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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #383400
Research Project: Systematics of Hemiptera: Plant Pests, Predators, and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: First occurrence and population dynamics of Blissus pulchellus (Hemiptera: Blissidae) in Brazil: A new pest of pastures in Roraima

Author
item FEDELIS, E. - University Of Brazil
item OLIVEIRA, R. - University Of Brazil
item BENDAHAN, A. - Universidade Vila Velha
item CARVALHO, G. - Pontifical Catholic University
item VALERIO, J. - Embprapa
item Henry, Thomas

Submitted to: Revista Brasileira de Entomologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2021
Publication Date: 5/17/2021
Citation: Fedelis, E.G., Oliveira, R., Bendahan, A.B., Carvalho, G.S., Valerio, J.R., Henry, T.J. 2021. First occurrence and population dynamics of Blissus pulchellus (Hemiptera: Blissidae) in Brazil: A new pest of pastures in Roraima. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia. 65(2):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9665-RBENT-2020-0096.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9665-RBENT-2020-0096

Interpretive Summary: Chinch bugs are an economically important group of true bugs that cause enormous losses to turf and pasture grasses, corn, sorghum, and cereal crops around the world. Several species in the United States are serious pests of lawns and golf course fairways. The species documented in this study from Roraima, Brazil, was discovered causing extensive damage to pasture grasses important in beef cattle production. In this paper, we provide the first Brazilian record for this species of chinch bug, previously known only from Central America, and discuss its population dynamics and the injury it causes to cattle pastures. This information will be important to all researchers working with grass production and associated insect pests.

Technical Abstract: Cattle production is one of the main economic activities in the state of Roraima, and insect pest attacks in pastures have a negative effect on this sector in the region. Little is known about the species that cause damage to forage fields in the state. This study presents the first report of the occurrence of the chinch bug Blissus pulchellus Montandon (Hemiptera: Blissidae) in Roraima, Brazil and a description of the population dynamics of this pest in pasture areas in this state. Pasture areas were sampled in nine municipalities of Roraima to detect the insect. The population dynamics study was conducted for two years in Alto Alegre municipality, two of which have Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and Megathrysus maximus cv. Mombaça (Poaceae) crops. Blissus pulchellus was found in all sampled areas, except in Rorainópolis and São João da Baliza. High densities of this bug were found in in Alto Alegre. This is the first report of B. pulchellus in Brazil. The factors that affect the population dynamics and the damage caused by this insect pest to pastures as well as the risk of dispersal of this pest in Brazil are discussed.