title: Effect of temperature on immatures of Stiretrus decastigmus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).
abstract: Stiretrus decastigmus (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an important predator of the insect pest Microtheca ochroloma Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The present study investigated the pre-imaginal development of S. decastigmus at different temperatures. The temperatures were: 20, 25, and 30 °C, with a relative humidity of 70 ± 10% and a photofase of 12 h, and the nymphs were fed larvae of M. ochroloma. We evaluated the duration and viability of the egg and nymphal stages, the duration of each instar, and the predation potential. The incubation time decreased with increasing temperature, and the viability was highest at 25 °C. The duration of the nymphal stage was inversely proportional to the temperature, ranging from 18 days at 30 °C to 40.6 days at 20 °C. The highest S. decastigmus predation rates were found at 20 °C (90.4 larvae) and 30 °C (72.5 larvae). S. decastigmus showed the highest viability and lowest consumption of larvae of M. ochroloma at 25 °C.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Agrobiologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poncio
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Agrobiologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: S T B
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Dequech
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolzan
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Güths
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sturza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Entomologia, Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Nava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D055669:Ecological and Environmental Phenomena; D017753:Ecosystem; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors