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The feeding responses of the predatory stink bugs, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.) and Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), to the kudzu bug Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) were studied in the laboratory. Before the experiments, E. floridanus and P. maculiventris males, females and third-fourth instars were kept individually in Petri dish with a bean pod and moistened paper for 24 h. Then, they were exposed to a single male, female or third instar M. cribraria with and without Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as alternative prey for 24 h. Another laboratory experiment was conducted to estimate the predation rate at different prey densities. A single predator male or female was exposed to different M. cribraria adult densities (1 to 5). Euthyrhynchus floridanus was 20-40% more efficient than P. maculiventris at feeding on M. cribraria adults in the laboratory with or without C. includes as alternative prey. The prey preference of both predators were not affected by the presence of C. includes, and all the predator stages preferred to feed on M. cribraria over C. includens. Both predators killed increasingly greater number of preys when exposed to increasing prey densities until a certain limit was reached. The limit in number of prey killed was probably imposed by predator satiation in conjunction with prey defense mechanisms. This study demonstrated that E. floridanus is a potential biocontrol agent for M. cribraria. However, more testing is necessary to determine the impact of this predator in the field. ResumenLas repuestas alimenticias de las chinches hediondas depredadoras, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.) y Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) a la chinche del kudzu Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) fueron estudiadas en laboratorio. Antes de los experimentos, los machos, hembras y ninfas del 3ro-4to estadios de E. floridanus y P. maculiventris fueron mantenidos individualmente in cajas de Petri con una vaina de frijol y papel humedecido durante 24 h. Luego, fueron expuestos a un macho, hembra o tercer ninfal instar del M. cribraria con y sin Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) como presa alternativa durante 24 h. Otro experimento de laboratorio fue llevado a cabo para estimar la tasa de predacion a diferentes densidades de presa. Un depredador individual macho o hembra fue expuesto a diferentes densidades de M. cribraria adultos (1 a 5). Euthyrhynchus floridanus fue un 20-40% mas eficiente que P. maculiventris alimentandose de M. cribraria adultos con o sin C. includens como presa alternativa. La preferencia de presa de ambos depredadores no se vio afectada por la presencia de C. includens. Ambos depredadores consumieron un mayor numero de presas cuando fueron expuestos a un aumento en el numero de presas hasta que cierto limite fue alcanzado. El limite en el numero de presas consumidas estuvo condicionado cuando el depredador estuvo saciado combinado con los mecanismos de defensa de la presa. Este estudio demostro que E. floridanus tiene potencial como agente de control biologico de M. cribraria. Sin embargo, se hacen necesario mas pruebas para determinar el impacto de este depredador en el campo. View this article in BioOne

Summary Field-collected adult kudzu bugs, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae), were exposed over a 5 to 6 wk period to 21 potted plant species in a greenhouse. Egg masses were deposited and nymphs completed development to the adult stage on kudzu, soybean, alfalfa, white clover, white sweet clover, red clover, perennial peanut, and American joint vetch. However, corn, sorghum, tomato, bell pepper, Johnsongrass, perennial ryegrass, partridge pea, garden pea, rattlepods, stylo, crimson clover, hairy indigo, and Florida beggarweed were not utilized by the kudzu bug as reproductive hosts. Implications and potential damage to Florida commercial crops and forages are reviewed.

The feeding responses of the predatory stink bugs E. floridanus and P. maculiventris to the citrus root weevil D. abbreviatus were studied at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry’s Florida Biological Control Laboratory in Gainesville, FL. This work was done in quarantine at temperatures of 25 ± 3°C with a 16-hour photoperiod (16:8 L/D) and a relative humidity of 50-55%. The E. floridanus and P. maculiventris males, females and 3rd-5th instars were kept individually in a Petri dish with a bean pod and moistened paper for 24 h. They were then exposed to a single D. abbreviatus male or female in Petri-dishes for 24 h. Twenty replications were made. At the end of the experiment percent predation was determined. Euthyrhynchus floridanus was more efficient than P. maculiventris at feeding on D. abbreviatus adults in the lab with no choice tests. This particular stinkbug can be easily mass reared and therefore has potential as augmentative biological control agent for the citrus root weevil. However, more testing is necessary to determine the overall impact of this predator in the field. Las repuestas alimenticias de los chinches E. floridanus y P. maculiventris depredadores del picudo de la raiz de citricos fueron estudiadas en la cuarentena de Gainesville a una temperatura de 25 ± 3°C, 16 horas de fotoperiodo (16:8 Luz/Oscuridad) y una humedad relativa de 50-55%. Machos, hembras y ninfas del 3ro-5to estadio de E. floridanus y P. maculiventris fueron mantenidos individualmente en platos de Petri con papel humedecido y una vaina de frijol comun sin presa durante 24 h. Luego de este periodo, los depredadores fueron expuestos a un macho o una hembra adulta de D. abbreviatus por 24 h. Se utilizaron veinte repeticiones. Al final del experimento, se determino el porcentaje de depredacion. Euthyrhynchus floridanus fue mas eficiente que P. maculiventris alimentandose de adultos del picudo de la raiz de citricos. Euthyrhynchus floridanus podria criarse masivamente para ser utilizado en programas de control biologico del picudo de la raiz de citricos por aumentacion y conservacion en los Estados Unidos de Norte America. Sin embargo, estudios adicionales son necesarios para determinar el posible impacto de este depredador en el campo. View this article in BioOne

SUMMARY The life cycle of the brown marmorated stink bug, H. halys, was studied at the Gainesville, Florida quarantine facility at 25° C constant temperature, 16:8 h L:D and 50–55% RH. Nymphs, which emerged from 32 egg masses, were reared on bean pods and carrots in Petri dishes and checked daily to determine the number and duration of each nymphal stadium and percent survival. Twenty-five recently emerged couples were set-up in clear plastic containers, fed daily with bean pods and carrots, and provided with moisture. The pre-oviposition period, number of egg masses, and longevities of males and females were determined. The general life cycle of this potential crop pest of Florida is discussed.

Bean plataspid, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), was first reported in northeastern Georgia in the fall of 2009 (Eger et al. 2010), and since then has spread throughout Georgia and into North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Mississippi and Florida (Roberts 2011; Suiter et al. 2010a, 2010b; http://www. kudzubug.org/distribution_map.cfm; Medal et al. 2013). This plant-feeding insect is related to the stink bugs (Pentatomidae). Like other pentatomoids, bean plataspids emit a strong defensive odor when disturbed. In its native Asia, one of the M. cribraria’s preferred host is kudzu, Pueraria montana Lour (Merr.) variety lobata (Willd.) (Fabales: Fabaceae). Megacopta cribraria is also an agricultural pest of soybean, Glycine max Merrill, and other legume plants and various fruit trees (Li et al. 2001; Wang et al. 2004; Eger et al. 2010). In the infested areas of the U.S.A., M. cribraria is commonly found feeding on the invasive kudzu plant (Ruberson et al. 2012; Zhang et al. 2012). Additionally, it was reported feeding on caged fig trees, Ficus carica L., in a study in Auburn, Alabama (Hu & Carroll 2012). The host range of M. cribraria will probably continue to expand as the insect disperses long distances, mainly by transportation routes into the northeastern and western USA. This new non-native invader may have the potential to cause large crop losses (USDAAPHIS 2010). Adult Megacopta cribraria collected in May of 2012 in Alachua County, Florida, (N: 29.639686° W: -82.399092°) were brought to the laboratory of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville for host-specificity tests with sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck; Sapindales: Rutaceae) seedlings and 11 legume plant species (Fabaceae) commonly found in Florida (Table 1). Host-specificity studies were conducted in a greenhouse during Jul-Oct 2012. A completely randomized design with 5 replications was used. Treatments consisted of single potted plants (30-40 cm height) in vegetative stage in Plexiglas cages. Three pairs of field-collected M. cribraria adults were placed into each cage. Cages were made of clear plastic Plexiglass cylinders (15 cm diam, 50-60 cm height). Mesh screening covered the top and 6 holes each 5 cm diam located in pairs at the bottom, middle, and upper parts of the cylinder to allow for air circulation. Test plants were grown from seeds in 3.8 L pots with a mixture of 2 parts

The bean plataspid, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is reported in Florida for the first time. It was found during Mar-Oct 2012 in kudzu patches (Pueraria montana Lour (Merr.) (Fabales: Fabaceae) in 16 Florida counties. Its host range includes kudzu, soybean (Glycine max Merrill; Fabales: Fabaceae), and other legume crops (Medal et al. unpublished data). El chinche asiatico conocido como ‘Bean Plataspid’, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), es reportado por primera vez en la Florida. Fue encontrado durante marzo a octubre del 2012 en campos de kudzu (Pueraria montana Lour (Merr.) (Fabales: Fabaceae) en 16 condados de Florida, El rango de plantas hospederas incluye soya (Glycine max Merrill; Fabales: Fabaceae), y otros cultivos de leguminosas (Medal el al., datos no publicados). View this article in BioOne

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pen tatomidae) is a potential threat to Florida agricul ture (Halbert & Hodges 2011; Zhu et al. 2012). It is native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan (Hsiao 1977; Zhang 1985) and was recently in troduced into the United States. It was original ly detected in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1998, and since then has been reported in approxi mately 37 states (NAPIS 2009; Jacobs 2012). Several interceptions of the BMSB have been reported from Florida in the last several years, however it is apparently not yet established there (Leroy Whilby, Personal Communication). BMSB is a polyphagous sucking insect that feeds on a variety of fruit trees including citrus as well as vegetables, ornamental and weedy plants The BMSB has become a serious pest of fruits and vegetable crops in the mid-Atlantic region. The estimated apple losses reached $37 million in 2010 from BMSB for mid-Atlantic ap ple growers (Hamilton & Shearer 2003; Nielsen & Hamilton 2009; Gill et al. 2010). Feeding damage is caused by both nymphs and adults on the leaves, fruits and stems of plants. In ad dition to direct feeding damage, BMSB is also known as a vector of witch's broom phytoplasma in Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) (Lamiales: Paulowniaceae) in Asia (Gao et al. 2008; Jones & Lambdin 2009). However, in the USA it has not been reported as a vector of any pathogen (Gyeltshen et al. 2011). BMSB is able to over winter inside houses and other enclosed struc

The egg parasitoid Paratelonomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) is reported for the first time on the eggs of the kudzu bug Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) in Alachua County, Florida. This egg parasitoid was previously reported only in Georgia and Alabama. Sumario El parasitoide de huevos Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) es reportado por primera vez en huevos de la chinche del kudzu Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) en el condado Alachua de la Florida. Este parasitoide de huevos habia sido previamente reportado solamente en Georgia y Alabama. View this article in BioOne