An invasive pentatomid pest in Argentina: neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

This is the first record on the invasion of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) in Paraná County (latitude 31º 51' 9.6" S, longitude 60º 32' 11.2" W), Entre Ríos province, Argentina. Five adults were intercepted in 2009/2010, one in crop residues and four on soybean fields. The expanding range in the distribution of E. heros in the Southern Hemisphere is believed to be due to the increased commercial trade among countries, increase in the area cultivated with soybean, and the adoption of no-tillage cropping systems.

Survivorship and Egg Production of Phytophagous Pentatomids in Laboratory Rearing

Survivorship and reproductive performance of the pentatomids Euschistus heros (F.) (EH), Nezara viridula (L.) (NV), and Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) (DM) were tested in the laboratory. A mixture of natural foods (pods of green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris, raw shelled peanuts, Arachis hypogaea, and fruits of privet, Ligustrum lucidum, and 50 pairs/box (25 x 20 x 20 cm) were used, observed for 30 days, and replicated three times. Thirty days after emergence, mean female survivorship was 91 percent (EH), 60 percent (NV), and 30 percent (DM). More egg masses were deposited during 11-20 days after emergence, with mean number of 45.1 (EH), 5.3 (NV), and 11.8 (DM). These values were smaller during the first 10 days (25.5, 2.1, and 4.7) and last 10 days (21-30 days) (39.4, 3.9, and 4.9), respectively. Mean maximum number of eggs/day was 489 (EH) on day 29, 474 (NV) on day 11, and 153 (DM) on day 14. Mean monthly fecundity (egg masses/box) was 985 (EH), 92 (NV), and 193 (DM), and mean number of eggs/box was 8,480; 5,147, and 2,042.7, respectively.