Piezodorus Guildinii Research Articles

Comparative Genomics and the Salivary Transcriptome of the Redbanded Stink Bug Shed Light on Its High Damage Potential to Soybean.

The redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a significant soybean pest in the Americas, which inflicts more physical damage on soybean than other native stink bugs. Studies suggest that its heightened impact is attributed to the aggressive digestive properties of its saliva. Despite its agricultural importance, the factors driving its greater ability to degrade plant tissues have remained unexplored in a genomic evolutionary context. In this study, we hypothesized that lineage-specific gene family expansions have increased the copy number of digestive genes expressed in the salivary glands. To investigate this, we annotated a previously published genome assembly of the redbanded stink bug, performed a comparative genomic analysis on 11 hemipteran species, and reconstructed patterns of gene duplication, gain, and loss in the redbanded stink bug. We also performed RNA-seq on the redbanded stink bug's salivary tissues, along with the rest of the body without salivary glands. We identified hundreds of differentially expressed salivary genes, including a subset lost in other stink bug lineages, but retained and expressed in the redbanded stink bug's salivary glands. These genes were significantly enriched with protein families involved in proteolysis, potentially explaining the redbanded stink bug's heightened damage to soybeans. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no support for an enrichment of duplicated digestive genes that are also differentially expressed in the salivary glands of the redbanded stink bug. Nonetheless, these results provide insight into the evolution of this important crop pest, establishing a link between its genomic history and its agriculturally important physiology.

Biological control potential of two Beauveria bassiana isolates against the stink bugs Nezara viridula L. and Piezodorus guildinii Westwood (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in common bean

BackgroundThe stink bugs, Nezara viridula L. and Piezodorus guildinii Westwood (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are the most important and widespread species of polyphagous stink bugs in the tropical and subtropical regions of Latin America, which affect the quality and yield of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The use of synthetic chemical insecticides is the major control strategy to manage stink bugs in common beans and alternatives are needed. In this study, mortality and median Lethal Time (LT50) of two Cuban isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (18 S-O-R and 96 P-O-E), as well as one commercial Cuban isolate (Bb-18), at a concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/ml were evaluated. These evaluations were conducted against both stink bug species using Petri dish bioassays and a semi-field experiment in common beans.ResultsIn Petri dish bioassays, the isolates 18 S-O-R and 96 P-O-E caused 100% mortality of both N. viridula and P. guildinii. This was significantly higher than for isolate Bb-18, which caused 86.3% N. viridula and 81.3% P. guildinii mortality. In the semi-field experiment, when pooling both stink bug species, total mortality after 14 days was 91.3% for 18 S-O-R, 80.0% for 96 P-O-E and 73.8% for Bb-18 isolates. LT50 value for isolate 18 S-O-R tested under laboratory conditions was 6.04 ± 0.18 days for N. viridula and 5.32 ± 0.14 days for P. guildinii at the same concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/ml. LT50 value for isolate 18 S-O-R in semi field was 6.79 ± 0.37 days for N. viridula and 7.71 ± 0.32 days for P. guildinii at 1 × 108 conidia/ml.ConclusionThe study highlights the potential of B. bassiana 18 S-O-R as a promising candidate for control of stink bugs in common bean under tropical conditions as an alternative to conventional chemical insecticides in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Moving forward, further research should focus on validating the efficacy under diverse field conditions and integrating application methods into practical IPM approaches. Future use of B. bassiana will enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impacts associated with pesticide use.

Insecticide Susceptibilities and Enzyme Activities of Four Stink Bug Populations in Mississippi, USA.

In Mississippi, the Pentatomidae complex infesting soybean is primarily composed of Euschistus servus, Nezara viridula, Chinavia hilaris, and Piezodorus guildinii. This study employed spray bioassays to evaluate the susceptibilities of these stink bugs to seven commonly used formulated insecticides: oxamyl, acephate, bifenthrin, λ-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and sulfoxaflor. Stinks bugs were collected from soybeans in Leland, MS, USA during 2022 and 2023, as well as from wild host plants in Clarksdale, MS. There was no significant difference in the susceptibility of C. hilaris to seven insecticides between two years, whereas P. guildinii showed slightly increased susceptibility to neonicotinoids in 2023. Among all four stink bug species, susceptibility in 2022 was ranked as P. guildinii ≤ C. hilaris ≈ N. viridula, while in 2023, it was ranked as P. guildinii ≤ C. hilaris ≤ E. Servus. Additionally, populations of E. servus and P. guildinii collected from Clarksdale exhibited high tolerance to pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. Moreover, populations of E. servus and P. guildinii from SIMRU-2022 and Clarksdale-2023 showed elevated esterase and cytochrome P450 activity, respectively. These findings from spray bioassays and enzyme activity analyses provide a baseline for monitoring insecticide resistance in Pentatomidae and can guide insecticide resistance management strategies for Mississippi soybean.

The first extensive analysis of species composition and abundance of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on soybean crops in Brazil.

Soybean is the third-greatest global commodity crop with respect to grain production, Brazil is the largest soybean producer in the world. We performed the first extensive survey including all the five main soybean cultivation regions in Brazil over three seasons (2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021). A total of 2386 localities were sampled, corresponding to 145 municipalities in 11 states. Sampling was carried out between the R1 and R8 soybean growth stages, using a beating sheet. Fifteen species were recorded, with five species accounting for more than 99% of the sampled insects. The Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), was the most abundant species (82.4% of the adults and 84.1% of the nymphs overall), with differences in the mean abundance between soybean macroregions. The melacanthus green belly stink bug, Diceraeus melacanthus Dallas was the second most abundant species overall, followed by the brown winged stink bug, Edessa meditabunda (F.), the furcatus green belly stink bug, Diceraeus furcatus (F.) and the red-banded green stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood). The relative abundance of each species differed between soybean macroregions. The mean abundance of nymphs and adults of Euschistus heros at different soybean reproductive stages showed an increase from early reproductive stages to the beginning of the late reproductive stages (R5 or R6). This large-scale assessment of stink bugs provides a basis for outlining integrated pest management programs and drives the development of monitoring and control strategies, as well as future studies investigating population dynamics over time and space in soybean fields. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cold temperatures drive the latitudinal range limits and inhibit overwintering survival of the redbanded stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

For non-native insects that are economically damaging, understanding the drivers of range expansions and contractions is important for forecasting pest pressure. The invasion of the redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), reached Louisiana, United States, in 2000, after which the northern range limits of this species have fluctuated annually. Low winter temperatures have been implicated as a major driver of this pattern, but the importance of cold temperatures-or other abiotic factors-for the persistence of this pest over large geographic scales are incompletely understood. We coupled occurrence data of P. guildinii with climatic data to investigate trends in P. guildinii presence in relation to winter temperatures and develop species distribution models, forecasting habitat suitability based on current and future climatic scenarios. Our results show that (i) some P. guildinii persisted in locations where ambient temperatures reached -12°C, (ii) overwintering temperatures drive P. guildinii range dynamics, and (iii) with intermediate projections of climatic warming, northward expansion by P. guildinii in North America is likely to be minimal. While the northern extent of P. guildinii's range may now be largely realized in North America, our results suggest that increased frequency of mild winters could reduce interannual fluctuations of P. guildinii and enable it to become a more consistent economic concern for soybean growers throughout the Midsouth region of the United States.

Assessing the Efficacy of Sodium Alginate and Polyacrylamide as Spray Adjuvants Combined with Bifenthrin and Imidacloprid against Lygus lineolaris and Piezodorus guildinii

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, and the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii, pose significant economic threats to cotton and soybean crops in the mid-southern USA. However, the efficacy of insecticide spraying is comparatively low, and adjuvants play a crucial role in optimizing insecticide performance. This study evaluated the impact of two adjuvants, sodium alginate (SA) and polyacrylamide (PAM), on enhancing the efficacy of bifenthrin and imidacloprid via laboratory spray bioassays. Both SA and PAM demonstrated insignificant variation in LC50 values with formulated bifenthrin and imidacloprid. However, SA and PAM exhibited synergistic effects with two technical-grade insecticides. High concentrations of PAM increased the efficacy of bifenthrin by 1.50- and 1.70-fold for L. lineolaris and P. guildinii, respectively. Conversely, no enhancement effect was observed for the SA–technical-grade bifenthrin combination against either insect pests. Additionally, both SA and PAM enhanced the effectiveness of imidacloprid in P. guildinii by up to 2.68- and 2.73-fold, respectively. While a high concentration of PAM had a 1.45-fold synergistic effect on technical-grade imidacloprid, no enhancement effect was observed for the SA/imidacloprid combination in L. lineolaris. This study explored the synergistic impact of SA and PAM on the efficacy of technical-grade and formulated bifenthrin and imidacloprid, providing valuable insights into optimizing pest control strategies in agriculture.

Overwintering site selection and associated microclimates for the redbanded stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), a non-native pest of soybean.

Cold winter temperatures govern the distribution and abundance of many insect species, but refugia that provide microclimates can moderate temperature-driven mortality. Winter temperatures have been implicated in limiting the survival and range of Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae; redbanded stink bug), an economically damaging invasive pest in the southeastern United States, but the role of refugia in overwintering survival of this pest is poorly understood. We conducted 2 studies in successive years to evaluate how leaf litter from hardwoods, pines, and soybeans modulate overwintering site selection and survival of P. guildinii. In the second-year study, we also quantified the buffering effect of the 3 leaf litter types compared to ambient conditions and assessed diapause. In the first-year study, we found that stink bugs preferentially dispersed into leaf litter compared with remaining unsheltered on bare soil; no clear preference among leaf litter types was found. In the second year, however, no clear differences were found among leaf litter types and bare soil. Means of daily minimum temperatures under leaf litter were at least 3.0 ± 0.9 °C (SE) warmer and generally less variable than ambient conditions. While high mortality in both studies illustrates that more work must be done to fully understand overwintering survival, limited survival through potentially lethal conditions in the first-year study nonetheless emphasizes the possibility of populations persisting and rebounding in the following spring. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential for stink bugs to persist in areas with lethal ambient temperatures by dispersing into widely available substrates.

Bt Soybean Cry1Ac Does Not Affect Development, Reproduction, or Feeding Behavior of Red-Banded Stink Bug Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Bt soybean cultivation is increasing worldwide. The Cry1Ac protein expressed in Bt soybean efficiently controls several lepidopteran pests. The stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), a major pest for soybean in the Americas, is not controlled by Bt crops, although possible sub-lethal effects may occur. Even if there were no negative effects for sting bug, ingesting toxins could affect its bio-controllers. We tested through ELISA detection if P. guildinii ingests Cry1Ac from Bt soybean and possible effects on its development, reproduction, survival, and feeding behavior. Biological traits were evaluated under controlled conditions of nymphs and adults feeding on pods of near-isogenic cultivars DM5958iPRO (Bt) and DM59i (non-Bt). Feeding behavior was recorded using an AC-DC electropenetrography (EPG) device. Results indicated that P. guildinii ingested the Cry1Ac protein; however, nymphal period and accumulated survival percentage did not differ between cultivars. Feeding on Bt soybean pods did not affect fecundity (i.e., number of egg masses and eggs/female) nor egg viability. Different feeding behaviors were only detected on the pathway phase (stylet penetration into plant tissue), which was more pronounced in the Bt cultivar. However, the total duration of the feeding activities on seeds was numerically higher (ca. 2X) on Bt plants compared to non-Bt. This is the first study to demonstrate that P. guildinii does ingest the Cry1Ac protein and excrete it without being absorbed, probably explaining the lack of direct adverse effects on its biological parameters. EPG could indicate that Bt soybean plants might be less palatable than non-Bt to red-banded stink bug.

Biology, ecology, and management of redbanded stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract The redbanded stink bug (RBSB), Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive stink bug species and a polyphagous pest of cultivated crops and non-cultivated wild plants. The increase in soybean cultivation during the 1960s–1970s led to the spread of RBSB as an economic pest of soybean throughout South America, especially in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In the early 2000s, RBSB became an economic concern to US agriculture and is currently a key species in a stink bug complex that damages soybean in many mid-southern states. RBSB causes extensive damage to soybeans and other economically important leguminous crops by feeding on sap from stems, flowers, and foliage with a preference for pods and seeds, which causes flat pods, reduced seed weight, and germination. Infestation by RBSB may lead to more crop loss per capita than other stink bug species. RBSBs are less susceptible to commonly used agrochemicals than other stink bug species and have developed resistance to many commonly used insecticides. Several alternative control strategies based on a wide variety of methods have been reported in recent years. This review will discuss the distribution, biology, ecology, and various control strategies for integrated management of RBSB in the last 2 decades.

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug and yield in soybean III, 2022

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug and yield in soybean III, 2022

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug in soybean II, 2022

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug in soybean II, 2022

Efficacy of foliar-applied insecticides and tank mixes on redbanded stink bug in soybean (Test 1), 2022

Efficacy of foliar-applied insecticides and tank mixes on redbanded stink bug in soybean (Test 1), 2022

Influence of select insecticides on redbanded stink bug control in soybean, 2022

Influence of select insecticides on redbanded stink bug control in soybean, 2022

Beauveria bassiana transcriptomics reveal virulence-associated shifts during insect lipid assimilation.

Insect cuticular lipids, especially epicuticular hydrocarbons (CHC), have a significant role in insect ecology and interactions with other organisms, including fungi. The CHC composition of a specific insect species may influence the outcome of the interaction with a specific fungal strain. Some insects, such as Piezodorus guildinii, have low susceptibility towards fungal infections seemingly due to their CHC composition. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana can assimilate CHC and incorporate them as building blocks via cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). However, little is known about other enzymes that promote the degradation/assimilation of these cuticular components. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to evaluate the in vitro response of two virulence-contrasting B. bassiana strains when grown on three different P. guildinii CHC sources. We found a different expression profile of virulence-related genes, as well as different GO and KEGG parameters enriched at 4 days post-inoculation, which could help account for the intrinsic virulence and for an alkane-priming virulence enhancement effect. The hypovirulent strain predominantly showed higher expression of cuticle penetration genes, including chitinases, proteases, and CYPs, with GO term categories of "heme binding," "monooxygenase activity," and "peroxisome" pathways enriched. The hypervirulent strain showed higher expression of cell wall remodeling and cell cycle genes, and cuticle adhesion and a distinct set of CYPs, with GO categories of "DNA-binding transcription factor activity" and KEGG pathways corresponding to "meiosis-yeast" and "cell cycle" enriched. These results suggest a delay and alternate routes in pathogenicity-related metabolism in the hypovirulent strain in comparison with the hypervirulent strain. KEY POINTS: •Transcriptomics of two B. bassiana strains grown in P. guildinii cuticular components •Virulence-related genes correlated with virulence enhancement towards P. guildinii •Differentially expressed genes, GOs and KEGGs showed different metabolic timelines associated with virulence.

Surprising diversity of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea) in a Brazilian ocean beach drift: results of a rapid survey

The insect drift is a natural phenomenon characterized by the passive movement of insects through air or water currents, which influences their dispersal. The phenomenon of insect drift in ocean beaches represents one of the best-known cases. One of the prominent insect group associated with ocean beach drifts is the Heteroptera, commonly known as true bugs, stink bugs, and water bugs. In this brief communication, we present the diversity of stink bugs (Pentatomoidea) obtained from a rapid survey on an insect drift event at Campeche Beach, Florianópolis, Brazil. The survey was conducted on December 02, 2021, along a transect of ~550 meters in the shoreline. A total of 363 individuals were collected. From these, 35 species, 29 genera, and three families were identified. Two species represent undescribed taxa. We found several species that can be considered rare in entomological collections, such as Copeocoris truncaticornis (Stål, 1865) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Capivacius bufo Distant, 1883 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Curatia denticornis Stål, 1864 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and Tibilis subconspersa Stål, 1860 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), as well as economically important species such as Diceraeus furcatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Thyanta perdidor (Fabricius, 1794) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Our results underscore the significance of beach drift events, as they provide valuable opportunities to investigate the hidden diversity within particular taxa, bringing new data while unveiling unknown species. Moreover, the presence of two undescribed species reinforces the importance of researching and documenting drift phenomena for taxonomic purposes, shedding light on insect migration and dispersion patterns.

Intraspecific and interspecific interaction and fitness cost of stink bugs Euschistus heros, Diceraeus melacanthus, and Piezodorus guildinii in soybean.

The most common pentatomid species in soybean crops are Euschistus heros (F.), Piezodorus guildinii (W.), and Diceraeus melacanthus (D.), causing a significant reduction in yield. It is known that these stink bugs inhabit the reproductive structures of soybeans simultaneously; however, there are few studies addressing their intraguild interactions, as well as aspects of possible competition between them in plants. Thus, the interspecific and intraspecific interactions of these stink bugs were evaluated in laboratory and field conditions, throughout the duration of the instars and adulthood, including longevity, mortality, and the number of eggs per female. Euschistus heros had a higher competitive capacity in the interaction with D. melacanthus and P. guildinii, negatively interfering in the abundance or development (duration of instar, fertility, and mortality) of these stink bugs in soybean crops. This interference may act on the natural balance of these insect pests. Mortality of adults in interactions containing E. heros as a competitor or not showed that this species was not affected by the other species under field conditions. In the scenario where D. melacanthus was evaluated, it was observed that the presence of other species caused higher mortality in D. melacanthus. Additionally, higher P. guildiniii mortality was observed in interspecific interactions. Our results suggest that E. heros has a greater competitive ability in the soybean crop, followed by D. melacanthus and P. guildinii. Therefore, the results found justified the greater abundance of E. heros and helped to explain the increasing occurrence of D. melacanthus in soybean crops, contributing to new directions for understanding the interaction of the soybean stink bug complex. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular insights on the historical dispersion of Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Brazil.

Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an important arthropod pest of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) throughout American continents. However, the historical events associated with its dispersion are poorly understood. In this study, we employed a phylogeographic approach to investigate the origin and demographic history of P. guildinii in Brazil. We analyzed the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and Cytb gene sequences of P. guildinii individuals collected in Brazil's 5 soybean production macro-regions and cross-referenced this information with sequences available in public databases. Our findings support an older Caribbean basin establishment for the current genealogical strains of P. guildinii, with subsequent dispersion to Brazil around 0.97 Mya. No secondary dispersion of this species from the Caribbean region to soybean areas in Brazil was identified. The Brazilian populations of P. guildinii are genetically structured across the country's soybean macro-regions and show strong signals of continuous demographic and spatial expansion in Brazil, which may be accelerated by the soybean cropping landscape in the country. The populations from the northern region (MR5) are older than the Central and South populations. The signs of demographic expansion indicate that P. guildinii populations are increasing their effective size in soybean regions, which could reflect its importance as a soybean pest in the coming years.

Climate change impacts on the potential worldwide distribution of the soybean pest, Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

The redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837), is a highly destructive soybean pest native to the Neotropical Region. In the past 60 yr, P. guildinii has been observed to expand its distribution in North and South America, causing significant soybean yield losses. In order to predict the future distribution direction of P. guildinii and create an effective pest control strategy, we projected the potential global distribution of P. guildinii using 2 different emission scenarios, Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 126 and 585, and 3 Earth system models, with the maximum entropy niche model (MaxEnt). Then, the predicted distribution areas of P. guildinii were jointly analyzed with the main soybean-producing areas to assess the impact for different soybean region. Our results showed that temperature is the main environmental factor limiting the distribution of P. guildinii. Under present climate conditions, all continents except Antarctica have suitable habitat for P. guildinii. These suitable habitats overlap with approximately 45.11% of the total global cultivated soybean areas. Moreover, P. guildinii was predicted to expand its range in the future, particularly into higher latitudes in the Northern hemisphere. Countries, in particular the United States, where soybean is widely available, would face a management challenge under global warming. In addition, China and India are also high-risk countries that may be invaded and should take strict quarantine measures. The maps of projected distribution produced in this study may prove useful in the future management of P. guildinii and the containment of its disruptive effects.

Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Occurrence, Reproduction, and Injury to Fruit in an Organic Tomato Crop Bordered by Sorghum

Border rows of grain sorghum were planted along two to four sides of an organic Granadero tomato crop in North Florida to reduce fruit injury caused by native and invasive stink bugs. During the 2-yr study, 14 species of stink bugs were encountered, six only in sorghum: Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Thyanta spp., Oebalus pugnax (Fabricius), Chinavia hilaris (Say), C. pensylvanica (Gmelin), and Mormidea pama (Rolston). There were four species only in tomato: Euschistus obscurus (Palisot de Beauvois), E. tristigmus (Say), E. ictericus (L.), and Arvelius albopunctatus (De Geer). The three most abundant pests in tomato were collected in both crops: Nezara viridula (L.), Euschistus servus (Say), and E. quadrator Rolston, along with Proxys punctulatus (Palisot de Beauvois). Nezara viridula and P. guildinii were the most abundant stink bugs on sorghum. The border rows of sorghum did not reduce the total number of stink bug adults or nymphs in the tomato crop, although many more stink bug adults were captured in sorghum than tomato when the sorghum panicles were in the milk to soft dough stage. Generally, 30% of the females in the sorghum and tomato crops were mated and contained more than 15 eggs, indicating they could generate a considerable number of nymphs. Tomato fruit from the plot with sorghum border rows had significantly more punctures than fruit from the plot without sorghum. The stink bugs frequently probed and blemished tomato fruit in all stages of ripeness but fruit covered with probing sites were nevertheless suitable for human consumption.

Local and landscape factors determining the abundance and richness of insect pests and arthropod predators in Bt and non-Bt soybean

Agricultural landscapes of the Pampas and Campos biome have changed considerably due to the expansion of annual crops over non-crop areas, soybean seeding and the adoption of lepidopteran-resistant varieties (Bt technology). These changes have a great impact on predatory and phytophagous arthropods, which have been scarcely studied in Uruguay. The following aspects were evaluated: (a) the effect of vegetation cover composition (landscape factor), Bt technology (varieties expressing Cry1Ac protein) and field margins (local factors), on the abundance of the main pests and predators of soybean; b) the role of refuge areas (non-Bt soybean) in determining the abundance and richness of arthropod predators in Bt soybean crops, and c) the effect of Cry1Ac protein on the biology, reproduction and feeding behavior of Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). In the northern Uruguayan littoral, during two years, predators and pests were sampled in 90 commercial non-Bt and Bt soybean fields and refuge areas. Biological and reproductive parameters of P. guildinii fed with Bt soybean pods and their possible effect on feeding behavior were evaluated using the electrical penetration graph technique. The main results obtained were: a) i. Bt soybean presented lower abundance of defoliating lepidoptera, without affecting predator abundance; ii. Soybean predators’ abundance was negatively related to the proportion of this crop in the landscape, but positively related to natural grassland and other crops; iii. Predators’ abundance between margins and within soybean fields was positively associated; b) Bt predators’ abundance and richness was positively associated with their values in refuge areas, evidencing for the first time their role in the conservation of beneficial fauna; c) biological and reproductive parameters and feeding behavior of P. guildinii were not affected by the ingestion of Cry1Ac protein expressed in Bt soybean pods. These results contribute to the possibilities of ecological intensification designs of national and regional production systems through pest management approached from a landscape perspective.