Collaria oleosa (Distant, 1883) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a small stinkbug threatening wheat cultivation in the savannah region of Brazil

Abstract

During the last four years, an increase in population of a small stinkbug was observed on rainfed wheat in farm fields in the Federal District and an intense attack of Collaria oleosa (Distant,1883) in 1994 in the experimental field at EMBRAPA-CPAC, Planaltina, DF. This insect was observed throughout wheat growing period feeding mainly on the epidermal cells presenting typical white specs on the leaf surface. Preliminary observations about its biology revealed that it takes five for middle incubation, 13 days for five nymphal stages and about 14 days for the adult stage. A single female lays up to 28 eggs during its life cycle. This insect mainly attacks gramineous species such as rice, barley, oat, some forage grasses (Brachiaria decumbens, B. brizantha cv. marandu and Andropogon gayanus) besides other native host plants from the savannah region. Hence, this small stinkbug has a great potential as a pest of those gramineous hosts grown intensively in this region.