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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #389762
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, Genetics, and Genomics of Introduced Species for Biological Control of Invasive and Other Insect Pests

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Comparative life history parameters of three stink bug pest species

Author
item DAANE, KENT - University Of California
item DA SILVA, PAUL - College Of Marin
item STAHL, JUDITH - University Of California
item SCACCINI, DAVIDE - Universita Di Padova
item Wang, Xingeng

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2022
Publication Date: 3/17/2022
Citation: Daane, K.M., Da Silva, P.G., Stahl, J.M., Scaccini, D., Wang, X. 2022. Comparative life history parameters of three stink bug pest species. Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvac012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvac012

Interpretive Summary: Pistachio is an important crop in California whose production is impacted by several pest stink bug species. Control of these pests often targets specific vulnerable life stages, which requires knowledge of their temperature requirements for development, survival, and reproduction. We estimated and compared developmental times, upper and lower development threshold temperatures, thermal requirements to complete immature development, as well as survivorship, adult longevity, and fecundity for three major sting bug pest species. This information can be used to develop a decision support system for integrated pest management (e.g., timing insecticide treatments or natural enemy releases) of these pests in California as well as the many other areas where any of the three stink bug species are of concern to local agriculture.

Technical Abstract: California pistachios are impacted by several pentatomid species, including the native Thyanta pallidovirens (Stål), Chlorochroa uhleri (Stål) and Chinavia hilaris (Say) as well as the invasive Nezara viridula (L.). In pistachio, control tactics often target specific life stages, which makes knowledge about life histories fundamental to successful IPM programs. For that purpose, life history parameters of these stink bug species were assessed. Nymphal development and survivorship at seven constant temperatures, upper and lower development thresholds, thermal constants, adult longevity and fecundity, and life table parameters were evaluated. No species completed development at 15 or 35°C. For N. viridula, egg to adult development was fastest at 30°C, whereas for T. pallidovirens there was no significant difference between 27.5°C and 30°C and C. uhleri development was similar between 25°C and 30°C. Egg to adult survival was highest at 22.5°C and 27.5°C. The thermal requirements as degree-days (DD) to complete immature development were estimated to be 714.3, 370.4, and 434.8 for C. uhleri, T. pallidovirens and N. viridula, respectively. Lifetable calculations produced a value of 56.7 d for mean generation time (To), 24.89 for net reproductive rate (Ro) and 0.057 for the intrinsic rate of increase (r) for C. uhleri. Thyanta pallidovirens had a To of 39.9 d, an Ro of 81.10 and an r of 0.11. The results are discussed with respect to the improvement of IPM in California pistachios, and can contribute to control of these pest species in other ecosystems.