Neopamera bilobata Say (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae) habit and density on strawberry cultivars

Abstract

Neopamera bilobata Say (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae) is an insect species which has been reported in Brazil and was recently updated as important pest of strawberry. Studies with N. bilobata habit and this species density on different strawberry cultivars are still incipient. Observations of N. bilobata adults and nymphs were realized on pseudofruits, leaves and over the substrate, near to the plant or in the crown to determinate its habit. For cultivars experiments, evaluations of N. bilobata was performed observing green and mature pseudofruits of conventional and organic strawberries in four greenhouses with three cultivars (Albion, San Andreas and Monterey). Number of trichomes on strawberry pseudofruits was also quantified. N. bilobata populations were significantly higher on strawberry pseudofruits and in the plant crown or near to the plant, walking over the substrate than on leaves. N. bilobata was found in higher numbers on Monterey cultivar in organic high tunnels. For conventional system, cultivars did not affect N. bilobata numbers. Comparing the strawberry cultivars between cultivation systems, N. bilobata was presented in higher number on Albion on conventional system comparing with organic; and higher number on Monterey on organic system comparing with conventional. Discussions on the trichomes influence on N. bilobata incidence are provided. Further research could focus on monitoring and economic threshold studies and N. bilobata density on other stablished strawberry cultivars.