Abstract
ABSTRACT Host plants are key factors in the survival of true bugs during unfavorable periods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the composition, diversity and abundance of pentatomid bugs in Saccharum angustifolium (Nees) Trin. (Poales: Poaceae). Plants were evaluated during the soybean and corn off--season for five years. A total of 250 plants were sampled, the true bug population was counted and used for statistical and faunistic analysis. We observed the occurrence of the species: Euschistus heros (F.), Dichelops furcatus (F.), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), Edessa meditabunda (F.), and Edessa ruformaginata (De Geer). Among the species, the highest population density was verified for E. meditabunda, E. heros, and D. furcatus. We also observed a direct effect of the clump diameter on the population density of E. heros, D. furcatus, and E. meditabunda. Finally, we conclude that S. angustifolium plants serve as adequate hibernacles for the survival of true bugs of economic importance during the soybean and corn off-season.
Highlights
Pentatomid bugs are among the major entomological problems in various regions of the world
Several papers highlight wild plants associated with the survival of true bugs in different agroecosystems; these insects seek shelters to hibernate during periods of low temperatures and food shortages (KLEIN et al, 2013; SMANIOTTO; PANIZZI, 2015; PASINI et al, 2018)
At the end of the experiment, we observed a total of 3,555 pentatomid bugs distributed in six species (Table 1)
Summary
Pentatomid bugs are among the major entomological problems in various regions of the world Due to their feeding behavior these insects cause significant damage to most large crops in Brazil (soybean, corn and wheat) (McPHERSON, 2018). In Brazil, the occurrence of plants in areas surrounding the cultivation is related to the accumulation of true bug populations during the off-season These plants provide adequate shelter and microclimate for the survival of these insects, which keep waiting for the return of favorable conditions. In this way, the plants associated with these organisms become sources of reinfestation of cultivated areas (PANIZZI, 1997; KLEIN et al, 2013; SMANIOTTO; PANIZZI, 2015; PASINI et al, 2018)
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