Antibiosis of tomato, Solanum lycopersicum (Solanaceae) plants to the Asopinae predator Supputius cincticeps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

, , , Plant feeding can improve development and reproduction of the stink bug Supputius cincticeps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), an important biological control agent in South American agro-forestry ecosystems. However, defensive compounds of plants may negatively impact this predator. The development, reproduction and survival of S. cincticeps fed on mealworm, Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) pupae with bean (Fabaceae), cotton (Malvaceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), soybean (Fabaceae), or tomato (Solanaceae) leaves were evaluated. Females and males were heavier and the number of nymphs produced per female, the oviposition period and the longevity of females of this predator were higher when fed on eucalyptus, soybean, bean, and cotton than with tomato leaves. Leaves of those plants improved biological parameters of S. cincticeps, while tomato leaves showed antibiosis with lower reproduction and survival of S. cincticeps, probably due to toxic compounds.

Keywords

• antagonistic association; defense; development; natural enemy; reproduction