Thaumastocoris Peregrinus Carpintero Research Articles

First record of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera, Thaumastocoridae) in Cyprus

Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé, 2006, originally from Australia, has become a cosmopolitan alien species associated with Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae). In this study, the species is recorded for the first time in Cyprus from the Limassol district and the Akrotiri UK Sovereign Base Area. The adverse socioeconomic impacts of the species on the island are briefly discussed.

First record of the bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) in Syria

AbstractMature and immature individuals of a small sap sucking insect were collected from Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees located in a coastal area of Syria (Latakia) in October 2022. These specimens were found during regular monitoring of the newly introduced Eucalyptus redgum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei. Collected specimens were identified as Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé 2006. This is the first record of this species, as well as the family Thaumastocoridae, from Syria.

From the dual cyclone harvest performance of single conidium powder to the effect of Metarhizium anisopliae on the management of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae).

Insect pests introduced in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are mostly of Australian origin, but native microorganisms have potential for their management. High quality biopesticide production based on entomopathogenic fungi depends on adequate technologies. The objective of this study was to evaluate Mycoharvester® equipment to harvest and separating particles to obtain pure Metarhizium anisopliae conidia to manage Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006 (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae). The Mycoharvester® version 5b harvested and separated M. anisopliae spores. The pure conidia were suspended in Tween 80® (0.1%) and calibrated to the concentrations of 1 x 106, 107, 108 and 109 conidia/ml to evaluate the pathogenicity, lethal concentration 50 and 90 (LC50, LC90) and lethal time 50 and 90 (LT50, LT90) of this fungus to T. peregrinus. This equipment harvested 85% of the conidia from rice, with production of 4.8 ± 0.38 x 109 conidia/g dry mass of substrate + fungus. The water content of 6.36% of the single spore powder (pure conidia) separated by the Mycoharvester® was lower than that of the agglomerated product. The product harvested at the concentrations of 108 and 109 conidia/ml caused high mortality to T. peregrinus third instar nymphs and adults. The separation of conidia produced by solid-state fermentation with the Mycoharvester® is an important step toward optimizing the fungal production system of pure conidia, and to formulate biopesticides for insect pest management.

Thermal requirements, fertility life table and biological parameters of Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) at different temperatures.

Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) was imported to Brazil in 2012, to manage the exotic pest Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), which has been damaging eucalyptus plantations. Knowledge of the thermal requirements and the fertility life table of C. noackae is important to improve mass rearing methods for this parasitoid and the effectiveness of its release to manage T. peregrinus. The objective was to evaluate the development period, thermal requirements and the fertility life table of C. noackae at different temperatures. The egg-adult period of this parasitoid varied from 43 to 14 days at 15 °C and 30 °C, respectively. The emergence of C. noackae adults was higher at 15 °C, 18 °C, 21 °C and 24 °C than at 30 °C. Female and male C. noackae need 226.75 and 230.41 degree-days and temperatures higher than 10.06 °C and 9.90 °C, respectively, to complete egg-adult development. The number of parasitized eggs per C. noackae female was higher at 21 °C, 24 °C and 27 °C, with 5.82, 7.73 and 5.50 eggs, respectively, than at 30 °C (0.45). Cleruchoides noackae longevity was greater at 15 °C, 21 °C and 24 °C. The net reproductive rate of the parasitoid was higher at 21 °C and 24 °C than at 30 °C, 3.05, 4.70 and 0.16, respectively. The finite rate of increase of C. noackae was greater at 21 °C, 24 °C and 27 °C, than at 30 °C and the intrinsic rate of increase was negative at 30 °C, -0.100. The temperatures 21 °C and 24 °C and from 18 °C to 27 °C are the most adequate for the reproduction and population increase of C. noackae parasitizing eggs of T. peregrinus, respectively.

Two newly introduced Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) species in Colombia: Brachyplatys subaenus (Plataspidae) and Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Thaumastocoridae)

The introduction of alien species can carry negative consequences to the areas in which they appear. Early detection of introduced species is key if management practices are to be effectively implemented. Here, based on specimens from collections and citizen science observations, we document the recent introduction of two alien Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) species in Colombia: Brachyplatys subaenus (Westwood, 1837) (Plataspidae) and Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006 (Thaumastocoridae). Brachyplatys subaenus was found in two localities (Bolívar and Valle del Cauca), whereas T. peregrinus was found in a single locality (Bogotá) so far. Future research activities should establish the geographic range of these species, as well as document their host plant associations, in Colombia.

Toxicity of essential oil of Eugenia uniflora (L.) to Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) and selectivity to the parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae (Lin & Hubert) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé, 2006 (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is an exotic insect that causes losses in the production of Eucalyptus sp. The egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae Lin and Huber, 2007 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is the principal biological control agent of T. peregrinus. Essential oil, including Eugenia uniflora (L.) have a potential for managing this pest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of E. uniflora to T. peregrinus and the selectivity of this oil on the parasitoid C. noackae and its parasitism on T. peregrinus. Toxicity of E. uniflora essential oil was tested at different concentrations to eggs, nymphs and adults of T. peregrinus. The selectivity of this oil was also evaluated in the pre- and post-parasitism of C. noackae on T. peregrinus eggs. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography. Eugenia uniflora essential oil at 0.75% concentration showed insecticidal potential on T. peregrinus adults, nymphs and eggs, and was safer to C. noackae when applied one day after parasitism than pre-parasitism and 7-day post-parasitism. The major compounds found in the E. uniflora essential oil were calamen-10-one (20.20%), silfiperferol-6-em-5-one (10.06%), and germacrone (6.61%). Under laboratory conditions E. uniflora essential oil showed an insecticidal effect to different life stages of T. peregrinus, but it is selective for egg parasitoid C. noackae just one day after the parasitism occurs. Further studies should be carried out on eucalyptus plantations.

Selectivity of mycoinsecticides and a pyrethroid to the egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

Plants of the genus Eucalyptus, cultivated in many countries, have great importance for the world economy. In Brazil, this culture occupies a total of 5.7 million hectares, but native and exotic insect pests can reduce its productivity. Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), an exotic Australian pest, damages Eucalyptus plants. Biological control using the egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Heteroptera predators and entomopathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, have potential for managing T. peregrinus. Chemical insecticides, including bifenthrin and acetamiprid + bifenthrin, also control this insect. The compatibility of chemical and biological control methods favors integrated pest management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the selectivity of commercial products based on B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and the chemical bifenthrin on the parasitoid C. noackae and its parasitism on T. peregrinus eggs. The selectivity test followed the standards recommended by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC). Beauveria bassiana has selectivity to parasitism as well as viability, but was slightly harmful to C. noackae adults; M. anisopliae was innocuous to adults and to the viability of the offspring of this parasitoid, but it reduced the parasitism rate; and bifenthrin did not show selectivity to this parasitoid.

Insect pest species of Eucalyptus in Gibraltar

Four invasive eucalypt-feeding insects, native to Australia, are recorded from Gibraltar for the first time: the gall-forming wasps Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) and Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), the lerp-forming psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), and the bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), whilst the status of two Eucalyptus longhorned borers, Phoracantha recurva Newman and P. semipunctata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is summarised. The former five species have been found on the red-gum tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., growing in the urban environment in Gibraltar. The potential impact of these invasive species is discussed.

Biological parameters, life table and thermal requirements of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) at different temperatures

Temperature affects the development, population dynamics, reproduction and population size of insects. Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero et Dellape (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a eucalyptus pest. The objective of this study was to determine biological and life table parameters of T. peregrinus on Eucalyptus benthamii at five temperatures (18 °C; 22 °C; 25 °C; 27 °C and 30 °C) with a relative humidity (RH) of 70 ± 10% and photoperiod of 12 hours. The duration of each instar and the longevity of this insect were inversely proportional to the temperature, regardless of sex. The nymph stage of T. peregrinus was 36.4 days at 18 °C and 16.1 days at 30 °C. The pre-oviposition period was 5.1 days at 30 °C and 13.1 days at 18 °C and that of oviposition was 7.6 days at 30 °C and 51.2 days at 22 °C. The generation time (T) of T. peregrinus was 27.11 days at 22 °C and 8.22 days at 30 °C. Lower temperatures reduced the development and increased the life stage duration of T. peregrinus. Optimum temperatures for T. peregrinus development and reproduction were 18 and 25 °C, respectively.

Susceptibility of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), a Eucalyptus pest, to entomopathogenic fungi

ABSTRACT: Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellape (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a sap-sucking insect that has become a major pest of eucalypts. The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin have the potential to control insect pests. This study evaluated the susceptibility of T. peregrinus to two commercial products based on conidia of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. The fungi were sprayed onto adults of T. peregrinus at a concentration of 1 × 108 conidia mL−1 to evaluate their pathogenicity and conidial production on the insect cadavers. Beauveria bassiana caused 100 % mortality, while M. anisopliae caused more than 80 % mortality of T. peregrinus adults 11 days after fungi application. The fungi colonized the head and thorax regions and caused high mortality rates through conidial production. Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae to T. peregrinus show potential to use these fungi in integrated pest management.

Population Development of the Invasive Species Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) on four Eucalyptus Species of the Subgenus Symphyomyrtus.

Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a small sap-sucking insect that feeds on Eucalyptus L'Hér. leaves. Although it is native to Australia, it currently has a global distribution and it is considered as one of the big five pests of eucalypts around the world. We described the development of T. peregrinus population on four Eucalyptus species under the environmental conditions in Argentina. We also analyzed the use of yellow sticky traps as a monitoring method for this pest. The four Eucalyptus species were suitable for T. peregrinus. A cyclic pattern was observed in the development of the bronze bug population with an annual seasonal peak followed by a decrease in the abundance, reaching a minimum value during the unfavorable seasons. During the fall and winter seasons, epizootic events were registered in all the Eucalyptus species, caused by an entomopathogenic fungus. None of the meteorological variables had a clear influence neither on the bronze bug population nor with the occurrence of fungal infection. We found a significant relationship between the number of nymphs and adults of T. peregrinus in branches and the number of individuals caught in traps, suggesting that traps give actual information about the bronze bug abundance in the tree canopy.

Diel Periodicity of 3-Methyl-2-Butenyl Butyrate Emissions by Bronze Bug Males Is Suppressed in the Presence of Females.

The bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae), is an exotic emerging pest in Eucalyptus commercial forests in South America, Africa, and southern Europe. Information on the chemical communication system and reproductive ecology of this insect is scant, and it may be relevant for designing management strategies for eucalypt plantations. Males emit large amounts of 3-methyl-2-butenyl butyrate, which attracts conspecific adult males but not females. To learn more about the biological function of this putative male-produced pheromone, we quantified this compound in volatile emissions collected from males, females, and couples, in three 4-h collecting periods during the morning, afternoon, and night of a single 24-h cycle. Our results showed that virgin males emit 3-methyl-2-butenyl butyrate in a diel time pattern, with an almost sevenfold difference between the afternoon emission peak compared to morning or night hours. In addition, we show that in the presence of females, males emit the compound in the same amounts throughout the photocycle. While a definite function cannot yet be attributed to the emission of 3-methyl-2-butenyl butyrate by T. peregrinus males, our findings point to an intraspecific function, possibly one related to male-male competition.

Effect of the eucalypt lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei on adult feeding, oviposition‐site selection, and offspring performance of the bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus

AbstractOviposition‐site selection may be greatly affected by competitive plant‐mediated interactions between phytophagous insects but these interactions have been poorly investigated on trees. Here, we evaluated the potential interaction between two invasive pests of Eucalyptus trees, the red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombeiMoore (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha: Aphalaridae), and the bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinusCarpintero et Dellapé (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae). We assessed the effect of the co‐occurrence of G. brimblecombei on the selection of feeding and oviposition sites by T. peregrinus females using dual‐choice bioassays. We compared developmental time and survival of the first instar of nymphs reared on healthy Eucalyptus tereticornisSmith (Myrtaceae) leaves and on leaves infested with the lerp psyllid, either with or without lerps (i.e., white conical sweet‐tasting structures, secreted during the nymphal stage). Bronze bug females prefer to oviposit on lerp‐carrying leaves but we found no difference in feeding preference when compared to healthy leaves. Infestation with the lerp psyllid hampered nymphal performance in terms of developmental time and survival, although the presence of lerps reverted the effect in survival and shortened the duration of the initial instar. These results display an interaction between these two insect species that affects both the oviposition preference of T. peregrinus females and the nymphal performance. Although there seems to be a discrepancy between mother preference and offspring performance, feeding on the lerps may prove beneficial to the offspring under long‐term conditions and multiple infestation by other pests and diseases.

Attraction of Male Nymphs to Adult Male Volatiles in the Bronze Bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellape (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae).

The bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellape (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae), is an exotic emerging pest in Eucalyptus commercial forests in South America, Africa and southern Europe. Information on the chemical communication system and reproductive ecology of this insect is scant, and it may be relevant for designing management strategies for eucalypt plantations. Adults and nymphs usually aggregate in the field, possibly by means of chemical signals. Males emit large amounts of 3-methyl-2-butenyl butyrate, which attracts conspecific adult males but not females. The ecological role of this putative male aggregation pheromone remains unknown. Here, we report olfactometer bioassays showing that late-instar male nymphs are also attracted to synthetic 3-methyl-2-butenyl butyrate and to adult male volatile extracts, which contain this compound as the major component. As previously shown for adult females, nymphs that moulted into females were not attracted to either volatile stimulus. The intra-gender attraction of nymphs and adults may be related to the exploitation of food resources, or as a reproductive strategy for newly emerged males. Further studies on the reproductive behaviour and mating system of T. peregrinus will contribute to understanding the ecological significance of male-male, adult-nymph attraction, as well as the practical applications that may result from these findings.

Establishment in the Field ofCleruchoides noackae(Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an Exotic Egg Parasitoid ofThaumastocoris peregrinus(Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae)

Abstract Efficient strategies to control the bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellape (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) are unavailable, but Cleruchoides noackae Lin and Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) parasitizes eggs of this pest. The parasitism and number of parasitoids that emerged from the eggs of T. peregrinus were evaluated in the laboratory and from eggs of this pest collected in the field in an area of approximately 2 ha. Collections were done 1 yr after the first release of C. noackae to check for field establishment of this parasitoid in eucalyptus plantations in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The emergence of C. noackae was 53 and 52% from eggs parasitized in the laboratory and in the field, respectively. This natural enemy was recorded for all sampling points from the field collections, which were up to 10 km from the place it had been released. The C. noackae establishment in the field, and the potential for biological control of T. peregrinus by this parasitoid were confirmed.

Oviposition preference but not adult feeding preference matches with offspring performance in the bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus

AbstractOptimal foraging and optimal oviposition are two major forces leading to plant selection by insect females, but the contribution of these forces to the host‐selection process has been little studied for sucking herbivores. We studied feeding and oviposition behavior of a global pest, the bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae), using dual‐choice bioassays to evaluate the preference of females between host species, developmental leaf stage, or prior plant exposure to conspecifics. We assessed the link between these preferences and the performance of the offspring, by comparing survival and developmental time of nymphs reared on the various treatments. Finally, we compared the composition of the leaf wax of healthy and damaged leaves, and tested the effects of leaf wax on female preference behavior. Using healthy adult leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. (Myrtaceae) as a reference, we found that females prefer to feed on Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden and E. tereticornis adult leaves that had been previously damaged by female conspecifics, whereas they reject juvenile leaves of E. tereticornis as food. Females also prefer to oviposit on leaves previously damaged by conspecifics but they rejected E. grandis as oviposition substrate. Nymphal performance varied among leaf treatments, suggesting a correlation with oviposition preference (but not feeding preference). Epicuticular wax extracts from damaged leaves contained higher concentrations of long‐chain, saturated linear alkanes, aldehydes, and alcohols than extracts from undamaged leaves. However, a choice assay failed to demonstrate an oviposition preference based on leaf surface wax chemistry. We discuss these findings in the context of the preference‐performance relationship.

First Evidence of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) Feeding From Mesophyll of Eucalyptus Leaves.

The bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006 (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) originally restricted to Australia, is an important emerging pest of Eucalyptus plantations in the Southern Hemisphere. It feeds on mature leaves, causing the loss of photosynthetic surface area and defoliation and, according to some studies, even tree death. In this work, feeding activities of T. peregrinus on Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn leaves and its primary food resources were identified. In cross sections of leaves, solid salivary deposits on epidermal cells and in the vicinity of stomata cells were detected. In subepidermal cells of the palisade parenchyma near the stylet penetration point, disorganization and removal of chloroplasts were also observed. The presence of chlorophyll in guts of adults and nymphs was analyzed using spectrophotometry and confocal laser scanning to obtain in situ fluorescent spectra. Both spectra showed chlorophyll absorbance peaks. In addition, the presence of chlorophyll in guts of T. peregrinus using fluorescence microscopy was identified. These results provide the first evidence that T. peregrinus feeds from the palisade parenchyma (chlorenchyma) of Eucalyptus leaves.

Nomenclatural changes in Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).

Three New World species are transferred from Polynema Haliday to other genera of Mymaridae and redescribed based on examination of their type specimens: Polynema albicoxa Ashmead to Acmopolynema Ogloblin as Acmopolynema albicoxa (Ashmead), comb. n., Polynema porteri (Brèthes) to Agalmopolynema Ogloblin as Agalmopolynema porteri (Brèthes), comb. n., and Polynema giraulti Perkins, for which a lectotype is designated, to Stephanodes Enock as Stephanodes giraulti (Perkins), comb. n. Agalmopolynema shajovskoii Fidalgo, syn. n. is synonymized under Agalmopolynema porteri; Polynema (Dorypolynema) gaucho Triapitsyn & Aquino, syn. n. and P. grenadensis Ashmead, syn. n., are synonymized under Polynema (Dorypolynema) magniceps Ashmead, for which taxonomic notes are given. Caenomymar Yoshimoto, syn. n. is synonymized under Omyomymar Schauff, and its only species Caenomymar howdeni Yoshimoto is transferred to Omyomymar as Omyomymar howdeni (Yoshimoto), comb. n. Gonatocerus chula Triapitsyn & Bernal is transferred to Cosmocomoidea Howard as Cosmocomoidea chula (Triapitsyn & Bernal), comb. n. Erythmelus mirus Girault is transferred to Cleruchoides Lin & Huber as Cleruchoides mirus (Girault), comb. n. and compared with Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber, a species introduced from Australia into South America as a biological control agent of Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), an introduced pest of Eucalyptus. Four spelling corrections are made to species names in Cosmocomoidea and Lymaenon Walker.

Longevity ofCleruchoides noackae(Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an Egg Parasitoid ofThaumastocoris peregrinus(Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), with Various Honey Concentrations and at Several Temperatures

Abstract Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellape (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), damages eucalyptus plants by sucking their sap. This pest can be controlled by releases of the egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae Lin and Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). Increasing the survival of this parasitoid is critically important for its mass rearing in order to release large numbers in integrated programs to manage T. peregrinus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longevity of C. noackae adults fed various honey concentrations at 6 constant temperatures. The longevity of C. noackae was studied by keeping adults in a 1st experiment with 100, 50, or 10% honey solution, with distilled water, or without water and food in climate-controlled chambers at 25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, and a 12:12 h L:D photoperiod and—in a 2nd experiment—with 100% honey at constant temperatures of 15, 18, 21, 25, 28, or 31 °C in a climatic chamber at 70 ± 10% RH and a 12:12 h L:D photoperiod. Each adult parasitoid was held individua...

New distribution record of the invasive bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé (Heteroptera, Thaumastocoridae) in Italy

The presence of the bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé (Heteroptera; Thaumastocoridae), a serious invasive pest of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations, was recently reported for the first time in Europe in the Italian region of Latium. This study provides information on its occurrence in Sicily from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.