Performance and seasonal abundance of the neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros nymphs and adults on a novel food plant (pigeonpea) and soybean

Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (Leguminosae) was found as a novel food plant of the neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), in Paraná State, Brazil. Laboratory studies indicated nymphs performing better when fed on immature pods of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill (Leguminosae), than on immature pods of pigeonpea. Female nymphs required 1.7 d less to complete development and tended to have a lower mortality on soybean (17.5%) than on pigeonpea (25.0%). At emergence, fresh body weight was greater on soybean than on pigeonpea. Adult E. heros performed better on soybean than on pigeonpea. After 120 d, 35% of adults were alive on soybean and 30% on pigeonpea; 93.3% of females oviposited on soybean, and 73.3% on pigeonpea, with an oviposition delay of 17 days on pigeonpea compared to soybean. Fecundity was 63% greater on soybean than on pigeonpea, and adult body weight gain for females and males at different ages was 6-36% greater on soybean than on pigeonpea. E. heros colonized soybean during January-March, from the pod-setting and filling stages (R3-R6) to maturity (R7-R8), and pigeonpea during April-June. These results indicate that E. heros has expanded its host range to pigeonpea in Brazil; pods of this plant are suitable food, and can support the insect during autumn-early winter, after soybean harvest, and before it enters into partial hibernation.