Cotton Balls as an Oviposition Substrate for Laboratory Rearing of Phytophagous Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Studies were conducted to test the suitability of absorbent cotton as an oviposition substrate for phytophagous stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). In confined boxes, >80% of total egg masses of Euschistus heros (F.), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), and Thyanta perditor (F.) were laid on cotton; for Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) and Chinavia impicticornis (Stål), >60%. However, Nezara viridula (L.) and Edessa meditabunda (F.) did not oviposit on cotton balls, but instead on the box walls, on filter paper, or on food. Newly hatched nymphs successfully (>95%) left the eggshells despite the presence of cotton fibers around the egg masses.