PARASITISM AND PREDATION ON EGG MASSES OF THE SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG, NEZARA-VIRIDULA (L) (HETEROPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE), IN TOMATO, OKRA, COWPEA, SOYBEAN, AND WILD RADISH

Predation and parasitism of eggs of the southern green stink bug, Neza ra viridula (L.), were assessed by placing egg masses in tomato, okra, cowpea, soybean, and wild radish during 1991 and 1992. Percent parasi tism and predation of N. viridula egg masses were variable among years and crops, but parasitism was higher than predation in tomato for bot h years. Average percent parasitism and predation were approximately e qual in okra, soybean and cowpea in 1990 and in wild radish in 1991. D uring 1990, predation was higher than parasitism in soybean toward the end of the growing season but parasitism was higher early in the seas on in okra and cowpea. Parasitism of egg masses in wild radish reached a peak of nearly 100% during May 1991 and declined to about 30% towar d the end of the sampling period. Season long parasitism of N. viridul a egg masses in soybean and okra was higher than predation in 1991. Th e major parasite from all crops was Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston).