Phytoparasitica (2012) 40, 137-141

Thaíse Karla Ribeiro Dias, Carlos Frederico Wilcken, Everton Pires Soliman, Hélcio R. Gil-Santana and Bruno Zaché (2012)
Occurrence of Atopozelus opsimus preying on nymphs and adults of Glycaspis brimblecombei
Phytoparasitica 40 (2), 137-141
Abstract: The stink bugs genus Atopozelus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is native in the Americas, with five described species of which only three have been recorded in Brazil. In August 2007, Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves infested by lerp psyllid were collected and taken to the Forest Pest Biological Control Laboratory situated at São Paulo State University. A small green stink bug, identified as Atopozelus opsimus Elkins (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) that fed on nymphs and adult psyllids, was found on the leaves. These stink bugs presented phytophagy, omnivory and ability in opening the lerp (shell) that protect the psyllid. A. opsimus has demonstrated unusual particularities, different from many biological control agents found in nature; this predator thus deserves more attention for its potential to be evaluated.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Glycaspis brimblecombei	Eucalypt (Eucalyptus)	Brazil (south)