Stink Bug Euschistus Research Articles

Purification, characterization, and inhibition studies of a new acetylcholinesterase obtained from the neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros.

We purified acetylcholinesterase from adult Euschistus heros stink bugs (AChEeh) a pest that damages economically important crops by affinity chromatography. An AChEeh inhibitor was bound to the resin, which provided selectivity for the enzyme and yielded 6.82% of pure AChEeh. We found that the enzyme has specific activity of 115.82±1.67U.mg-1, fold purification of 44.27, molecular weight of approximately 180kDa on SDS-PAGE and 358.11±13.84kDa on size exclusion chromatography under native conditions, and optimal activity at 25°C and pH=8.0. On the basis of circular dichroism, AChEeh has α-helical structure with negative minimum at 208nm and a positive peak at 193nm. AChEeh Km and Vmax for acetylthiocholine hydrolysis are 24.33 ±0.33μM and 50. ± 3. U.mg-1, respectively. We used two inhibitors to evaluate AChEeh specificity: galantamine, a standard AChE inhibitor, and carbofuran, a pesticide, and obtained IC50 of 102.0±14.8 and 104.8±10.71nM and Ki of 7.00±2.13 and 8.50±2.88nM, respectively. The purified AChEeh could be used to screen selective inhibitors in future screening assays.

Exploration of entomopathogenic bacteria as potential control agents for brown stink bug Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Exploration of entomopathogenic bacteria as potential control agents for brown stink bug Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Morphological and Morphometric Parameters of the Reproductive Organs of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Treated With a Sublethal Juvenile Hormone Analog

The stinkbug Euschistus heros is an important pest of Brazilian agricultural production with increasing importance in the Neotropical region. High reproductive potential and increased risk of resistance to insecticides are determining factors influencing its pest status. This work evaluated the effects of pyriproxyfen on the reproduction and morphological development of the reproductive system of E. heros. Pyriproxyfen was utilized at sublethal concentrations (LC30) in fourth-instar nymphs (N4). Sublethal pyriproxyfen resulted in a reduction in fertility and fecundity of 2 and 12% when only the males were treated, 47 and 53% when only the females were treated, and 32 and 46% when females and males were treated. Basal oocytes were larger and more previtellogenic in newly emerged pyriproxyfen-treated females. The nuclear area of testicular accessory cells shrunk after 10 and 15 days of age in treated insects. Similarly, testicular shape was altered, changing from an ellipsoid to an obpyriform pattern, characterized by hypertrophy of the basal region over time. The apparent area of the organ grew until ten days of age, then shrunk at 15 days of age. In summary, pyriproxyfen treatments disrupted the normal development of N4 of E. heros and diminished the reproductive potential of female and male adults.

Sex‐dependent body mass and respiratory responses on Euschistus heros individuals resistant to imidacloprid

Abstract In insect‐resistant populations, adaptive fitness is intimately related to the physiological responses of males and females to different stressors. By using laboratory‐selected imidacloprid‐resistant individuals of the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros, one of the most prevalent pests in soybean fields in the Neotropical region, we evaluated whether resistance to imidacloprid (synergized by piperonyl butoxide—PBO) would differentially affect the longevity, body mass and respiratory responses of E. heros males and females. We used an imidacloprid‐susceptible E. heros strain (ImiSusc), whose individuals were reared under controlled and imidacloprid‐free conditions for over a decade, to select the PBO‐synergized imidacloprid‐resistant strain (ImiPBOSel). After eight generations using PBO‐synergized imidacloprid, our results revealed that resistant individuals exposed only to dry residues of imidacloprid (tarsal contact) could survive at concentrations as high as 168 μg a.i./cm2, which is equivalent to 40‐fold the label recommendation for field applications. Furthermore, ImiPBOSel males and females exhibited higher longevity, higher body mass and elevated respiratory activity than ImiSusc individuals. Altogether, the findings described here showed that imidacloprid resistance can select E. heros individuals with better metabolic capacities, which can complicate the management of this pest under field conditions.

Release strategies of Telenomus podisi for control of Euschistus heros: a computational modeling approach.

The egg-parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi has received attention as a biological-control agent for one of the most important soybean pests in Brazil, the stink bug Euschistus heros. As yet, no studies have conclusively established strategies for the release of T. podisi. We developed a computational model using cellular automata in the C programming language to investigate release strategies for T. podisi in soybean crops, in order to optimize the use of these wasps in managing E. heros, assuming a two-dimensional grid of cells corresponding to a soybean field. The release strategies capable of maintaining an E. heros population below the Economic Threshold level involved releasing a total of at least 15 000 female parasitoids per hectare, in three or four releases of 5000 or more (equivalent to approximately 7142 or more male and female parasitoids per hectare, assuming a sex ratio of 0.70). A 25-m spacing between release points or strips was indicated. The model is very sensitive to the variation in the number of parasitoids per release and in the number of releases, but little sensitive to the release mode and spacing values. The theoretical results produced by the computational model are expected to guide future field studies to improve T. podisi release plans for managing E. heros in soybeans. Therefore, we recommend the release strategy of three to four releases of 5000 or more female parasitoids per hectare, at points or strips spaced 25 m apart, to be tested in field experiments for proper implementation by producers. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Temporal variation and spatial distribution of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) during the soybean grain formation period

The neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is one of the most important pests in soybean and knowledge of its distribution is necessary to determine the moment of control and enable the appropriate use of strategies to avoid production losses. This research aimed to study the temporal variation and the spatial distribution of E. heros in soybean. The study was carried out in an area of 6600 m2 of soybean, with 60 plots of 100 m2 each, with two sampling points/plot being evaluated weekly by the beat cloth method to count nymphs and adults. The evaluations occurred from fruiting (R3) to physiological maturation (R8). The data were subjected to dispersion indices (variance/mean ratio, Morisita index, and exponent k), theoretical frequency distributions (Poisson, negative binomial, and positive binomial), and spatial analysis by inverse distance weighting (IDW). This study demonstrated the infestation of E. heros throughout the evaluation period, and the dispersion indices showed the trend of nymph aggregation and the sum of nymphs and adults (total population). However, adults tended towards a moderate to uniform aggregation. Theoretical frequency distributions for nymphs and total population indicated randomness at the beginning of the infestation, tending to aggregation from R5 onwards. Aggregation is confirmed in adults, but the population tended towards uniformity at the end of the cycle. The use of the IDW method is an important tool for the rational management of the neotropical brown stink bug in the soybean crop.

Influence of intra- and inter-specific competition between egg parasitoids on the effectiveness of biological control of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Telenomus podisi and Trissolcus basalis are two important parasitoids used as biological control agents against the brown stink bug Euschistus heros. The interaction between these parasitoid species in the field, however, can have different effects on the effectiveness of pest control, depending on the density of the species present and the conditions under which the species find their host's eggs in the field. This study aimed to analyze the effects that may arise when two parasitoid species interact directly or indirectly during foraging at E. heros egg sites. Through experimental scenarios, the effects of intra- and inter-specific competition on unparasitized and previously parasitized host eggs (i.e. simultaneous and sequential parasitism, respectively) on the parasitism rates, emergence rates and emergence patterns were evaluated. For simultaneous parasitism, high emergence rates occurred when T. podisi was the only parasitoid species present in the system. In the presence of T. basalis, the parasitism rates remained high only when T. podisi was also present, although the emergence rate was considerably reduced due to multiparasitism. In sequential parasitism, T. podisi showed higher parasitism rates and offspring emergence due to its greater ability to discriminate eggs previously parasitized by conspecifics. In this scenario, the offspring of the first parasitoid that interacted with host eggs had greater success; however, the larval competition inside the host eggs led to changes in the species emergence patterns as well as to high offspring mortality. Competition changed the emergence pattern of the parasitoid offspring, which can lead to a decoupling of the host-parasitoid dynamics synchrony, by reducing the chances of encounters between the species and consequently the effectiveness of long-term pest control.

Risk assessment of RNAi-based pesticides to non-target organisms: Evaluating the effects of sequence similarity in the parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi

RNA interference (RNAi)-based pesticides are promising novel pest management products that might reduce environmental impacts compared to other pesticides. Their sequence-guided mode of action facilitates a high species-selectivity, preventing harm on non-target organisms. However, there is currently no consensus on the minimum needed sequence similarity for efficient RNAi in insects and studies have shown that adverse effects in non-targets cannot always be ruled out a priori. This study investigates the effects of exposing the parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which is lethal to its host, the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros. Feeding T. podisi with wasp-specific dsRNA targeting the vATPase A and actin-2 genes led to 76.4 ± 9.9% and 76.7 ± 8.8% mortality respectively, demonstrating that dietary RNAi is functional in T. podisi. When feeding T. podisi with E. heros-specific dsRNA targeting the same genes, no lethal or sublethal effects were observed. To link sequence similarity to potential gene silencing effects in the parasitoids, the expression of genes showing the highest degree of similarity (17–21 nucleotide matches) with these two target genes was monitored and was found unaffected by the E. heros-specific dsRNA. Our study confirms that RNAi was in this case highly specific and that for E. heros, RNAi-based pesticides can be used complementary to biological control in an integrated pest management context.

Sensing of pheromones from Euschistus heros (F.) stink bugs by nanosensors

This revision covers the agriculture system, the losses due to insect pest, the pheromone definition and how they can be deployed. Specially, this work focus in pheromones from stink bug Euschistus heros. The use of different techniques for pest control in agriculture seeks safety and environmental preservation. The stink bug E. heros is one of the major pests that affects crops in Brazil. This insect releases pheromone to mate in low amounts. A promising and efficient alternative for the detection of this volatile compound is the use of nanosensors. This paper provides a review of the most recent works in nanosensors used for detection insect pheromones, including gas sensors with sensitive coatings in nanoscale. Also, other applications of gas nanosensors in pheromone detection in agriculture are described. Nanosensors are potential solutions for pest management and can contribute to developing innovative and technological solutions for agriculture.

Characterization and Comparison of Intestinal Bacterial Microbiomes of Euschistus heros and Piezodorus guildinii Collected in Brazil and the United States.

Background: Herbivorous insects are one of the main biological threats to crops. One such group of insects, stink bugs, do not eat large amounts of tissue when feeding on soybean, but are damaging to the quality of the seed yield as they feed on green developing seeds leading to poorly marketable harvests. In addition to causing physical damage during sucking-feeding activities, the insects can also transmit microbial pathogens, leading to even greater yield loss. Conducting surveys of the insect intestinal microbiome can help identify possible pathogens, as well as detail what healthy stink bug digestive systems have in common.Methods: We used the conserved V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial microbiome of the red-banded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii collected in Brazil and the United States, as well as the neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros collected in Brazil.Results: After quality filtering of the data, 192 samples were kept for analyses: 117 samples from P. guildinii covering three sites in Brazil and four sites in the United States, and 75 samples for E. heros covering 10 sites in Brazil. The most interesting observations were that the diversity and abundance of some bacterial families were different in the different ecoregions of Brazil and the United States.Conclusion: Some families, such as Acetobacteraceae, Bacillaceae, Moraxellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Rhodocyclaceae, may be related to the better adaptation in some localities in providing nutrients, break down cellulose, detoxify phytochemicals, and degrade organic compounds, which makes it difficult to control these species.

Assessment of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria to control the stink bugs Euschistus heros and Dichelops melacanthus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the soybean-corn succession system

Assessment of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria to control the stink bugs Euschistus heros and Dichelops melacanthus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the soybean-corn succession system

Sublethal Concentration of Pyriproxyfen Reduces Testicular Connective Tissue Thickness in Euschistus heros Fabr. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the insecticide pyriproxyfen (Tiger™ 100 CE), juvenile hormone analogue, when applied in a sublethal LC30 concentration (0.668 mL a. i. L-1), on the morphological and morphometric parameters of external and internal connective tissue (CT) of the Neotropical-brown stink bug Euschistus heros testicles. The insecticide was applied on nymphs from the 4th instar using a Potter tower with a working pressure of 82.73 kPa (12 lb pol-²) and 1 mL of the emulsion per replicate. A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of two treatments (control and pyriproxyfen-treated), five repetitions, and 10 adults of E. heros per experimental unit. The insects were maintained under controlled conditions until the emergence of adults. After 48 h of emergence of adults, the testicles were collected, fixed, and processed for morphological and morphometric analyses. A change was observed in the collagen fibers of the CT of treated insects when compared with those of controls. It was also observed that both types of CT (dense irregular and loose) over the internal tunic of the treated insect were thinner than those in control insects. The analysis showed that pyriproxyfen significantly reduced the external and internal CT width and the conformation of its fibers in all the observed regions when compared with the controls; this may affect the production of the three different types of sperm present in this species.

Imidacloprid-mediated alterations on the salivary glands of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros.

The management of the Neotropical brown stinkbug Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean fields has been heavily dependent on the application of neonicotinoid insecticides. Neonicotinoids act primarily by impairing the function of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the nervous system. These compounds also target specific organs (e.g., salivary glands), which may potentiate their insecticidal efficacy. Here, we evaluated whether the exposure to the neonicotinoid imidacloprid would cause cytomorphological changes in the salivary glands of E. heros. First, we determined the lethal concentrations (LCs) of imidacloprid through contact and ingestion. Subsequently, the cytomorphology of the salivary glands were evaluated in insect groups that survived exposure to the LC5 (3.75 mg a.i./L), LC50 (112.5 mg a.i./L), or LC75 (375.0 mg a.i./L, equivalent to the recommended field rate) doses. Imidacloprid induced apoptosis and necrosis in the salivary gland cells according to the insecticide concentration and salivary gland region. All concentrations increased apoptosis and injured cells (e.g., vacuolization, chromatin condensation, swelling of organelles, and plasma membrane rupture) in the principal and accessory salivary glands. Individuals that survived exposure to the highest concentrations (i.e., LC5 and LC50) were more affected, and exhibited several necrotic cells on their main principal salivary glands. Collectively, our results indicate that imidacloprid exerts toxic effects on the non-target organs, such as the salivary glands, which increases the efficacy of this compound in the management of stink bug infestations.

Spatial distribution and sample size to estimate Euschistus heros population density in wild plants during off-season

The neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros (F.) is an important pest for many crops in several countries and its ability to survive on associated plants during winter is one of the main factors contributing to the permanence of this insect in crop areas. The objective of this study was to identify the spatial distribution of E. heros, and the minimum number of samples (tussocks of each plant species) required to estimate their population density in wild plants during winter. Field experiments were conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Tussocks of Eustachys retusa, Andropogon bicornis, and Saccharum angustifolium were assessed in the area surrounding the cropped land. Data on the number of E. heros were categorized in plant species and tussock diameter range. The spatial distribution patterns of E. heros were evaluated using different dispersion indexes. To validate these patterns, the data were fitted to probabilistic distribution models. The minimum number of tussock samples required was determined using a statistical model. The results suggest that E. heros has an aggregate distribution in the three plant species evaluated; however, the distribution varies as a function of the tussock size. The numbers of tussock samples to achieve an accuracy within 30% were 146, 87, and 109 for E. retusa, A. bicornis, and S. angustifolium, respectively.

Euschistus crenator (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): a New Invasive Species on Soybean Fields in Northern Brazil.

The expansion of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merrill in South America has provided an abundant host to the native arthropod fauna. Stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) are severe pests on soybean crops due to their feeding activities. Several native species have been recorded on this crop, with the widespread Neotropical brow stink bug Euschistus heros (Fabricius) recognized as the key pest in most of its distribution. Here, we report for the first time Euschistus crenator (Fabricius) as a new invasive species on soybean fields in Northern Brazil. We collected the species at Pará state (2°38'32.2″S 54°55'56.1″W and 4°06'31.2″S 54°55'01.9″W) and Roraima state (2°39'41.3″N 60°46'58.9″W and 3°00'44.6″N 60°22'32.9″W). The latter represents a new state record, and the first represents new locality records, however, both representing the first soybean host recordfor the species. The distribution of E. crenator ranges from southern US (AZ, CA, FL, and TX) to north South America, mostly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Despite overlap in distribution, we did not find E. crenator and E. heros simultaneously on soybean crops in the North region (Amazon Forest) of Brazil. Euschistus crenator was able to complete its life cycle and had viable offspring on soybean plants, with development parameters similar to E. heros.

Parental RNA interference as a tool to study genes involved in rostrum development in the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros

In insects, the identity of body segments is controlled by homeotic genes and the knockdown of these genes during embryogenesis can lead to an abnormal development and/or atypical phenotypes. The main goal of this study was to investigate the involvement of labial (lab), deformed (dfd), sex comb reduced (scr), extradenticle (exd) and proboscipedia (pb) in rostrum development in the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros, using parental RNAi (pRNAi). To achieve this objective, 10-days-old adult females were first microinjected with double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) targeting these five genes. Then, the number of eggs laid per female, the percentage of hatched nymphs with normal or abnormal phenotype and target gene silencing were evaluated. Except for the dsDfd-treatment, the number of eggs laid per female per day was not affected by the different dsRNA-treatments compared to the control (dsGFP). However, treatment with either dsLab, dsDfd, dsScr or dsExd caused a strong reduction in egg hatching. The dsExd-treatment caused no apparent change in phenotype in the nymphs while hatched nymphs from the dsDfd, dsScr and dsPb-treatment showed abnormalities in the rostrum. Particularly for the dsPb-treatment, 91% of the offspring displayed a bifurcated rostrum with a leg-like structure. Overall, these results indicate that these five genes are involved in E. heros embryonic development and that the knockdown of dfd, scr and pb leads to an abnormal development of the rostrum. Additionally, this study demonstrates the efficiency of pRNAi in studying genes involved in embryogenesis in E. heros, with clear phenotypes and a strong target gene silencing in the next generation, after treatment of the parent female adult with gene-specific dsRNA.

Isolation and evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi against the neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) under laboratory conditions

ABSTRACT Although the brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) is susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, only a single formulation is currently available on the Brazilian market for its control. The objective of this work was to isolate entomopathogenic fungi with potential to control E. heros, evaluate their virulence, and determine effective conidial concentrations. Thirty six different fungal isolates were obtained from soil samples and diseased insects and pure cultures of each were established on potato-dextrose agar. Suspensions of 1 × 108 conidia mL−1 were prepared from each isolate and a 5 μL aliquot was inoculated on the dorsum of adult stink bugs (n = 8 replications of 5 bugs each). Three isolates caused 100% mortality of bugs over a 15-day observation period. These were identified by molecular techniques as belonging to the Beauveria bassiana species complex and designated UFSM-1, UFSM-2 and UFSM-26. Further bioassays determined the LC50, LC90 and cumulative mortality functions caused by these three isolates. Isolates UFSM-1 and UFSM-2 stood out as highly virulence, with an LC90 of 5 × 109 conidia mL−1 in 9 days, compared to an LC90 of 8 × 1010 conidia mL−1 for strain UFSM-26. Application of 1 × 108 conidia mL−1 of UFSM-1 and UFSM-2 isolates killed 70% of stink bugs in nine days, whereas the same concentration of UFSM-26 killed only 12%. We conclude that isolates UFSM-1 and UFSM-2 warrant field tests as novel agents for biological control of E. heros.

Synergism and unintended effects of the association between imidacloprid and sodium chloride (NaCl) on the management of Euschistus heros.

The use of insecticidal solutions containing sodium chloride (NaCl) has been proposed as a more environmentally friendly alternative to managing stink bug infestations of Neotropical soybean fields. The potential sublethal and undesirable effects of this practice have, however, been overlooked, especially with novel insecticides. Here, we have evaluated experimentally whether the addition of NaCl (0.5% w/v) to imidacloprid-containing solutions could alter insecticide toxicity and modify the reproductive responses of the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros. Adding NaCl to imidacloprid solutions significantly increased imidacloprid toxicity against E. heros. The exposure to E. heros to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid affected the insect's mating abilities in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of NaCl to solutions containing imidacloprid at concentrations as low as 0.126 μg a.i. cm-2 (i.e. the equivalent to 3% of field rate recommendation) also impacted the sexual behavior of E. heros, reducing mating duration. NaCl-exposed stink bugs, however, exhibited higher fecundity and fertility rates than those insects that were unexposed to NaCl or those that were exposed to sublethal levels of imidacloprid only. The addition of low amounts of NaCl resulted in a higher toxicity of imidacloprid. This practice, however, can also lead to undesirable effects as increasing reproductive output of E. heros that can potentially compromise the management of these insect pests.

Dinâmica populacional de Euschistus heros em cultivares de soja de diferentes ciclos de desenvolvimento

O percevejo-marrom-da-soja Euschistus heros, destaca-se como uma das principais pragas da cultura, sendo fundamental realizar amostragens periódicas para aferir a densidade populacional e auxiliar na tomada de decisão de controle.O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a dinâmica populacional de E. heros em cultivares de soja transgênica de diferentes ciclos de desenvolvimento. Os experimentos foram conduzidos nos anos agrícolas 2013/14 e 2014/15 na FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil. Foram selecionados três campos, e em cada um foi demarcada uma área de 8.000 m2 (0,8 ha), sendo cada área subdividida em 80 parcelas de 100 m2 (10 m x 10 m). As cultivares de soja transgênica de diferentes ciclos de desenvolvimento utilizadas foram: SYN 1365 RR (precoce), M 7908 RR (média) e BRS Valiosa RR (tardia). As amostragens foram realizadas semanalmente pelo método da batida de pano, registrando-se o número de ninfas e adultos. Foram confeccionadas figuras para demonstrar a dinâmica populacional entre os dados médios de infestação do inseto-praga e o estágio fenológico da cultura, sendo a influência dos fatores meteorológicos analisada por meio da análise de regressão múltipla com seleção de variáveis pelo método “stepwise”. De acordo com os resultados da dinâmica populacional, as maiores densidades populacionais de E. heros foram observadas no estádio fenológico R6 da soja, e a temperatura máxima é o fator meteorológico que mais influenciou na variação da densidade populacional de E. heros.

Virulence of Metarhizium brunneum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Strains Against Stinkbugs Euschistus heros and Dichelops furcatus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Three strains of fungi belonging to the genus Metarhizium Sorokīn (ARSEF 4556, ARSEF 3297, native strain) were assayed against adults and nymphs of the Neotropical brown stinkbug Euschistus heros (F.) and the green-belly stinkbug Dichelops furcatus (F.). The most virulent strain, ARSEF 4556, caused over 90% mortality. The average survival time of the second and fifth instar nymphs and adults following immersion in 1 × 108 conidia ml-1 was 4.8, 5.7, and 5.2 d, respectively. The second instar nymphs were more susceptible than the adults. The LC50 values and median survival times for second instar and adult E. heros were 1.6 × 107 and 3.1 × 107 conidia ml-1 and 6 and 8 d, respectively. Eggs of E. heros and the closely related stinkbug, D. furcatus, were highly susceptible to ARSEF 4556 with the mean mortality of eggs immersed in 1 × 108 conidia ml-1 being 77.4% and 89.7%, respectively. The strain 3297 showed also good aptitudes for stinkbugs control with mortalities higher than 80% against nymphs and adults and eggs mortalities of 75.5% for E. heros and 79.6% for D. furcatus. This study has shown that it is possible to have a two-pronged control strategy, targeting adults and to reduce oviposition and targeting egg clusters to prevent emergence and dispersal of nymphs. Besides early instars of nymphs have been shown to be more susceptible to the fungal strains than late instars and adults.