Edessa meditabunda (Fabricius, 1794)

Smaniotto, Lisonéia F. & Panizzi, Antônio R., 2015, Interactions of selected species of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from leguminous crops with plants in the Neotropics, Florida Entomologist 98 (1), pp. 7-17 : 11

EDESSA MEDITABUNDA (F.)

The brown-winged stink bug E. meditabunda is a Neotropical pentatomid found in Argentina, in several states of Brazil, in Paraguay, in Uruguay, and in several islands of the Caribbean (see distribution map in Panizzi 2014). It is reported as a pest of many species of Solanaceae (e.g., tomato, potato), and Fabaceae (peas, soybean, alfalfa); it may also be a pest on cotton, eggplant, tobacco, sunflower, papaya, and grapes ( Silva et al. 1968; Rizzo 1976; Lopes et al. 1974).

Beginning in the 1970’s, this species was reported as occurring in and damaging soybeans in Brazil ( Costa & Link 1974; Galileo et al. 1977). These early studies seemed to indicate that this species had a minor impact on soybean yield; however, it was later demonstrated that it can cause significant damage to seed quality, reducing the potential of seed germination ( Silva et al. 2012). Edessa meditabunda is also known to colonize sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. ( Asteraceae ), in several areas in Paraná state, feeding on the stems and seed heads ( Panizzi & Machado-Neto 1992; Malaguido & Panizzi 1998; Frota & Santos 2007).

In general, phytophagous stink bugs prefer to feed on the reproductive structures (seeds/fruits) of their hosts. Edessa meditabunda is also known to commonly feed on alternate vegetative plant tissues, such as soybean and sunflower stems, and potato and tomato growing tips (references in Panizzi et al. 2000a). Recently, this bug has been report- ed feeding on leaves of lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., and chicory, Cichorium intybus L. ( Asteraceae ) in the central-western and northern states of Brazil (Krinski et al. 2012; Krinski & Pelissari 2012; Krinski 2013). It is also commonly found feeding on vegetative alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. ( Fabaceae ) in southern Brazil (L. F. Smaniotto, unpublished).

The list of plants with which E. meditabunda was reportedly associated in the neotropics includes 40 plant species within 13 families, from which 19 species were ranked as reproductive hosts ( Table 4).