Soybean bugs are major crop pests that cause significant reduction in harvest yield and influence grain quality. The aim of this study was to verify the spatial distribution of Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in conventional and transgenic soybean cultivars. The experiment was conducted during the 2010-2011 crop season in UNESP/FCAV, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, in two fields of 10,000-m(2) area that were subdivided into 100 plots (10 m × 10 m). The cultivars sown were M 7908 RR and its isoline M-SOY 8001. The number of the first to fifth instars and the number of adults were determined. To evaluate insect dispersion in the area, the following indices were used: variance/mean ratio, Morisita index, Green coefficient, and the k exponent of the negative binomial distribution. To study probabilistic models to describe the spatial distribution of the insects, the adjustments of the Poisson and negative binomial distributions were tested. The first to third instars showed aggregated spatial distribution, whereas the fourth and fifth instars, and adults, isolated or grouped, showed variation in the arrangement, ranging from moderately aggregated to randomly dispersed. During the adjustment of probability distributions, the negative binomial distribution model showed adjustment for the first to third instars, fourth and fifth instars, adults, and fourth and fifth instars plus adults.

INTRODUÇÃOO algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.) é uma planta perene, que pode permanecer por vários anos em ambientes favoráveis. A natureza perene do algodoeiro permite sua rebrota após a colheita, produzindo estruturas adequadas à reprodução e manutenção do bicudo-do-algodoeiro (Anthonomus grandis Boheman, 1843) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), na área de cultivo, após três ou quatro semanas (Greenberg et A destruição dos restos culturais do algodoeiro, ao final do ciclo de cultivo, é uma estratégia fundamental no manejo fitossanitário da cultura, já que a sua rebrota, no período de entressafra, pode oferecer sítios de alimentação e de oviposição para pragas como o bicudo-do-algodoeiro. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a capacidade de rebrota de cultivares de algodoeiro, bem como sua infestação por Anthonomus grandis. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, com três cultivares (FM 910, DeltaOPAL e NuOPAL), duas alturas de roçagem (10 cm e 20 cm) e quatro repetições. Foram realizadas avaliações semanais da porcentagem de rebrota das plantas nas duas alturas de roçagem, número de botões florais, porcentagem de botões florais infestados pelo bicudo e número de adultos por rebrota. Plantas roçadas a 10 cm de altura apresentaram menor capacidade de brotação e, consequentemente, de emissão de botões florais, reduzindo a densidade populacional do bicudo na área, enquanto plantas roçadas a 20 cm apresentaram altos índices de rebrota, aos sete dias após a roçada. A cultivar FM 910 apresentou o maior número de plantas rebrotadas e, para a cultivar DeltaOPAL, registrou-se o maior número de botões florais e adultos por planta, bem como a maior porcentagem de botões com danos causados pelo bicudo-do-algodoeiro. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Gossypium hirsutum; bicudo-doalgodoeiro; soqueira de algodão. ABSTRACT RESUMO Infestation of Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) on re-sprout of cotton plantsThe destruction of cotton crop residues at the end of the crop cycle is a key strategy for the phytosanitary crop management, since its off-season re-sprout can provide sites for feeding and oviposition of pests such as the boll weevil. This study aimed to evaluate the re-sprout capacity of cotton cultivars, as well as their infestation by Anthonomus grandis. A randomized blocks design, in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, with three cultivars (FM 910, DeltaOPAL and NuOPAL), two mowing heights (10 cm and 20 cm) and four replications, was used. Weekly evaluations were carried out for measuring the percentage of plant re-sprout for both mowing heights, percentage of flower buds infested by the boll weevil and number of adults per re-sprout. Plants mowed at 10 cm presented a lower sprout capacity and consequently less flower buds, reducing the boll weevil population density in the area, while plants mowed at 20 cm showed high re-sprouts rates, seven days after mowing. The FM 910 cultivar had the highest number of re-sprout plants, while the DeltaOPAL cultivar showed the highest number of flower bu...

Since its introduction from Asia, the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), has become a pest of many agricultural crops in the USA. Insect predators utilize H. halys as prey; however, the chemical cues used by them in prey location are largely unknown. Here, we hypothesized that tridecane, an H. halys-associated volatile, acts as a kairomone for the predaceous minute pirate bug, Orius insidiosus (Say). We conducted laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments to: (1) assess the attraction of adult O. insidiosus to H. halys-damaged bean pods and tridecane in cage studies, and its effect on egg predation; (2) video record the behavioral response of O. insidiosus males and females to tridecane in a four-arm olfactometer; and (3) test whether Orius spp. are attracted to tridecane-baited sticky traps in peach, blueberry, and sunflower fields, and its effect on egg predation. In the greenhouse, O. insidiosus was attracted to H. halys-damaged pods and artificial plants baited with tridecane in the presence of prey (sentinel eggs); however, this attraction rarely led to increased egg predation. Although both O. insidiosus males and females spent more time in the arm of the olfactometer with tridecane, males were more responsive at a lower concentration than females. Similarly, Orius spp. were more attracted to tridecane-baited than unbaited traps in the field; however, there was no effect on egg predation. Altogether, while O. insidiosus is attracted to tridecane, this attraction did not always lead to higher predation, suggesting that this kairomone likely acts as an arrestant. Keywords Orius insidiosus Á Halyomorpha halys Á BMSB Á Conservative biological control Á Invasive pests Á Kairomones Key message • We tested the hypothesis that the predator Orius insidiosus utilizes volatiles associated with Halyomorpha halys during prey location. • Orius insidiosus spent more time foraging on bean plants damaged by H. halys in the presence of prey. • Tridecane was a major compound emitted by H. halys and H. halys-damaged plants. • Laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments showed attraction of O. insidiosus to tridecane. • An increased attraction to tridecane by O. insidiosus did not always enhance predation. • Tridecane arrested O. insidiosus foraging behavior. Communicated by T. Haye. Special Issue: The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys an emerging pest of global concern.