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Title: CONDITIONS FOR SHORT-TERM STORAGE OF FIELD-COLLECTED SPINED SOLDIER BUG (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) ADULTS PRIOR TO AUGMENTATIVE RELEASE

Author
item Thorpe, Kevin
item Aldrich, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/27/2004
Publication Date: 2/2/2005
Citation: Thorpe, K.W., Aldrich, J.R. 2005. Conditions for short-term storage of field-collected spined soldier bug (hemiptera: pentatomidae) adults prior to augmentative release. Journal of Entomological Science. 39:483-489

Interpretive Summary: The spined soldier bug (SSB) is a predator of a wide variety of pest insects, including the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), and is considered to be a promising candidate for biological control. A pheromone has been identified and synthesized that can be used in traps to attract large numbers of SSBs in the spring. However, most of the predators are usually collected several weeks prior to when the CPBs emerge in the field. Therefore, a method for storing SSBs until they are needed is needed. To determine the optimum conditions under which to store SSB collected in the field, the effects of temperature, light, and presence or absence of food on the longevity and production of viable offspring of stored SSB was studied. Temperature and light had little or no effect, but it was important that stored SSBs be fed green beans and mealworms. Because there were no adverse effects at the temperature and light conditions found in household refrigerators, these should be adequate for storing field-collected SSBs. However, because the number of young produced by stored females is low (14 nymphs per female), the use of field-collected SSB against CPB may be limited to relatively small plantings of potatoes, such as gardens and specialty farming situations. The information from this study will assist researchers, insect rearing facilities, biological control suppliers and practitioners, and growers to better use this predator for biological control of CPB and other pests.

Technical Abstract: Spined soldier bugs (SSBs), Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), can be collected as overwintered adults in pheromone-baited traps in large numbers in the spring. Progeny from these adults can be augmentatively released against the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decimlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on potatoes. However, the collection date of the predators may be as much as five weeks earlier than the date of peak CPB emergence, necessitating storage of field-collected SSB prior to release. The effects of temperature, photoperiod, and food on SSB survivorship and fecundity during and after a five-week storage period were investigated. In general, unfed SSB had greater mortality and reduced fecundity compared to those provided with string beans and mealworm larvae during storage. Temperature and photoperiod had no effect, except that female SSB survivorship was greater among unfed insects stored at 5°C compared to those stored at 15°C. Therefore, household refrigerators can be used for short-term storage of field-collected SSBs. Even when stored SSB females are fed, fecundity is low (14 nymphs per female originally collected). This may limit the use of field-collected SSB for augmentative release against CPB to relatively small plantings of potatoes.