Parasitism by Eutrichopodopsis nitens (Diptera: Tachinidae) on Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) collected on different host plants

Abstract

The tachinid fly Eutrichopodopsis nitens Blanchard is the most important parasite of the green stink bug Nezara viridula in northern Paraná state. Field surveys carried out from October to December 1986 and from June 1987 to May 1988 indicated a higher percentage of stink bugs parasitized by the fly when collected from the weed host siberian motherwort (Leonurus sibiricus - Labiatae), as compared to slink bugs collected on castor bean (Ricinus communis - Euphorbiaceae). Percent parasitism was variable during the sampling period, and reached maximum when soybean plants were not available in the field. Possible reasons to explain the different rates of parasitism by E. nitens on N. viridula collected from these two host plants are speculated.