Laboratory Host Range Assessment of a Predatory Pentatomid, Podisus maculiventris(Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) for Field Release on Guam

Abstract

Predation by Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) was evaluated with Erionota thrax (L.) (Lepidoptera: Hesperidae), Pericyma cruegeri (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), Papilio polytes (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and Eudocima phalonia (L.) comb. nov. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Both free-choice and no-choice experiments indicated that the P. maculiventris attacked and consumed all the larvae of the 5 species included in the tests. Although the larvae died at different intervals, most of them were dead within 24–120 h of the introduction of the predatory species. Since the P. maculiventris is polyphagous in nature and the present findings indicate that these predators will feed on the introduced biocontrol moth, P. pseudoinsulata, it is recommended not to take the predators out of the quarantine laboratory for the field release on Guam. Additionally, P. maculiventris will feed on some native species as they become available.