Fecundity and Clutch Size of Green Shield Bug [Palomena prasina L. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)]

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the fecundity, oviposition rhythm and clutch number variations of overwintering adult green shield bug (GSB) Palomena prasina (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in cages in hazelnut. The adults of GSB collected from hazelnut orchards were taken into cages on selected branches, one pair of overwintering adults were placed in each cage and the study was carried out with 20 repetitions. Daily observations were made during April-June (April 18-June 22) and it was found that the pest laid 94.88 eggs per female as a result of feeding on hazelnut fruits under field conditions. Oviposition period of females was found as 32 days on average. The average number of egg clutches laid per female is 4.38 and it was found that GSB laid eggs from the last week of April until the third week of June. The time required for each oviposition was varied and the average time was found as minimum 5 days and maximum 11.47 days. While postoviposition period was found as 12.25 days on average, death was found to occur on day 54.3 on average in overwintering females. It was found that most of the 79 clutches laid by the pest under cage conditions were included 28 and 14 eggs and there were an average of 21.62 eggs in the clutches laid by the bug. As a result, the determination of reproductive behaviours of the pest will also contribute to biological researches aiming to develop life tables, population models and biological control measures.