Abstract
A survey of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was conducted on the invasive tree, Pittosporum undulatum Ventenat (Pittosporaceae) in southern Brazil (Passo Fundo – RS, latitude 28º15’46” S; longitude 52°24´24” W) aiming to know if this exotic plant might host these insects. Results indicated that P. undulatum was found hosting the stink bugs Chinavia erythrocnemis (Berg, 1878), Chinavia impicticornis (Stål, 1872) and Loxa deducta Walker, 1867. Chinavia impicticornis was rare (only one nymph collected) while C. erythrocnemis was much more abundant (30 adults collected), and nymphs were able to develop and adult to reproduce on fruits of P. undulatum in the laboratory; however, the viability of nymphs was negatively affected. Loxa deducta was intermediate (20 adults collected) and, from the only egg mass obtained in the laboratory, nymphs died few days later. The results suggest that P. undulatum may provide some nutrients and shelter, but not provide ideal conditions to guarantee the continuous development of these stink bugs species.
Highlights
A survey of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was conducted on the invasive tree, Pittosporum undulatum Ventenat (Pittosporaceae) in southern Brazil (Passo Fundo – RS, latitude 28°15’46” S; longitude 52°24 ́24” W) aiming to know if this exotic plant might host these insects
One species of Pentatomidae have been recorded in Australia, Monteithiella humeralis (Walker, 1868) on P. undulatum (North Dakota State University 2020)
The only species of Pentatomidae registered in the neotropics on P. undulatum is Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837) in Uruguay (Zerbino et al 2015)
Summary
A survey of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was conducted on the invasive tree, Pittosporum undulatum Ventenat (Pittosporaceae) in southern Brazil (Passo Fundo – RS, latitude 28°15’46” S; longitude 52°24 ́24” W) aiming to know if this exotic plant might host these insects. As P. undulatum is known eventually to host stink bugs as previously indicated, and considering the lack of information on the occurrence of stink bugs on P. undulatum in southern Brazil, we surveyed trees and species collected were taken to the laboratory to study the nymph and adult biology on fruits of this plant. Nymphs of each pentatomid species were separated and placed in the plastic boxes as above to obtain adults.
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