The overlooked role of weed plants affecting pest stink bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) bioecology in the Neotropics

Abstract

Most stink bugs (Pentatomidae) are polyphagous and feed on an array of cultivated and non-cultivated plants. Among the last, weed plants play an important role in their bioecology and pest status, particularly in the Neotropics, in where stink bugs are active during most of the year. In spite of this, the weeds role is, in general, underestimated. In this review article we present and discuss the importance of weed plants present in row crops and pasture lands, affecting stink bugs pests of major commodities in the Neotropics. We surveyed the literature and other sources (unpublished records) on the presence of stink bugs on weed plants. These plants were ranked as hosts (allowing nymph development and/or adult reproduction) or as associated plants (providing some nutrients/water/shelter, but not allowing nymph and/or adult performance). The following stink bug pest species were covered: The green-bellied stink bugs, Diceraeus furcatus (F.) and D. melacanthus Dallas; the Neotropical brown sink bug, Euschistus heros (F.); the brown-winged stink bug, Edessa meditabunda (F.); the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.); the rice stink bugs, Oebalus poecilus (Dallas) and O. ypsilongriseus (De Geer); the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood); the rice stalk stink bug, Tibraca limbativentris Stål; and the red-shouldered stink bug, Thyanta perditor (F.). The survey showed plants from 16 different families interacting with the 10 species of pest pentatomids analyzed, with the greater number of species of Fabaceae (16 + ), Poaceae (14 + ), and Asteraceae (7). Data demonstrated that, in the modern landscape scenario of agricultural areas in the Neotropics, highly polyphagous species, such as N. viridula, tend to suffer greater impact, while the oligophagous species, E. heros, D. furcatus, and D. melacanthus, in contrast, tend to be favored. The management of weed plants through the increase use of herbicides, multiple cropping, and the non-tillage cultivation systems seems to be the major factors influencing the interactions of stink bugs and weeds, changing the population dynamics of pest stink bugs in the Neotropics, and, consequently their pest status.

Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) development, preference for feeding and oviposition related to different food sources

“…Most of the weed species are reported in the literature as plants associated with stink bugs (Panizzi and Lucini, 2022), as observed for C. benghalensis in our study. However, cultivated plants can also be associated with stink bugs.…”

“…Overall, pentatomids are polyphagous pests (Panizzi and Lucini, 2022) which benefit from a mixture of plant species (Oda et al, 1981;Shearer and Jones, 1996). While some of the offered plant species provide nutrients that allow nymph development and/or adult survival and reproduction (acting as host plants), other species available in plant combinations may offer shelter and provide nutrients and water that is only sufficient for temporal sustainment (acting as associated plants) (Panizzi and Lucini, 2022). The most nutritious plants are usually preferred by the insects, but at low abundance pests are forced to explore the associated plants available (Bernays and Chapman, 1994).…”

“…The most nutritious plants are usually preferred by the insects, but at low abundance pests are forced to explore the associated plants available (Bernays and Chapman, 1994). Thus, a higher number of associated plants with D. melacanthus seems to be essential for an increase of the pest population from the first (soybean) to the second crop season (maize) in Brazilian agriculture (Silva et al, 2013;Panizzi and Lucini, 2022).…”

“…Moreover, according to Lemos et al (2012) the presence of C. benghalensis in maize fields poses a significant competition to cultivated plants, and can be considered one of the most important weeds of maize in some important Brazilian agricultural sites (Rocha et al, 2000). Those non-cultivated plants can be alternative sources for stink bug feeding, shelter and oviposition, therefore increasing pest outbreaks and crop damage (Panizzi, 2000;Panizzi and Lucini, 2022). 3 Embrapa Trigo,Passo Fundo,RS,Brasil.…”

“…Therefore, the identification of insect preferences, biology, and feeding behavior is crucial to find economically and ecologically sustainable solutions to the problems caused by these herbivores (Behmer, 2009). For that reason, studies that aim to evaluate biological traits, including food preference and reproduction of the green-belly stink bug in different host plants (Panizzi and Lucini, 2022), as found in two-season cropping systems, are crucial to obtain optimally designed pest management strategies. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate D. melacanthus development and preferences for feeding and oviposition, related to different food sources.…”