Australian Journal of Entomology (1998) 37, 90-96

M.J. Steinbauer (1998)
Seasonal fluctuations in bodyweight, lipid content and the starvation-longevity of Amorbus obscuricornis (Westwood) and Gelonus tasmanicus (Le Guillou) (Hemiptera : Coreidae)
Australian Journal of Entomology 37 (1), 90-96
Abstract: The live weight (LW) and dry weight (DW), lipid and water content and starvation-longevity of adult Amorbus obscuricornis and adult Gelonus tasmanicus were examined in successive seasons. Amorbus obscuricornis was consistently heavier than G. tasmanicus. In both species, water content was inversely related to lipid content. The LW, DW and lipid contents of A. obscuricornis were lowest in spring. In contrast, LW and DW of G. tasmanicus were highest in spring, whereas lipid content was highest in autumn. These differences appear to be related to the reproductive cycles of these species. Starvation-longevity of both species was affected by relative humidity, being greatest at 99% and declining rapidly below 80%, and by temperature, being greatest for A. obscuricornis at 10.6°C and increasing for G. tasmanicus with decreasing temperature to 4.5°C. These differences may be related to differences in the habitat preferences of the two species, with G. tasmanicus apparently preferring cooler habitats than A. obscuricornis. It was considered that the conditions that pre-wintering adults of either species could withstand would facilitate their hibernation.
(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:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Amorbus obscuricornis
	Gelonus tasmanicus