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Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina

Print version ISSN 0373-5680On-line version ISSN 1851-7471

Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. vol.78 no.2 La Plata June 2019

http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.25085/rsea.780203 

Nota-Note

New record of Brontocoris tabidus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) attacking larvae of Heteroperreyia hubrichi (Hymenoptera: Pergidae)

Nuevo registro de Brontocoris tabidus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) atacando larvas de Heteroperreyia hubrichi (Hymenoptera: Pergidae)

 

Mc KAY, Fernando1,*, DELLAPÉ, Gimena2, DYER, Kirsten3 & WHEELER, Gregory S.3

1 Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas. Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina. *E-mail: fmckay@fuedei.org
2 Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET, División Entomología, Museo de La Plata. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3 Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Received 06 - X - 2018 | Accepted 06 - III - 2019 | Published 27 - VI - 2019 https://doi.org/10.25085/rsea.780203


RESUMEN. Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae) es un árbol perenne nativo de Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay, considerado actualmente una de las especies invasoras más agresivas y extendidas en Florida, Hawai y T exas (Estados Unidos). La avispa sierra defoliadora, Heteroperreyia hubrichi Malaise (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), es un agente potencial de control biológico para S. terebinthifolia. Durante inspecciones de campo recientes en el área de distribución nativa de S. terebinthifolia, ninfas y adultos de Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) fueron encontrados predando larvas de H. hubrichi y Heteroperreyia n.? sp. sobre plantas de S. terebinthifolia en Argentina (Provincia de Misiones) y Brasil (Estado de Rio Grande do Sul) respectivamente. La depredación de B. tabidus sobre larvas de especies de Heteroperreyia constituye nuevos registros.

PALABRAS CLAVE. Chinche predadora. Control biológico. Schinus terebinthifolia.

ABSTRACT. Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi; Anacardiaceae) is a perennial tree native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Brazilian peppertree is one of the most aggressive and widespread invasive species in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas (USA). The defoliating sawfy, Heteroperreyia hubrichi Malaise (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), is a potential biological control agent for S. terebinthifolia. During surveys of plant use under natural conditions in the S. terebinthifolia native range, nymphs and adults of Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were found attacking H. hubrichi and Heteroperreyia n.? sp. larvae feeding on S. terebinthifolia in Argentina (Misiones Province) and Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) respectively. The attack by B. tabidus on Heteroperreyia species constitutes new records.

KEYWORDS. Biological control. Predatory stink bug. Schinus terebinthifolia.


 

Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi; Anacardiaceae) is a Neotropical species whose native range extends along the Atlantic coast of Brazil from Paraiba south to Rio Grande do Sul states, west to north-eastern Argentina and adjacent Paraguay and Uruguay (Barkley, 1957; Muñoz, 2000; Wheeler et al., 2016b).

This species has been introduced to many countries around the world as an ornamental (Morton, 1978; Panetta & McKee, 1997). Currently, Brazilian peppertree is one of the most aggressive and widespread invasive species in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas (USA) (Ewel, 1986; Yoshioka & Markin, 1991; Rodgers et al., 2014).

Biological control research against Brazilian peppertree began in Hawaii in 1954, continued between 1960 and 1961 (Yoshioka & Markin, 1991), and has been conducted in Florida more recently (Hight et al., 2002; Wheeler et al., 2016a). Three biological control agents were released in Hawaii, a bruchid seed feeder Lithraeus atronotatus Pic (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a tortricid leaf folder Episimus unguiculus Clarke (Lepidoptera: T ortricidae), and a gelechiid stem galler Crasimorpha infuscata Hodges (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) (Davis & Krauss, 1962; Krauss, 1962, 1963; Yoshioka & Markin, 1991). Despite the establishment of the frst two species in Hawaii, their feeding has not suffciently reduced the weed problem (Yoshioka & Markin, 1991; Hight et al., 2002; Winstson et al., 2014).

Finding specialized herbivores in the native range has been the major challenge for the biological control research of Brazilian Peppertree (Hight et al., 2003; Oleiro et al., 2011; Wheeler et al., 2011, 2013, 2014; Mc Kay et al., 2012; Rendon et al., 2012; Manrique et al., 2014). However, two promising species, the leaf-feeding thrips Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) and the foliage-gall former Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) have been petitioned and recently approved for release in the US (Wheeler et al., 2016a).

Another potentially host-specifc species is the defoliating sawfy, Heteroperreyia hubrichi Malaise (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), which has been intensively studied as a biological control candidate of Brazilian peppertree (Medal et al., 1999; Vitorino et al., 2000; Hight et al., 2003). This species is known to occur in southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina feeding on the leaves of S. terebinthifolia and on the closely related species S. weinmannifolia Engl. (Vitorino et al., 2000; Mc Kay et al., 2009). Like other members of the Pergidae sawfy family, this species is known to produce cytotoxic peptides (Oelrichs et al., 1999). Additional host specifcity studies with H. hubrichi have been delayed because of the potential for poisoning native wildlife and domesticated animals that may consume the insect larvae (Cuda et al., 2004; Dittrich et al., 2004). However, given the restricted host range of H. hubrichi, the utilization of this species as a biological control agent for S. terebinthifolia, is being reconsidered.

During 2017-18, while conducting surveys of plant use under natural conditions in the native range of S. terebinthifolia in Argentina and Brazil, nymphs and adults of the stink bug Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were found attacking H. hubrichi larvae feeding on S. terebinthifolia leaves at two localities (Garuhapé-Mi and Oberá) in Misiones Province, Argentina (Figs. 1 and 2). In March 2018, while surveying for natural enemies of S. terebinthifolia i n southern Brazil, B. tabidus adults were also found attacking Heteroperreyia n.? sp. larvae feeding on S. terebinthifolia(Figs. 1 and 2).


Fig. 1. Field sites records of B. tabidus attacking Heteroperreyia larvae in northeastern Argentina and southern Brazil.

The genus Brontocoris includes only two species, Brontocoris nigrolimbatus(Spinola) from Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, and B. tabidus from Chile, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (Ruffnelli & Pirán, 1959; Grazia & Schwertner, 2008; Grazia et al., 2015). In Brazil, B. tabidus is a generalist predator that naturally controls defoliating Lepidoptera caterpillars in Eucalyptus plantations (De Menezes et al., 2013). Among the many prey used by this species, B. tabidusis known to prey on another leaf-feeding sawfy, Haplostegus nigricrus Conde (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), this one feeding on Psidium guajavaL. (Myrtaceae) (Azevedo Pereira et al., 2008). The predation by B. tabidus o n Heteroperreyia species constitutes a new record.

H. hubrichiis approved for the biological control of S. terebinthifoliain the US, predation by similar members of the Pentatomidae in the invaded range may decrease its performance against S. terebinthifolia.

This project was partially funded by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Water Management District, and USDA/ARS. We thank the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones Province.

 


Fig. 2. Brontocoris tabidusattaking Heteroperreyialarvae. a. H. hubrichiin Argentina. b. Heteroperreyian.? sp. in Brazil.

 

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