FIRST STUDY OF HOST-PLANT PREFERENCES OF SINOPLA PERPUNCTATUS (HEMIPTERA: ACANTHOSOMATIDAE) A STINK BUG FROM ANDEAN-PATAGONIC FOREST

PIETRANTUONO, A.L; FERNÁNDEZ ARHEX, VALERIA CRISTINA; BRUZZONE O.A.

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2014 vol. 97 p. 534 - 539

0015-4040

FIRST STUDY OF HOST-PLANT PREFERENCES ON SINOPLA PERPUNCTATUS (HEMIPTERA: ACANTHOSOMATIDAE) A STINK BUG FROM ANDEAN-PATAGONIC FORESTHost-plants of phytophagous insects are not equally attractive. The gradient of host preference is mainly determined by the motivation during the host- selection process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the host-plant behavior of S. perpunctatus and determine the influence of insect` motivation. S. perpunctatus is a green stink bug present in the Andean-Patagonian forest associated to different host species of Nothofagus. For the assays, we collected adult individuals at Quilanlahue forest (Neuquén, Argentina), this area was affected with the deposition of volcanic ash, thus we decided to evaluate it effect. A sequence of paired comparisons was used to evaluate the host-plant preferences. Branches from N. antarctica, N.nervosa, N. obliqua and plastic leaves (control), with or without ash were the stimuli offered. In total there were performed 18 combinations of paired tests to evaluate the different combinations of treatments. We considered the choices of each individual by day as response variable. The data were analyzed by several models that explain the probability of individuals to choose particular option depending on host plant preferences and the effect of different parameters of motivation (including the age, ash, home effect and combinations).Thus a total of eight models were proposed to explain the data, from which we selected the model with the lowest value of DIC. The selected model establishes that the preferences are determined by the motivation of change once it made a choice (i.e. home effect). S. perpunctatus has N. antarctica and N. obliqua as preferred host- plant, while N. nervosa is on second place. Physical or chemical defenses of the leaves among species could explain this rank. Regarding to the volcanic ash, does not affect motivation or preferences. Finally, we considered that study the behavior and the parameters that could affect the motivation of insects allow us to reach a greater understanding of insect- plant interaction.Key Words: Acanthosomatidae, host-plant preferences, green stink bug, Nothofagaceae, volcanic ash.