Greenbelly Stinkbug Biology in Different Temperatures

The green-belly stinkbug (Dichelops melacanthus) stands out due to its damage potential towards corn and wheat crops. The population distribution and size greatly influence the potential damage. The insect’s reproductive capacity depends on different temperature conditions during various crop seasons and its lifecycle. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different constant temperatures on the D. melacanthus biology. The study was performed twice, once in the year of 2017, and again in 2019. The biological features were observed in temperature-controlled climate chambers with the following temperatures: 11, 16, 21, 26, 31 and 36 °C, each with a fluctuation of ±1 °C, using a RH of 65±15% and photophase of 14 h. The evaluations were conducted from eggs to adults in terms of: nymphal hatch period, each instar duration, female fecundity and egg viability. There were no eggs hatching at 11 ºC and it also reached 100% mortality during the second instar at 16 °C. The eggs-to-adult duration for the temperatures 21, 26, 31 and 36 °C in the trial of 2017 was 58.4, 30.1, 18.2 and 16.3 days, respectively. In the same temperatures, but during the 2019 trial, the eggs to adult duration was 58.1; 29.7; 21.3 and 19.1 days, respectively. The reproductive capacity in the temperatures of 21 and 36 °C impaired the female fecundity and egg viability. The temperatures 26 and 31 °C favored the development of D. melacanthus.