0) than on lima bean (5.3 ± 2.4). Mean developmental days of the first, second, and fourth instars were consistent at about seven days, while the third and fifth instars took longer to develop. Mortality from egg to adult was greatest on black-eyed pea, followed by lima bean, kudzu, mung bean, and soybean. These results indicate that overwintered M. cribraria adults are able to bypass kudzu to directly develop on soybean, lima bean, and mung bean crops.