Pellaea stictica (Dallas, 1851)

Panizzi, Antônio Ricardo & Grazia, Jocélia, 2001, Stink Bugs (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) And An Unique Host Plant In The Brazilian Subtropics, Iheringia, Série Zoologia 90, pp. 21-35 : 26-28

Pellaea stictica .

Thiswas the third most abundant species. Like N. viridula , nymphs were observed in greater number than adults. Both, nymphs and adults, peaked during May at the end of autumn. Nymphs were also observed in greater numbers during the summer months (December and February) ( fig. 3 ).

Adults ( fig. 14 ) usually ferrugineous to black, with metallic green; dorsal surface with inumerous yellow maculae. Antennae black with metallic green. Legs black with dilated tibiae. Median body length offemales 15.0 mm (n = 10) and of males 11.5 mm (n = 10). Nymphs ( fig. 15 ) easily recognizedby the dark coloration and large sizeof abdominal plates; abdomen purple red between median and lateral plates, and dilation of the tibiae, specially in the 2nd to 4th instars. Eggs ( fig. 16 ) light brown with a clear stripe.

In the laboratory, some nymphs were able to reach adulthood, but most (82.5 %) died before becoming adult. Because most nymphs died, only 5 pairs were formed and observed, and none reproduced when fed on fruits of privet. It is intriguing that present poor results on the nymph and adult biology of P. stictica contrasts with the field observations on the abundance of the bug on privet plants. Perhaps like P. macunaima , P. stictica complements its diet by feedingon other parts of the plant, and performs better in the field; or it may show also a high mortality and a low reproduction rate in the field, which did not prevent the species from being abundant. These data are supported by observations of BRAILOVSKY et al. (1992), who also found very difficultto raise P. stictica nymphs in the laboratory. They refer to the legume Senna papillosa (Britton & Rose)

Irwin & Barneby as a host plant of this bug in Mexico. YOUNG (1984) refers to another species of this legume Senna fructicosa (Mill) Irwin & Barneby in Costa Rica, on which bugs were observed in great number.

Figures

Figs. 1-7. Seasonal abundance of nymphs and adults of the most common pentatomids found on privet Ligustrum lucidum during a one-year period in northern Paraná state, Brazil.

Figs. 13-16. 13, Adult of Pallantia macunaima on a privet leaf. 14-16, Pellaea stictica: 14, adult on mature on privet leaf; 15, fifth instar on mature fruits of privet; 16, egg mass on a privet leaf.(Scales: 4mm, fig. 13; 5mm, fig. 14; 1mm, figs. 15-16).