Antônio R Panizzi

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) | Embrapa · National Wheat Research Center

Host plant resistance has been known for a long time as one of the most important strategies to manage insect pest species. In the case of stink bugs that impact the soybean crop, attempts were done to develop resistant cultivars in the past with limited favorable results. These limitations were, in general, due to the relatively low yield of grain...

The control strategies mostly used to manage stink bugs pests of agriculture are still mostly based on the application of traditional chemical insecticides. The overuse of these chemicals to control stink bugs show several side effects that disrupt the equilibrium of the entomophauna of agroecosystems. This causes outbreaks of secondary pests, sele...

Soybean production is usually performed at large scales and is very dynamic, requiring great adaptation to be successful. Pest outbreaks in this agroecosystem require constant development of agricultural management practices, otherwise production may be compromised. More recently, after the adoption of Bt soybean to control Lepidoptera pests, stink...

Life history studies are fundamental in order to the design of holistic integrated pest management programs (IPM). It impacts on the planning of the crop, for instance, in the choice of the cultivar, time of sowing, weed management, crop rotation among other issues. The Neotropical Region is one of the greater producers of agricultural commodities...

This book offers a wealth of essential information about stink bugs, including taxonomic updates of pest species, their geographic distribution, biology and behavior, and the latest research on sustainable management strategies. The book features contributions from globally renowned specialists who have expertise in specific topics related to stink...

The study aimed to understand the feeding behavior of Neotropical brown stink bug nymphs Euschistus heros (F.) on soybean plants during vegetative stage through electropenetrography (EPG) technique. Three distinct phases were identified: non-feeding, pathway, and ingestion. Waveforms representing these phases were consistent across nymphal instars...

In this article, we present and discuss the importance of life history information of four species of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) of the neotropics, pests of major commodities, as basic information necessary for development of improved programs of conservation biological control. This information is from cultivated areas in two ranges in...

The study aimed to understand the feeding behavior of Neotropical brown stink bug nymphs Euschistus heros (F.) on soybean plants through electropenetrography (EPG) technique. Three distinct phases were identified: non-feeding, pathway, and ingestion. Waveforms representing these phases were consistent across nymphal instars and plant structures, an...

Bt soybean cultivation is increasing worldwide. The Cry1Ac protein expressed in Bt soybean efficiently controls several lepidopteran pests. The stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), a major pest for soybean in the Americas, is not controlled by Bt crops, although possible sub-lethal effects may occur. Even if there were no negative effects fo...

This study aimed to characterize and correlate the stylet penetration behaviors of nymphs of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), on immature soybean pods. Waveforms were obtained using electropenetrography (EPG). The findings revealed that the nymphs exploited the xylem vessels and the seed tegument or endosperm. Primarily 4 pha...

Studies were conducted in the laboratory and in the greenhouse with the objective of evaluating nymph development, adult body weight gain, and damage of different species of pentatomids feeding on fruit (hereafter referred to as siliqua) of canola, Brassica napus (L.) var. oleifera. Nymphs of Nezara viridula (L.) were able to reach adulthood feedin...

Aphids are worldwide pests, and in South America, they harm many crops including winter cereals. In the 1970s, the rapid expansion of the wheat crop area in the subtropical region of South America led to growth of aphid populations. The wide availability of food, associated with the low effectiveness of natural biological control, put the aphid pop...

The dispersion of Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) from soybean (first crop season) to maize (second crop season) is facilitated by the presence of weeds (e.g. Commelina benghalensis) and soybean grains on the ground. Understanding insect development and behavior on different food sources is important to develop pest management strategies. Thus, thre...

In 1992, Brazil had the unique opportunity to hold the Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio de Janeiro, a milestone for sustainable conservation of the Earth's genetic resources. A great deal of the world's biodiversity and endemism is found in the Neotropical Region in tropical rainforests. The Entomological Society of Brazil (SEB) was growin...

Stink bugs are pests of economic importance of extensive crops (commodities) in the Neotropics, particularly in Southern South America. They are abundant, have a broad geographical distribution, and cause severe damage. Main species include the Neotropical brown-stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westw...

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted with the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), to evaluate and compare adult damage at two infestation levels (2 and 4 adults/plant) and feeding behavior on seeds of three resistant soybean cultivars bearing the Block technology ('BRS 1003 IPRO', 'BRS 543 RR', and 'BRS 391') compared to...

Most stink bugs (Pentatomidae) are polyphagous and feed on an array of cultivated and non-cultivated plants. Among the last, weed plants play an important role in their bioecology and pest status, particularly in the Neotropics, in where stink bugs are active during most of the year. In spite of this, the weeds role is, in general, underestimated....

In this review article, we present and discuss the main factors influencing the change in pest status of phytophagous stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the Neotropics. We have surveyed the published records over the past 50 years and divided this timeframe into decades. This was done to rank in time the relative abundance (percen...

This book compiles for the first time all the current information on the electronic monitoring of the feeding behaviour of phytophagous true bugs, describing the mouthparts and modes of feeding of. It includes state-of-the-art illustrations of feeding sites on the various plant structures, and examines how the different feeding strategies are relat...

In this concluding chapter, we discuss the value of EPG in electronic monitoring of all activities of phytophagous true bugs. Although the majority of studies have concentrated on feeding behavior, EPG is a tool with the potential to reveal details of any activity that generates an electrical connection between the bug and the plant, which expands...

Since its development, the electrical penetration graph (EPG) has been used to record the feeding behavior of mostly small, relatively weak insects (aphids and leafhoppers). Recently the larger, more robust true bugs (e.g., pentatomids) began to be monitored via EPG, and some problems were encountered, especially related to gold wire attachment. Wi...

The multiple interactions of the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique with various strategies that can be used to manage pests of crop plants are presented and discussed in this chapter. We here include insecticides, still the main tool in use to control true bug pests worldwide by either contact action or systemic circulation in plants; pl...

Electrical penetration graph technique, or electropenetrography (EPG), is a method of indirectly visualizing the feeding of piercing-sucking insects within plant tissue, permitting quantification of feeding behaviors such as stylet penetration, salivation, and ingestion from specific plant tissues. In this chapter, the basic principles of EPG are e...

Phytophagous true bugs feed on virtually all plant parts, both vegetative and reproductive, from roots to shoots and buds to seeds. Preferred ingestion sites include vascular tissue; parenchyma of stems, leaves, and fruits; and seed endosperm. Stylet length and depth of penetration, production of a salivary sheath from gelling saliva, and enzymatic...

Heteropteran mouthparts consist of elongate mandibular and maxillary stylets encased at rest ventrally within the labial sheath. The greatly reduced labrum covers the stylets proximally as they emerge from the head. The two mandibular stylets surround the two maxillae, which are appressed. The food and salivary canals are formed by grooves and inte...

In this chapter, we summarize and discuss the most relevant feeding activities and their respective EPG waveforms performed by true bugs from four families, Miridae (infraorder Cimicomorpha), Blissidae, Coreidae, and Plataspidae (infraorder Pentatomomorpha). Recordings performed with species of Blissidae, Coreidae, and Plataspidae share similar wav...

Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) encompass a great variety of heteropterans, many of them important pest species. Electronic monitoring of feeding behavior of pentatomids using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique has been conducted over a relatively short time span (10 years). To date, eight pentatomid species have been studied with EPG: Dice...

In this study, we use for the first time the electropenetrography (EPG) technique to characterize and describe the feeding activities of Collaria scenica (Stål) adults and their respective waveforms on wheat, Triticum aestivum L. plants. It comprised of four waveforms, two related to non-feeding (Np and R) and two with feeding activities (CR and I)...

The competition between Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus teretis (Johnson) parasitizing eggs of Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) and Euschistus heros (Fabricius) was studied in three different laboratory bioassays to gather knowledge in order to improve stink bug management and to strengthen the preservation of naturally occurring parasitoid s...

Report on the true bugs (Pentatomidae, Miridae) pests of wheat in Brazil, with data on their biology, association with other species of Poaceae, and their damage to wheat (in Portuguese). Version online and printed.

Laboratory studies were conducted with the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), to evaluate nymphal and adult biology on immature pods of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill (Fabaceae), bearing the block technology (resistant to stink bug damage – cvs. BRS 391, BRS 543 RR and BRS 1003 IPRO) compared to a susceptible cultivar (BRS 5601...

Soybean is considered one of today’s most important crops. Planted on millions of hectares worldwide, the management of soybean pests usually requires large amounts of chemicals. However, a key component to meet the increasing demand for food due to the rapidly growing global population is protecting crops from pests while maintaining environmental...

In 2021 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Neotropical Entomology journal, formerly known as Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil (ASEB). Since the publication of the first issue in 1972, the scope of ASEB has been the dissemination of original research in entomology generated, in particular, in Brazil. Later, it expanded greatly to the Neot...

Hexacladia hilaris Burks (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a parasitoid associated to several stink bug species in Costa Rica, Porto Rico and United States. In April 2018, at the Passo Fundo (28º15’46” S / 52º24’24” O), Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, specimens of H. hilaris were collected from Chinavia erythrocnemis (Berg) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)....

A survey of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was conducted on the invasive tree, Pittosporum undulatum Ventenat (Pittosporaceae) in southern Brazil (Passo Fundo – RS, latitude 28°15’46” S; longitude 52°24´24” W) aiming to know if this exotic plant might host these insects. Results indicated that P. undulatum was found hosting the s...

Species of the genus Trissolcus are effective as egg parasitoids of Euschistus heros and can potentially be used in a multispecies pest management approach. However, in order to successfully use those biocontrol agents in the field, previous detailed knowledge about their life history are necessary. Therefore, we evaluate some biological characteri...

The true bug Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood) is known as an insect pest of some agricultural crops. However, is limited information on the behavior and influence of environmental factors on its occurrence in the field. This study aimed to determine the population dynamics and spatial distribution of N. parvus in soybean and corn crops with presenc...

We used electropenetrography to quantify and compare counts and durations of selected waveforms, produced by adult females of the stink bug Dichelops furcatus (F.). Insects fed on immature soybean pods and immature seed heads of four spring cereals: wheat, black oat, barley, and rye. On all foods, bugs spent over 60% of their plant access time in n...

Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) is a soybean pest that causes significant economic losses in the Americas. The variability of overwintering (diapause) traits was evaluated in populations of the Southwest (SW) (33°55'-34°17' S, 57°13'-57°46' W) during 2 years-period (2011-2013), and of the Northwest (NW) (32º01'-33º02' S, 57º50' -57º24' W) during 1...

Laboratory studies with the stink bug Chinavia erythrocnemis (Berg) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were conducted to evaluate the effect of reproductive structures of cultivated plants, on nymph and adult performance, and adult preference. Results indicated that nymphs were able to complete the development on all plants evaluated. Nymph developmental ti...

Field and laboratory studies were conducted with the Neotropical red-shouldered stink bug Thyanta perditor (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) aiming to evaluate parasitism incidence on adults by tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae), which were raised in the laboratory for identification. Egg deposition by flies on adult body surface was mapped. In ad...

Laboratory studies were conducted with Dichelops furcatus (F.), Euschistus heros (F.), and Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) aiming to evaluate nymph and adult biology and adult preference for immature reproductive structures of the cultivated plants, soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill (Fabaceae), wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae)...

Damage inflicted by the gree-belly stink bug, Dichelops furcatus (F.) to winter (spring) cereals and canola seedlings is illustrated and described. The destruction of the leaf tissues are followed daily for about a week time after the feeding activity of an adult bug, and fully characterized using a sequence of photographs.

This study investigates the influence of parasitoid age and egg age of the hosts Euschistus heros (Fabricius) and Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) on parasitism of Telenomus podisi Ashmead. Six separate bioassays were conducted: parasitism on eggs of E. heros (bioassay 1) and D. melacanthus (bioassay 2) by T. podisi females of different age (1, 5, an...

The stink bug Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is commonly found on soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) in Brazil, and recently it has increased in abundance on spring cereals, mostly on wheat crop, Triticum aestivum L., in the southern region of Brazil. To compare the feeding behavior of this stink bug species on different...

This poster demonstrates that the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii does not have its feeding behavior affected when feeding on RR/Bt soybean compared to non-Bt cultivars.

Stink bugs are pests of economic importance of extensive crops (commodities) in the Neotropics, particularly in Southern South America. They are abundant, have a broad geographical distribution, and cause severe damage. Main species include the Neotropical brown-stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westw...

Canola (Brassicaceae: Brassica spp.) is an important feedstock for biodiesel production and a potential ingredient for use in the food industry. In different continents, various arthropod pests damage canola plants. Stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) are present in all zoogeographical regions, and many species are recognized by their economic i...

In this workshop the latest news on stink bug research work using EPG will be presented and discussed.

The Neotropical green-belly stink bug, Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) is a major pest of maize, Zea mays L. in the main production areas of Brazil. It usually feeds on the stems of young plants (seedlings) causing heavy damage by affecting the plant growth and mitigating seed yield. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine body position (upwa...

Laboratory studies demonstrated that nymphs of Thyanta perditor (F.) completed their development on seed heads of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and on immature and mature seeds of black jack (Bidens pilosa L.), whereas no nymphs passed to the third instar when fed with leaves of any plant evaluated. At adult emergenc...

Laboratory and field studies were conducted with nymphs and adults of the Neotropical stink bug Runibia perspicua (F.) to evaluate their biology on plants. Total nymph mortality was ca. 13% on immature fruits of Brunfelsia australis Benth. (IFBA), and 90% on raw shelled peanuts, Arachis hypogaea L. (RSP); no nymphs survived on immature pods of gree...

Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) es un insecto que causa importantes pérdidas económicas en la soja. Los factores bióticos (alimento) y abióticos (fotoperíodo y temperatura) regulan su dinámica estacional. Con el objetivo de estudiar la ocurrencia estacional en diferentes plantas hospedadoras y los cambios morfológicos (morfometría corporal) y fisio...

The Neotropical brown-stink bug Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is the most important pest damaging soybean in the Neotropics, the world largest production area. The alternating current–direct current (AC–DC) electropenetrography (EPG) technology was used to develop an EPG waveform library of adult females feeding on soybean (Glycin...

We studied the dispersion of Piezodorus guildinii adults between adjacent soybean and alfalfa fields. From the beginning of soybean pod formation (R3) until fully developed seed (R6), marker proteins (alfalfa = bovine casein, soybean = soy protein) were applied weekly in each crop. In both crops, two transects were established separated by 12 m bet...

Results of field studies with the red-shouldered stink bug Thyanta perditor (F.) demonstrated that nymphs and adults are highly abundant in late summer (March) on maturing soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] plants, and on maturing plants of the weed black jack (Bidens pilosa L.) in the northern area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Since...

Estudos com o percevejo Thyanta perditor (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) foram conduzidos em laboratório para avaliar o efeito de vagens e espigas das plantas cultivadas soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), cevada (Hordeum vulgare L.), triticale (Triticosecale semisecale (Mackey)), centeio (Secale cereale L.) e aveia (Avena...

O percevejo marrom, Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), é a principal praga da cultura soja, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, no Brasil. Para compreender melhor suas atividades alimentares em vagens de soja, a técnica da electropenetrografia (EPG) foi utilizada para monitorar e caracterizar as formas de onda produzidas por fêmeas adultas em va...

The performance and preferences of the stink bug, Dichelops furcatus (F.), for spring cereals (wheat, rye, triticale, oat, and barley) were compared in the laboratory to their preferred host crop, soybean pods. Nymphs took significantly less time to reach adulthood on soybean pods compared to those fed seed heads of the five spring cereals tested....

Monthly parasitism rates and oviposition behavior of tachinid flies parasitizing Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) adults were determined. Weekly surveys, with duration of 2 hr each, were performed during 1 yr at the National Wheat Research Center in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Stink bugs were collected from different pl...

In this article, we review and discuss the potential use of EPG (electropenetrography) as a powerful tool to unveil the feeding process of phytophagous stink bugs (pentatomids). These bugs are relatively big and vigorous, which presents a problem during wiring (i.e., attachment of the gold wire on the bug’s pronotum) for use in EPG. Once this chall...

The stink bug Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) has increased in abundance in recent years on wheat, Triticum aestivum L., crop cultivated in the southern region of Brazil. Herein, we used the technology known as electropenetrography (EPG), to assess its feeding behavior on wheat in different phenological stages (vegetative and re...

Abstract of poster included.

Laboratory and field studies were conducted with nymphs and adults of the Neotropical stink bug Runibia perspicua (F.) to evaluate their biology on plants. Total nymph mortality was ca. 13% on immature fruits of Brunfelsia australis Benth. (IFBA), and 90% on raw shelled peanuts, Arachis hypogaea L. (RSP); no nymphs survived on immature pods of gree...

Laboratory studies were conducted on food ingestion and excretion by selected species of pentatomids on different food sources to support their pest status. We compared the frequency and time of feeding on vegetative (stem) and reproductive (seed) structures of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill and of maize, Zea mays L. by Piezodorus guildinii (Wes...

Los pentatómidos son insectos plaga con importancia económica en cultivos en los países del Cono Sur entre los que se encuentra soja y otras leguminosas de grano, arroz, maíz, trigo, y algodón. Las principales especies son Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), Euschistus heros (F.), Nezara viridula (L.), Dichelops furcatus (F.), D. melacanthus (Dallas),...

In Brazil, the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), commonly disperses from soybeans to cotton fields. The establishment of an economic treatment threshold for this pest on cotton crops is required. Infestation levels of adults of E. heros were evaluated on cotton plants at preflowering, early flowering, bol...

Laboratory studies with Euschistus cornutus Dallas indicated that nymphs complete development when feeding on green bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. pod, on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill pod, and on raw shelled peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., but not on fruit (berry) of privet, Ligustrum lucidum Ait. Total mortality was lower on green bean pod (45%), a...

The stink bug Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) has increased in abundance in recent years on the wheat, Triticum aestivum L., crop cultivated in the southern region of Brazil. To investigate the probing (stylet penetration) behaviors and nonprobing behaviors of D. furcatus on wheat plants, the electrical penetration graph or elec...

Resumo: Entre as pragas que atacam a cultura da soja, os percevejos têm se destacado pelo potencial de dano, dificuldades de controle e constantes re-infestações. O manejo dessa praga na cultura da soja deve ser realizado com base no nível de ação, porém o desenvolvimento de novos cultivares, com diferentes características de ciclo, hábito de cresc...

The uncommon Cyrtocoris egeris Packauskas & Schaefer (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was collected in 2015 and 2016 in Francisco Beltrão Co. (26.07°S, 53.05°W), Paraná State, and in Mato Castelhano Co. (28.27°S, 52.18°W), Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. They fed and reproduced on plants of the Brazilian orchid tree, Bauhinia forficata Link (Fabaceae)...

Once abundant in the Americas, the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) has gradually declined in numbers. Until the 1990s, it was considered the main pest of major crops such as soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, particularly in southern Brazil and southern USA, as well as Argentina, Uruguay, and other countries. In the past 15+ years, a...

The green belly stink bug, Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), has become an important pest of maize in the Neotropics in recent years. Thus, more studies are needed to understand its feeding behavior in order to find ways to reduce its damage. One way to do so is through the technique known as electrical penetration graph (EPG), which allows unveiling...

O percevejo pentatomídeo Thyanta perditor (F.) é encontrado em vários países da região Neotropical (CALLAN, 1948), comumente encontrado em picão-preto (Bidens pilosa L.), onde encontra um bom sítio para alimentação e reprodução (PANIZZI; HERGOZ, 1984). Mesmo sendo encontrado em grandes culturas com frequência, T. perditor não é considerado uma prag...

A maioria dos percevejos da família Pentatomidae são fitófagos, e este hábito alimentar se estende desde as formas imaturas (ninfas) até a forma adulta, sendo alguns deles considerados importantes pragas agrícolas (PANIZZI et al., 2000). No que diz a respeito à Thyanta perditor (F.), pouco se sabe sobre a biologia de ninfas em diferentes plantas ho...

Thyanta perditor (F.) é um percevejo Neotropical e que tem sido referido como uma praga secundária das culturas do trigo, sorgo, arroz e soja em vários estados do Brasil. Com a expansão do sistema de semeadura direta e da safrinha de milho, ocorreu crescimento populacional de diferentes espécies de percevejos, incluindo T. perditor. Embora sua pref...

Stink bugs are plant sucking insects that feed on economic important crops in Brazil and around the world. Recently, it was shown that the stink bugs Nezara viridula, Acrosternum hilare, Murgantia histrionica, Euschistus heros, Chlorochroa ligata, Chlorochroa sayi, Chlorochroa uhleri, Plautia stali, Thyanta pallidovirens, Dichelops melacanthus, Ede...

Os dados gerados pela pesquisa na Embrapa encontram-se de forma dispersa e não estruturada, dificultando o acesso e diminuindo o potencial de uso na geração de conhecimento e tecnologias. O projeto “Gestão dos dados experimentais da Embrapa”, sigla SIEXP, tem por objetivo informatizar o processo de gestão de experimentos da Embrapa. O objetivo do p...