TITLE:
Phytophagous stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae; Coreidae) associated with macadamia in South Africa
AUTHORS:
Pieter Schalk Schoeman
KEYWORDS:
Bugs; Diapause; Bathycoelia natalicola; Pseudotheraptus wayi
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
11,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Bathycoelia natalicola (Distant) is
the dominant stink bug on macadamias in South Africa. This insect occurred throughout
the year but was particularly numerous during summer months when developing macadamia nuts were available on the trees. The presence of
nymphs and adults throughout the winter as well as the absence of seasonal
polyphenism indicates that true diapause may not occur in areas with mild
subtropical climates. After harvest, during winter when no nuts were available,
the winter stink bug complex consisting of Nezara
pallidocons-persa Stal, Nezara prunasis Dallas and Atelocera raptoria Germarbecame
was more numerous. The Nezara species
do not breed in macadamias indicating that macadamia is possibly not a preferred
host plant. Few individuals of the polyphagous
pest, Pseudotheraptus wayi brown were
recovered with the branch shaking technique suggesting that this technique is
possibly not suitable to monitor for this insect. Considerable P. wayi damage levels were however, detected
by dissecting prematurely aborted nuts.