Journal of Economic Entomology (2006) 99, 401-407

J.C. Zanuncio, W.P. Lemos, M.C. Lacerda, T.V. Zanuncio, J.E. Serrão and Eric Bauce (2006)
Age-dependent fecundity and fertility life tables of the predator Brontocoris tabidus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) under field conditions
Journal of Economic Entomology 99 (2), 401-407
Abstract: Reproductive potential, longevity, life expectancy, and fertility life tables of Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), a predator of lepidopteran defoliators in eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) plantations, were studied in the field. After a 50-d preoviposition period (emergence of adults to the deposition of the first egg mass), ovipositional activity of B. tabidus continued until females died at 160 d. Females laid an average of 4.2 eggs per day and 601.1 eggs in a lifetime. Gross and net reproductive rates were 216.7 and 75.8 females, respectively. Generation time was 146.1 d, the period for doubling the population was 23.4 d, intrinsic rate was 0.03, and finite population increase was 1.03. Number of females per generation increased at 33.4 times. Results from our field studies indicate that B. tabidus has greater potential reproduction, oviposition period, and longevity than was expected from previous laboratory experiments. This suggests that B. tabidus has potential as a biological control agent to limit economically damaging pests in eucalyptus plantations.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): José Cola Zanuncio, José Eduardo Serrao, Eric Bauce

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.
Brontocoris tabidus (predator)