Activity of Melia volkensii (Meliaceae) extract against southern green stink bug (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomidae)

摘要

An ethanolic solution of Melia volkensii (Gurke) fruit (MV-extract) was tested against the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), for toxicity and antifeedant effects. Fourth instars were dipped in solutions ranging from 1 to 50 mu g/mu l, and mortality was found to be concentration dependent. At sublethal doses, those molting to adulthood exhibited significantly greater frequencies of developmental abnormalities, including malformations of the wings, scutellum, pronotum, legs, and antennae. In no-choice tests, feeding adults deposited significantly fewer salivary cones on soaked soybeans dipped in MV-extract than on control seeds. However, no significant differences in adult feeding behavior were observed when whole pods were treated with MV-extract. This is the first report of exposure of a heteropteran crop pest to MV-extract; growth disruption and antifeedant effects were found to be similar to those observed for other insects.