Green Stink Bug Nezara Viridula Research Articles

EFFECTS OF AN ENCAPSULATED FORMULATION OF LAMBDA-CYHALOTHRIN ON NEZARA VIRIDULA AND ITS PREDATOR PODISUS MACULIVENTRIS (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE)

Insecticidal effects of an encapsulated formulation of lambda-cyhalothrin on the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (L.) and one of its predators, Podisus maculiventris (Say), were investigated in the laboratory. Both pentatomids were exposed to the insecticide via contaminated drinking water and by residual contact. Nymphs and adults of N. viridula were more susceptible to the insecticide than nymphs of P. maculiventris, both by ingestion and contact exposure. For the respective ways of exposure, LC50 values calculated for P. maculiventrisfourth instars were 30-190 times and 3-13 times higher than those of N. viridulafourth instars. Insecticidal activity of the pyrethroid by ingestion was 6-10 times greater against nymphs of N. viridula than against adults of the pest. In both the ingestion and residual contact experiments, nymphs of P. maculiventris recovered from initial knockdown. LC50 values for predator nymphs increased 1.7- to 2.7-fold between 24 and 48 h after the start of the experiment. Recovery from knockdown was not observed in N. viridula. The data from the current laboratory study suggest that encapsulated lambda-cyhalothrin may be effective for controlling the southern green stinkbug with little adverse effects on the predator P. maculiventris, but field experiments are needed to confirm this. Possible reasons for the differential toxicity of the insecticide to both pentatomids are discussed.

Vibrational communication in insects

Communication through substrate-borne vibrations has for long been recognized but in comparison with air-borne sound it has received very little attention. However, in recent years it has become increasingly clear that vibrational signals play a crucial role in communication in many insect groups and we provide a short overview. Vibrational signals are related to sexual behavior, alarm and defensive behavior and are often used to mediate coordinated group actions and complex social interactions. For small insects they are probably the least costly and most far-reaching signals for intraspecific communication and also not easily perceived by a potential predator or parasitoid. Substrate-borne signals are produced by diversed methods and detected by sensitive receptors in all six legs. The courtship behavior of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is taken as a representative model in illustrating some principal mechanisms of vibrational communication in insects. Species and sex specific vibrational signals produced during the courtship are well suited for propagation through plants and to transmit the relevant information about the species and sex of the sender as well as provide the directional cue for locating the mate. The role of substrate-borne signals as a part of the specific mate recognition systems which are unique for each species makes studies of vibrational signals a very useful tool for resolving taxonomic problems.

Occurrence of the Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Hungary

The geographical origin of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Figs 1, 2) is still uncertain but it is believed to have originated in eastern Africa and/or Mediterranean (Hokkanen, 1986). During the last 250 years it has spread all over the world through human trade and agriculture. At present it occurs in the tropical and subtropical regions all around the world and it is still spreading to new areas. Specimens of populations from different continents do not differ morphologically. However, there is genetic differentiation among them, so the taxon N. viridula may contain unrecognized sibling species (Meglic et al., 2001). The occurrence of the species was expected in the southern part of Hungary (Halaszfy, 1959), since it is widely distributed and common in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Recently some specimens have been found in Hungary. List of localities: Budapest: Kobanya–Kispest, at railway station, 02. X. 2002, leg. Redei (1 ❹, ab. torquata (Fabricius, 1775)). – Szeged: Boszorkanysziget (bank of the river Tisza), 26. VI. 2000, leg. Bajko (1 ❹); Boszorkanysziget, 24. VI. 2002, leg. Torma (3 LV); Gyalai Holt-Tisza, 10. VII. 2001, leg. Kallai (1 ➁); in flat, 01. X. 2002, leg. Fulop (1 ❹); in flat, 13. X. 2002, leg. Fulop (1 ➁, ab. aurantiaca A. Costa, 1884). – Szeged–Kiskundorozsma: 18. VII. 2001, leg. Orosz (1 ➁). Most of the specimens which have so far been collected in Hungary, were found in the southern part of the country (Szeged and Szeged–Kiskundorozsma). The expansion of several Mediterranean Heteroptera species [e.g. Oxycarenus lavaterae (Fabricius, 1787), Arocatus longiceps (Stal, 1872)] has been observed in Hungary lately. Therefore, it is possible that N. viridula will spread to other parts of Hungary, too. A single specimen which probably spread through human transport, has already been found in Budapest at a railway station. Also some 5th instar nymphs have been found in Szeged. This indicates Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 38 (3–4), pp. 365–367 (2003)

PREDATION BY PODISUS MACULIVENTRIS ON DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES OF NEZARA VIRIDULA

Abstract Predation capacity of fourth instars and male and female adults of Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on the different life stages of the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was measured in the laboratory. Both nymphal and adult predators displayed high predation rates on eggs, nymphs and adults of the southern green stinkbug. However, developmental times of fourth instar P. maculiventris on eggs or nymphal instars of N. viridula were longer than on fifth instars of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), suggesting that N. viridula is suboptimal prey for the spined soldier bug. Preference experiments in which fourth instar P. maculiventris were given a choice between fourth instars of N. viridula and fifth instars of S. littoralis indicated that the stinkbugs were less vulnerable to predation than the caterpillars, mainly because of their greater agility. The potential role of P. maculiventris in a...

Songs of Holcostethus strictus (Fabricius): a different repertoire among landbugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Songs emitted during mating by male and female Holcostethus strictus were recorded as substrate vibrations. Spectra of the vibrational signals have a dominant frequency peak between 100 and 260 Hz and in this respect reflect the general characteristic of the family Pentatomidae. Songs of H. strictus differ from the song repertoire of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) (Pentatomidae) in many respects. The female calling and courtship songs differ in echeme and phrase duration. The male calling song is composed of spectrally different subunits. The male courtship song is characterised by three types of spectrally and temporally different echemes. The male copulatory song is composed of echemes of two types, which constitute a phrase of less regular temporal structure. In H. strictus, males start to sing first and female songs are less complex than in N. viridula. The female calling song is evoked by male calling and does not trigger male response. The female and male courtship song phrases are superimposed on one another and we have not observed any obvious regularity in their exchange. The possible role of different songs in H. strictus is discussed and compared with that in other pentatomide landbug species.

The Influence of Substrate on Male Responsiveness to the Female Calling Song in Nezara viridula

The female calling song (FCS) of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula is composed of vibrational pulse trains that include either short pulses and a long pulse (FCS-1) or just short pulses (FCS-2). Their function in communication was studied by investigating male vibratory responses to natural and artificial signals on artificial and natural substrates. On a loudspeaker membrane, FCS-1 triggered in males from a Slovene and a French population significantly more courtship songs (MCrS) than FCS-2. Experiments with artificial signals showed that male responses are modulated by the duration of pulse trains and pulse repetition time. On a bean plant, males of both populations responded in the same way to the two types of female calling song pulse trains. Moreover, a laser vibrometer study of the transmission of different natural and artificial vibratory signals through the bean plant showed that the pulses of a high repetition rate are prolonged and fused at distances from the emitter. We conclude that female calling song pulse trains of different temporal structure have the same function in vibrational communication of the species. The temporal and spectral structures of the female calling songs of N. viridula are discussed in terms of effective transmission through plants.

Green stink bug Nezara viridula detects differences in amplitude between courtship song vibrations at stem and petiolus.

Green stink bug Nezara viridula courtship songs are transmitted through plants as substrate vibrations. The amplitude of the vibrations is different at different distances from the source of vibration and at different locations on the plant. Amplitudes of the local vibration were measured on stem and petioli of the bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) with a Laser-Doppler vibrometer. Differences of the amplitudes of vibration between adjacent points around the nodes were large enough to release differential nerve activities of vibration receptor cells of different legs. There was no correlation between the signal amplitude and the distance from the singing bug, however; the differences in amplitudes of vibrations between the stem and the adjacent petioli of leaves potentially permitted direction finding in the green stink bug males.

Temporal and spectral properties of the songs of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) from Slovenia

Temporal and spectral properties of the songs of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) from Slovenia

Vibratory songs of hybrids from Brazilian and Slovenian populations of the green stink bug Nezara viridula

Vibratory songs of hybrids from Brazilian and Slovenian populations of the green stink bug Nezara viridula

Green stink bug Nezara viridula detects differences in amplitude between courtship song vibrations at stem and petiolus.

Green stink bug Nezara viridula courtship songs are transmitted through plants as substrate vibrations. The amplitude of the vibrations is different at different distances from the source of vibration and at different locations on the plant. Amplitudes of the local vibration were measured on stem and petioli of the bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) with a Laser-Doppler vibrometer. Differences of the amplitudes of vibration between adjacent points around the nodes were large enough to release differential nerve activities of vibration receptor cells of different legs. There was no correlation between the signal amplitude and the distance from the singing bug, however; the differences in amplitudes of vibrations between the stem and the adjacent petioli of leaves potentially permitted direction finding in the green stink bug males.

Vibratory songs of hybrids from Brazilian and Slovenian populations of the green stink bug Nezara viridula

Males and females of the green stink bug Nezara viridula produce species and sex specific vibrational signals. The songs of bugs from geographically isolated population differ in their temporal characteristics. Hybrids were produced between the bugs from Brazilian and Slovenian populations in order to examine the levels of genetic inheritance of their vibratory songs. Hybrid males and females produced songs which are distinctly different from parental songs and these differences can be attributable to genetic factor. The results show that in some parameters the hybrid songs are intermediate between the parental types. Several song parameters are apparently sex-linked. It remains to be established whether observed genetically determined differences in vibratory songs also indicate that cryptic species exist within the taxon N. viridula.

Temporal and spectral properties of the songs of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) from Slovenia.

Substrate born songs of the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (L.) from Slovenia were recorded and analysed. The male calling song is composed of narrow-band regularly repeated single pulses and of broad-band frequency modulated pulses grouped into pulse trains. The female calling song is characterised by broad-band pulsed and narrow-band non-pulsed pulse trains. A frequency modulated pre-pulse precedes the narrow-band pulse train. A frequency-modulated post-pulse usually follows the pulse train of the male courtship song. The male calling song triggers broad-band pulse trains of the female courtship song. The female also produces a repelling low-frequency vibration that inhibits male calling and courtship. The male rival song is characterised by prolonged pulses with a typical frequency modulation.

Primary structure of a novel neuropeptide isolated from the corpora cardiaca of periodical cicadas having adipokinetic and hypertrehalosemic activities

A new neuropeptide hormone was isolated from the corpora cardiaca of the periodical cicadas, Magicicada species. Primary structure of the peptide as determined by a combination of automated Edman degradation after enzymatic deblocking with pyroglutamate aminopeptidase and mass spectrometery is: pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Ser-Trp-Gly-Asn-NH 2. Synthetic peptide assayed in the green stink bug Nezara viridula caused a 112% increase in hemolymph lipids at a dose of 0.625 pmol, and a 67% increase in hemolymph carbohydrates at a dose of 2.5 pmol. Based on these results we designate this peptide, a first from order Homoptera, as Magicicada species-adipokinetic hormone (Mcsp-AKH).

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of the Sex Pheromone of Nezara viridula (L.)

AbstractThe main component of the green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) sex pheromone, the (Z)‐(1S,2R,4S)‐(−)‐epoxybisabolene (1), has been synthesized by a convergent stereocontrolled sequence, using (S)‐(−)‐perillyl alcohol (2) as starting material.

Two novel viruses associated with severe disease symptoms of the green stinkbug Nezara viridula.

Two viruses were isolated from green stinkbugs (Nezara viridula) with severe disease symptoms. These viruses have been named N. viridula virus type 1 (NVV-1) and NVV-2 according to their relative sedimentation coefficients. NVV-1 is a small picorna-like virus with a diameter of 29 nm, a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.34 g/ml and a sedimentation coefficient of 153S. NVV-1 particles contain a 9.4 kb ssRNA segment and have three coat proteins of M(r)s 32,100, 31,500 and 30,700. NVV-2 sediments as two components on sucrose gradients; the top 104S component consists almost entirely of 41 nm empty capsids and the faster sedimenting 177S component consists of intact 39 nm spherical particles. NVV-2 particles have a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.39 g/ml and consist of one major protein of M(r) 73,800 and at least two minor proteins of M(r)s 13,500 and 16,500. Only one dsRNA segment of 6.2 kb was identified. The properties of NVV-2 are similar to those of the Totiviridae. Individual stinkbugs were infected with either NVV-1 or NVV-2, or with a mixture of the two viruses. Re-infection of virus-free stinkbugs with the mixture resulted in typical disease symptoms. Both viruses were vertically transmitted through the eggs and insects were infected by surface contamination of their food source.

Hereditary Basis of Adult Color Polymorphism in the Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara viridula LINNE(Heteroptera:Pentatomidae)

Polymorphism in the color types of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula was studied to elucidate the hereditary basis. Out of many known color types of the species, three basic types were found in the field in Gazipur, Bangladesh; among which the frequency of G-type (f. smaragdula FABR.) was most abundant and was followed by that of O-type (f. torquata FABR.) and R-type (f. viridula L.). During the course of this study, new intermediate types were obtained in the laboratory. OR- and OY-type were regarded respectively as the intermediate type between O- and R-type, and between O- and Y-type (f. aurantica COSTA), based on the body color of adults. In contrast to the entirely green coloration of G-type, other types have yellow or orange coloration over parts or the entirety of the body. By using the types other than OY, the lineage of each was maintained up to the 5th generation, and crossing experiments were conducted. The relative abundance of different color types produced by the experiments coincides well with the ratio expected from the assumption that two sets of genes governing the color types exist on two independent loci. The assumed genotypes are as follows: G-type, a/a b/b; O-type A/- b/b; R-type a/a B/-; OR-type A/- B/-.