The parameters of survival, development and reproduction of
Podisus nigrispinus
Dallas, 1851 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)
may be affected by feeding on soybean (
Glycine max
[L.] Merr.; Fabaceae) cultivars. The direct effect was evaluated of
the insect-resistant soybean 'IAC-24' (insect-susceptible soybean 'UFVS-2006' + pupae of
Tenebrio molitor
L., 1758
[Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae] versus 'IAC-24' plants + pupae of
T. molitor) in the nymph and adult stages of the predator
P. nigrispinus. The duration of the nymph stage was similar between treatments, but 'IAC-24' reduced the duration of the IV
instar of this predator. The survival of
P. nigrispinus was similar between treatments in the instars I, II, IV and V and in the
nymph stage, but the survival of the III instar was longer with 'IAC-24' plants. The body mass of nymphs in the first day of
the III, IV, and V instars after ecdysis and newly emerged adults; reproductive characteristics (periods of pre-oviposition,
oviposition, post-oviposition and egg incubation; egg laying interval, number of egg masses per female, nymphs per female,
nymphs per egg mass and percentage of nymphs hatching) and life span of males and females of
P. nigrispinus were similar
between treatments. The resistant soybean 'IAC-24' showed no direct deleterious effects on
P. nigrispinus, which implies
its innocuity and compatibility with this predator.
