Ingestion of a Marked Bacterial Pathogen of Cotton Conclusively Demonstrates Feeding by First Instar Southern Green Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): Table 1.

Abstract

Long-held dogma dictates that first instars of Nezara viridula (L.) do not feed, yet recent observations of stylet activity within a food source suggest otherwise. As a cosmopolitan pest of cotton and other high-value cash crops, confirmation of feeding by first instars may ultimately influence the knowledge on biology and management strategies for this pest. To determine whether first instars feed, newly hatched nymphs were provided sterile green beans (control) or beans infected with a rifampicin-resistant marked bacterial pathogen (Pantoea agglomerans (Ewing and Fife)) of cotton. Insects were exposed to beans for 2 d, and feeding was confirmed based on detection of marked bacteria ingested by the insect. Normal bacterial flora was detected in all insects; however, control insects did not possess the marked bacteria. Of the first instars surviving on infected beans, ≍65% possessed the marked bacteria internally. Furthermore, the frequency of insects with marked bacteria was higher in insects collected directly from the bean surface than those that were off the bean at time of collection. Densities of innate and marked bacteria were comparable (both ranging from 10(1) to 10(3)), suggesting that the marked bacteria did not exclude preexisting bacterial flora. Marked bacteria were also detected in a subset of second instars, indicating marked bacteria were retained through the molting process after ingesting bacteria as first instars. Our findings conclusively demonstrate feeding by first instars and redefine the long-held perspective of nonfeeding by first instars. These findings may necessitate changes to crop protection strategies against feeding and vectoring of plant pathogens by N. viridula.

Effects of embryonic responses to clutch mates on egg hatching patterns ofPentatomidae (Heteroptera)

“…H. halys : Lee et al ., ; N. viridula : Kiritani, ; Lockwood & Story, ). Although a recent study provides evidence of plant feeding by N. viridula as determined by the detection of a marker bacteria infecting a food source (Esquivel & Medrano, ), there are no reports of egg cannibalism by hatchlings in this family. However, preliminarily in some pentatomid species, including H. halys , we observe that hatchlings suck unfertilized eggs or unhatched fertilized eggs, if any, in the natal egg clutch.…”

The Cotton Boll: Temporal Susceptibility of the Boll Wall to Stylet Penetration by Hemipteran Pests

“…Stylet penetration estimates for second instars (0.59 mm; Esquivel, 2011) would allow second instars to breach the internal carpel wall for G. herbaceum entries only (Fig. Esquivel and Medrano (2014) demonstrated that first instars do feed when provided a food source; however, the stylet penetration potential of 0.26 mm for first instars (Esquivel, 2011) is insufficient to breach the boll wall. Esquivel and Medrano (2014) demonstrated that first instars do feed when provided a food source; however, the stylet penetration potential of 0.26 mm for first instars (Esquivel, 2011) is insufficient to breach the boll wall.…”

“…However, this Esquivel (2011Esquivel ( , 2015 for analyses and derivation of stylet penetration potential. dogma has been refuted by Esquivel and Medrano (2014), who demonstrated that first instars fed on a food source infected with a marked pathogen, and these pathogens were ingested and retained in second instars. Greene et al (1999) indicated second instars also fed on 8-d-old cotton bolls, although this seems inconsistent with stylet penetration estimates for second instars (Esquivel, 2015) and the boll wall measurements presented in the current report.…”

“…7). Esquivel and Medrano (2014) demonstrated that first instars do feed when provided a food source; however, the stylet penetration potential of 0.26 mm for first instars (Esquivel, 2011) is insufficient to breach the boll wall.…”

Potential of Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) as a Host Plant for Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

“…Therefore, their first instars are more likely to feed on leaves than on fruit. Plant feeding by first instar stink bugs was first reported for N. viridula and Euschistus servus (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on peanut leaves in the laboratory (Tillman 2008) and later affirmed for N. viridula using a marked bacterial pathogen of cotton (Esquivel & Medrano 2014). Unlike second instars, first instar H. halys were observed feeding equally on M. azedarach leaves and carrot, and feeding on these leaves did not result in mortality.…”