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| Author(s): |
Daniel de Paiva Silva
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia |
| Defense date: | 2010-01-03 |
| Examining board members: |
Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira;
André Victor Lucci Freitas;
Cristiano Feldens Schwertner
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| Advisor: | Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira |
| Abstract | |
Pentatomids are important crop pests that cause direct and indirect plant and economical damages. However, several biological and ecological features in natural environments remain unknown. The present study presents information concerning the biology and ecology of Edessa rufomarginata (De Geer, 1773) on C. brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae), a typical plant species from the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. E. rufomarginata females did not present maternal care and preferred to laid their eggs more frequently on bigger plants. However, the oviposition frequency was not different between plants with floral buds/fruits and plants without these structures. First-instar nymphs remained aggregated and only dispersed in the second instar onwards. Adults were more abundant on mature and young stems of C. brasiliense, whereas nymphs were more abundant on mature stems and leaves. Ants frequently tapped the abdomen of E. rufomarginata nymphs with their antennae, and at least on two occasions the ants were seen consuming their honeydew. The interaction of the bug with other natural enemies, such as the predaceous reduviid Heniartes sp., was also observed. This is one of the first studies concerning the biology and ecology of E. rufomarginata in natural environments, as well as one of the first ones to observe the occurrence of trophobiotic interactions between stink bugs and ants. Therefore, further studies related to this stink bug are necessary to a better understanding of its biology and ecology, as well as its interaction with ants and natural enemies which can potentially act as agents of biological control in agricultural environments. (AU) | |