SHORT COMMUNICATION ISJ 11: 224-227, 2014 ISSN 1824-307X SHORT COMMUNICATION Predation of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) by Atopozelus opsimus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Brazil TKR Dias1, CF Wilcken1, EP Soliman1, LR Barbosa2, JE Serrão3, JC Zanuncio4 1Departamento de Proteção Vegetal, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, 18610-307, Botucatu, SP, Brasil 2Laboratório de Entomologia Florestal, EMBRAPA Florestas, Colombo, 83411-000, PR, Brasil 3Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brasil 4Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brasil Accepted August 19, 2014 Abstract The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is an important pest of eucalyptus in several countries and the strategies for the integrated management of this insect in commercial plantations needs to be investigated. The predatory behavior of Atopozelus opsimus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on T. peregrinus is described. Adults of A. opsimus feed on nymphs and adults of the bronze bug and also present phytophagy. A. opsimus has potential as a natural enemy for the biological control of T. peregrinus. Key Words: Atopozelus opsimus; bronze bug; predator   Introduction Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), the bronze bug, is an important pest in Eucalyptus plantations (Fig. 1A). This insect is one of the major pest of this culture in Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Chile, Italy, Malawi, Kenya, New Zealand, Uruguay, Zimbabwe and Portugal (Jacobs and Neser, 2005; Carpintero and Dellape, 2006; Martinez and Bianchi, 2010; Nadel et al., 2010; Noack et al., 2011; Laudonia and Sasso, 2012; Sopow et al., 2012; Garcia et al., 2013). The bonze bug was detected in Brazil, in 2008, in São Francisco de Assis, Rio Grande do Sul State, and in Jaguariuna, São Paulo State, and it spread widely and rapidly to other regions with Eucalyptus plantations. To date, T. peregrinus has been recorded in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Goiás States (Wilcken et al., 2010; Barbosa et al., 2010; Savaris et al., 2011; Pereira et al., 2013). In addition Eucalyptus urophylla and E. grandis, the most susceptible species for the development and reproduction of T. peregrinus, represent the genetic basis of Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil (Soliman et al., 2012). ___________________________________________________________________________ Corresponding author: Thaíse Karla Ribeiro Dias Departamento de Proteção Vegetal Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas 18610-307, Botucatu, SP, Brasil E-mail: thaiserdias@yahoo.com.br The bronze bug is 2 - 3 mm long, with a flattened body, a head with recurved mandibular plates, antennae with four segments, and red compound eyes. The adults of this insect have a light brown color and an asymmetric male genital capsule, oriented to the right or left side of the body (Carpintero and Dellape, 2006; Noack et al., 2011). The eggs of T. peregrinus are black and laid in masses of 60 eggs, on leaves, branches, fruits, and stems of the plant (Button, 2007; Noack and Rosa, 2007). The insect has five instars with 15 days of total nymph period (Noack and Rose, 2007; Soliman et al., 2012). Damage by T. peregrinus adults and nymphs is due to sap sucking, which induces leaf fall and decreases the photosynthetic area. Infested trees initially show leaf silvering, followed by tanning, and because of these peculiarities the insect has been called the bronze bug (Jacobs and Neser, 2005; Wilcken et al., 2010). High populations of this insect can cause plant death (Wilcken et al., 2010). Strategies for the management of T. peregrinus in commercial plantations are scarce, but the systemic insecticide imidacloprid, injected into the tree trunks has been effective in controlling this insect in the urban areas of Australia (Noack et al., 2009). However, chemical control in commercial plantations in Brazil cannot be implemented, because there is no  registered insecticide for this insect. Furthermore, the use of chemical insecticides is restricted on commercial plantations in Brazil due to environmental concerns (Zanuncio et al., 1994). 224   Fig. 1 Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) of eucalyptus leaf (A). Atopozelus opsimus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) preying on T. peregrinus (B). Biological control with fungi, parasitoids, and predators is an alternative to the integrated management of T. peregrinus. The egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), the predatory bug and the  lacewings Hemerobius bolivari (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) and Chysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) have been reported as natural enemies of the bronze bug (Barbosa et al., 2010; Souza et al., 2012; Garcia et al., 2013). Atopozelus opsimus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a bug predator zoophytophagous and consumes nymphs and adults of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), an important pest on Brazilian Eucalyptus plantations (Dias et al., 2012). It is native to the Americas and recorded in Brazil in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso States (Elkins, 1954; Dias et al., 2012). The importance of the forest sector to the Brazilian economy and the introduction of T. peregrinus in the country make it necessary to use natural and native resources to reduce problems with this pest. This study reports the predatory behavior of A. opsimus on T. peregrinus. Material and Methods The predator A. opsimus and the prey T. peregrinus were obtained from the Biological Control of Forest Pests Laboratory (LCBPF) of the Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences/UNESP in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experiment was performed at 25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10 % RH, and a 12-h photophase. The insects were placed in Gearbox-type boxes (11x11x3.5 cm), covered with plastic, containing a Eucalyptus leaf and a moistened cotton ball. The experiment was conducted with 10 replications, with one A. opsimus adult each and five prey (T. peregrinus adults). The insects were observed for one hour, being recorded the number of T. peregrinus preyed and the behavioral predation actions prior and after the predator attack. Results and Discussion It was verified that the stink bug A. opsimus feeds on T. peregrinus (Fig. 1). The first actions before each predation were the antennae and prothoracic legs cleaning to all of observed predators. Due to prey movement on the leaves, the predator walked during the chase and search. In capturing were used the antennae and prothoracic legs to surround, hold and manipulate the prey. The viscous and adhesive secretion present on the body and appendixes of A. opsimus facilitated the capture of T. peregrinus, hindering scape of the prey during predation. The predator sucks all the internal contents and moves the prey with tarsus help, in circular movement seeking more fluids. A. opsimus made phytophagy and some bugs inserted their stylet into the leaf nervures of Eucalyptus to suck sap. This is a common behavior to this species, which also consume sugary products, coming from extrafloral nectaries and sugary shell that protects G. brimblecombei. The predators phytophagy are related to the production of viscous and adhesive essence (Zhang and Weirauch, 2013), that, in A. opsimus, helps on the prey capture (Dias et al., 2012). The stylet of A. opsimus was preferentially inserted into the thorax of T. peregrinus, dorsally, 225   226   then ventrally. Adult prey in mating were predated more easily, especially the male over the female. The attack in this condition was more frequent, always through the back and did not allow the prey any defense. The exoskeleton of T. peregrinus preyed was released next to the others consumed ones, after the intern content suction. A. opsimus showed agility and moved rapidly toward the prey. A. opsimus showed a consumption of 2.0 ± 0.81 T. peregrinus individuals per h. The nymphs of Supputius cincticeps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and of C. externa larvae also preyed on the bronze bug, with a consumption of 10.26 ± 1.58 (Barbosa et al., 2010) and 10.43 ± 0.51 (Souza et al., 2012) individuals in 24 h, respectively. These preliminary findings suggest that the efficiency of A. opsimus preying on T. peregrinus was higher than that of S. cincticeps and C. externa. A. opsimus was found in the field preying on nymphs and adults of T. peregrinus on the Eucalyptus plants, where both species take refuge and shelter. The sequence of the predatory behavior of A. opsimus with cleaning actions of antennae and legs, walking - chase and search, capture, prey immobilization, fluids suction and later disposal of prey exoskeleton together with others T. peregrinus before consumed. It was similar to that reported for this predator on G. brimblecombei, an exotic insect pest also introduced in Brazilian eucalypt plantations (Dias et al., 2012). Both insects are small and are easily preyed on by A. opsimus. Conclusion A. opsimus is a native predator of T. peregrinus, an important sucking prey on Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The bioecology and the effectiveness of A. opsimus need to be better studied to use this natural enemy for the biological control of the bronze bug T. peregrinus. Acknowledgements To “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)”, “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)” and “Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)” for financial support. Global Edico Services edited and proofread this manuscript. References Barbosa LR, Santos F, Barddal HPO, Machado BO, Wilcken CF, Soliman EP. Predação de Thaumastocoris peregrinus por Chrysoperla externa. Embrapa Florestas, Comun. Técn. 257, 2010. Barbosa LR, Santos F, Wilcken CF, Soliman, EP. Registro de Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) no estado do Paraná. Pesqui. Florest. Bras. 30: 75-77, 2010. Button G. Thaumastocoris peregrinus. In: Forest facts. 2007. http://www.nc t forest. com/showpage.asp?id044 &contentid0423&ca tid024>. Accessed 14 Set 2013. Carpintero DL, Dellapé PM. A new species of Thaumastocoris Kirkaldt from Argentina (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae: Thaumastocorinae). Zootaxa 1228: 61-68, 2006. 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Manag. 65: 53-63, 1994.   https://www.google.com.br/search?biw=1438&bih=677&q=ZHANG,+G.,+WEIRAUCH,+C.+Sticky+predators:+a+comparative+study+of+sticky+glands+in+harpactorinae+assassin+bugs+(Insecta:+Hemiptera:+Reduviidae).+Acta+Zoologica,+Stockholm,+v.+94,+p.1%E2%80%9310+,+2013.&spell=1&sa=X&ei=Z7veU56QHIPLsAScn4CwDg&ved=0CBkQBSgA https://www.google.com.br/search?biw=1438&bih=677&q=ZHANG,+G.,+WEIRAUCH,+C.+Sticky+predators:+a+comparative+study+of+sticky+glands+in+harpactorinae+assassin+bugs+(Insecta:+Hemiptera:+Reduviidae).+Acta+Zoologica,+Stockholm,+v.+94,+p.1%E2%80%9310+,+2013.&spell=1&sa=X&ei=Z7veU56QHIPLsAScn4CwDg&ved=0CBkQBSgA https://www.google.com.br/search?biw=1438&bih=677&q=ZHANG,+G.,+WEIRAUCH,+C.+Sticky+predators:+a+comparative+study+of+sticky+glands+in+harpactorinae+assassin+bugs+(Insecta:+Hemiptera:+Reduviidae).+Acta+Zoologica,+Stockholm,+v.+94,+p.1%E2%80%9310+,+2013.&spell=1&sa=X&ei=Z7veU56QHIPLsAScn4CwDg&ved=0CBkQBSgA https://www.google.com.br/search?biw=1438&bih=677&q=ZHANG,+G.,+WEIRAUCH,+C.+Sticky+predators:+a+comparative+study+of+sticky+glands+in+harpactorinae+assassin+bugs+(Insecta:+Hemiptera:+Reduviidae).+Acta+Zoologica,+Stockholm,+v.+94,+p.1%E2%80%9310+,+2013.&spell=1&sa=X&ei=Z7veU56QHIPLsAScn4CwDg&ved=0CBkQBSgA