-
Nutritional Ecology of the Southern Green Stink Bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Selected Varieties of Cowpea and Tomato
Akamu Jude Ewunkem,
Henry Osofuhene Sintim,
Beatrice Nuck Dingha,
Sudan Gyawaly,
Louis Ernest Jackai
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
1-9
Received:
12 November 2019
Accepted:
16 December 2019
Published:
9 January 2020
Abstract: Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), are two economically important crops in the southern United States. The southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a highly polyphagous pest that attacks a wide range of crops including cowpea and tomato causing a reduction in yield and produce quality. Considering the damage and the associated losses in cowpea and tomato production by this and other pests, as well as the demand for reduced use of pesticides, there is a need to cultivate varieties that are resistant to N. viridula. One key indicator of resistance is host nutritional availability and adequacy. This study evaluated the effect of two selected varieties of cowpea and tomato on the growth and development of N. viridula under laboratory conditions as a first step towards the assessment of nutritional adequacy of both crops. We carried out feeding experiments to compare food utilization and suitability by various life stages of N. viridula. The food substrates tested included fresh immature cowpea pods, fresh cowpea seeds, dry cowpea seeds and newly ripened tomato fruits. Overall, mean nymphal mortality was less when reared on cowpea (63.7±2.9%) than tomato (83.0±1.8%). Nymphs required less time to complete development on cowpea (27.8±2.8d) than on tomato (45.0±3.9d). Fresh body weight at adult emergence was greater on cowpea (132.3±12.1mg) than tomato (83.9±1.5mg). Consumption index (CI) and growth rate (GR) were higher on cowpea (CI: 22.0 ±1.3; GR: 2.1±0.3) than tomato (CI: 8.7±1.4; GR: 0.9±0.1). Collectively, these results suggest that cowpea provided a more suitable nutritional substrate for nymphal development. Many small vegetable growers cultivate both crops.
Abstract: Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), are two economically important crops in the southern United States. The southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a highly polyphagous pest that attacks a wide range of crops including cowpea and t...
Show More
-
Life Cycle and Fertility Life Table of Zelus vespiformis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Laura Alexandra Laiton Jiménez,
Marisol Giraldo-Jaramillo,
Pablo Benavides-Machado
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
10-16
Received:
26 November 2019
Accepted:
12 December 2019
Published:
11 February 2020
Abstract: Zelus vespiformis Hart (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a native predator which has been recorded frequently predating on some insects pest of coffee plantations in Colombia. In order to know its biological parameters, its life cycle and fertility life table were evaluated under laboratory conditions at Cenicafé, using Galleria mellonella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). To obtain the duration and survival of immature stages, 716 eggs were followed and 23 adults pairs (♂: ♀) were established to construct the life table. The mean duration from egg to adult was 112.65±0.76 days; the egg incubation period was 23.22±0.21 days; and nymphs had 11.75% survival to the adult stage. The longevity of adults was 25.86±2.94 and 30.39±2.26 days for females and males respectively. The mean number of eggs per female was 105.55±10.75. The parameters of the fertility life table were net reproductive rate R0=5.19 (2.54–10.28); generation time T=106.75 (101.7–114.0) days, intrinsic growth rate rm=0.015 (0.009–0.022), and finite growth rate λ=1.015 (1.009–1.023). This information forms a biological basis for initiating studies that pretend to determine the potential of this insect as predator.
Abstract: Zelus vespiformis Hart (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a native predator which has been recorded frequently predating on some insects pest of coffee plantations in Colombia. In order to know its biological parameters, its life cycle and fertility life table were evaluated under laboratory conditions at Cenicafé, using Galleria mellonella Linnaeus (Lepid...
Show More
-
Three New Species of the Genus Autocharis Swinhoe, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Odontiinae) from the Southern Arabian Peninsula
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
17-25
Received:
15 March 2020
Accepted:
1 April 2020
Published:
14 April 2020
Abstract: New taxonomic results on the genus Autocharis Swinhoe, 1854 (Lepeidoptera: Crambidae, Odontiinae) are presented on the basis of a sample of 11 specimens collected by the author in south-western Oman between 2017 - 2019. The attribution of the material to the genus Autocharis Swinhoe, 1854 and the exclusion of other genera close to Autocharis Swinhoe, 1854 was done on the basis of differential features in the forewing venation. Examination of the wing pattern and the genitalia resulted in the attribution of one part of the sample (10 specimens) to the Autocharis seyrigalis (Marion & Viette, 1956) species complex and of the other part (1 specimen) to the Autocharis fessalis (Swinhoe, 1886) complex. Morphpmetric analysis of the sample and comparison with type material of the respective species groups revealed significant differences between the specimens of the sample and the representants of the two species groups. These differences result in the description of three new species: Autocharis trisignalis Seizmair, sp.nov. Autocharis renalis Seizmair, sp.nov. belonging to the Autocharis seyrigalis (Marion & Viette, 1956) complex and Autocharis arrondalis Seizmair, sp.nov. belonging to the Autocharis fessalis (Swinhoe, 1886) complex. Furthermore, the presence of the Autocharis seyrigalis (Marion & Viette, 1956) complex is reported as new to the entomofauna of the Arabian Peninsula. Up to now, records of the Autocharis seyrigalis (Marion & Viette, 1956) complex have been restricted to South Africa and the Malagasy region.
Abstract: New taxonomic results on the genus Autocharis Swinhoe, 1854 (Lepeidoptera: Crambidae, Odontiinae) are presented on the basis of a sample of 11 specimens collected by the author in south-western Oman between 2017 - 2019. The attribution of the material to the genus Autocharis Swinhoe, 1854 and the exclusion of other genera close to Autocharis Swinho...
Show More
