Evaluation of apple and orange fruits as food sources for the development of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a typical polyphagous stink bug causing losses in several host plants including leguminous crops and fruits. Nutritional status of fruits such as apple and orange for the development of H. halys is not yet clear. We evaluated fruits of apple and orange with or without soybean-peanuts as food sources to investigate development, mortality and fecundity of the stink bug in a controlled condition. Those only fed on water could not develop into third instars. H. halys could not develop into fourth instar on apple only food. However, on an orange only food, 14% of H. halys emerged as adults. Those fed on orange only food had the longest development period (74.2 d). Total mortality of those fed on foods consisting of soybean-peanut ranged from 38 to 44%. In an average a female laid 169-190 eggs in a lifetime and those eggs had 81-83% hatchability. Results indicated that the apple fruit as a solo food source is an incomplete food for H. halys development while orange could support development of only few of the bugs.