Environmental Entomology (1993) 22, 1344-1348

E.L. Bonjour, W.S. Fargo, A.A. Al-Obaidi and M.E. Payton (1993)
Host effects on reproduction and adult longevity of squash bugs (Heteroptera: Coreidae)
Environmental Entomology 22 (6), 1344-1348
Abstract: Reproductive phases, fecundity, and adult longevity of the squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), were determined under laboratory conditions at a constant temperature of 26.7°C for five cucurbit hosts. Squash bugs on muskmelon, Cucumis melo L. 'Hales Best #36', had the longest premating phase. The preoviposition phase was shorter and the oviposition phase was longer on two cultivars of Cucurbita pepo L., yellow straightneck 'Hyrific' squash and 'Jack O' Lantern' pumpkin, than on watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunberg) Matsumura and Nakai 'Crimson Sweet', and muskmelon. Females had the longest postoviposition phase on watermelon. The highest fecundity was observed on pumpkin seedlings. Host type did not affect egg mass size, egg hatch, percent hatch, or egg development. Higher percentages of egg masses were oviposited on the abaxial leaf surface than other plant locations on all hosts. Male squash bugs lived longer on pumpkin, squash, and watermelon than on muskmelon and cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. 'Poinsett', whereas females lived longer on pumpkin than on squash, muskmelon, and cucumber. Males lived longer than females on pumpkin and squash. The different host effects on reproduction, fecundity, and longevity indicate that host type is important when developing control strategies for the squash bug.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anasa tristis	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
	Anasa tristis	Melon (Cucumis melo)
	Anasa tristis	Watermelon/colocynth (Citrullus)
	Anasa tristis	Squash/pumpkin (Cucurbita)