Overwintering Habitats, Spring Emergence Patterns, and Winter Mortality of Some South Carolina Hemiptera 1

Abstract

During a 3-year study, 522 overwintered individuals among 47 species of Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae, Corimelaenidae, Cydnidae, Coreidae, and Reduviidae emerged into cages placed over ground litter in 6 habitats. Among economically important pentatomids, Euschistus servus (Say) was most abundant and preferred open habitats, whereas E. tristigmus (Say) and Podisus maculiventris (Say) overwintered in deciduous woods and their borders. Acrosternum hilare (Say) preferred deciduous woods. Nezara viridula (L.) was found to overwinter primarily in above-ground habitats. Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.) overwintered as eggs behind tree bark. No N. viridula survived the winter when caged over wild radish, deciduous leaf litter, or soybean stubble. Only 9% of the A. hilare caged over leaf litter survived during 1976 and 1977. Weather data suggest that absence of N. viridula in South Carolina during 1977 and 1978 was due to the two previous severe winters. Most overwintered A. hilare survivors emerged during early April; E. servus and E. tristigmus emerged from late March through April. Spring emergence was stimulated by increasing temperatures.