PERFORMANCE OF SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG (HETEROPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE) NYMPHS AND ADULTS ON A NOVEL FOOD PLANT (JAPANESE PRIVET) AND OTHER HOSTS

Japanese privet, Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. (Oleaceae), was found to b e a novel food plant of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), in the state of Parana, Brazil. In the laboratory, nymphs perfor med better when fed on immature fruits of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Me rrill (Leguminosae), than on immature fruits of Japanese privet. Femal e and male nymphs required 6.7 and 4.6 d more to complete development on Japanese privet than on soybean, and had greater mortality on the f ormer (38.7%) than on the latter (20.0%) food plant. At emergence, adu lt fresh body weight was approximate to 31-40% greater on soybean than on Japanese privet. In contrast, adult N. viridula performed better o n Japanese privet than on soybean; 62.5% of females oviposited on the 1st and 45.0% on die 2nd food. Fecundity was 2-3 times greater on Japa nese privet [alone or supplemented with dried soybean seeds + shelled peanuts, Arachis hypogaea (L.) (Leguminosae)] than on soybean fruits o r on vegetative soybean plants or water cress, Nasturtium officinale L . (Brassicaceae), leaves. These. 2 last foods were supplemented with d ried soybean seeds + peanuts. The amount of fresh body weight gain up to the 4th wk of adult life was approximate to 3 times greater on Japa nese privet fruits than on soybean fruits. Total longevity was similar for females and males on Japanese privet or soybean fruits, but it wa s greater on Japanese privet + soybean seeds + peanuts than on water c ress + soybean seeds + peanuts. These results indicate that N. viridul a has expanded its host range to Japanese privet in Brazil, and that t he berries of this plant are suitable food particularly for adults.