FECUNDITY OF DE PODISUS NICRISPINUS (DALLAS) (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) OF TWO WEIGHT CLASSES FED WITH LARVAE OF MUSCA DOMESTICA L. (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)

Abstract

This research was developed at the Forest Entomology Laboratory, in the "Universidade Federal de Viçosa", in Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil at temperature of 25º +/- 2,5º C, relative humity of 65 +/- 10% and a photophase of 12 hours. Females of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were divided in two treatments: T1 - females heavier than 50 mg; T2 - females lighter than 49 mg. Fifteen females were used for each treatment and they were fed with larvae of Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Mean weight of females for treatments I and II was 55 +/- 1.9 mg and 40.0 +/- 2.2 mg, respctively. Number of eggs and nymphs was 184.6 +/- 24.8 and 101.0 +/- 14.2 eggs and 123.9 +/- 18.7 e 73.6 +/- 11.5 for heavier and lighter females, respectively.

Keywords:  Podisus nigrispinus, Pentatomidae, fecundity, weight effect, alternative prey.