Brontocoris tabidus (heteroptera: Pentatomidae) preying on podalia walkeri (lepidoptera: Megalopygidae) on eucalypt plants in Brazil

Abstract

There are many Eucalyptus spp. of commercial importance in Brazil. However, plants of this genus can be damaged by lepidopteran defoliators, which necessitates the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs against these pests. We observed significant levels of predation of Podalia walkeri (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae) caterpillars by Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on eucalyptus plants in Diamantina, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Our observations suggest that B. tabidus has the potential to suppress P. walkeri caterpillars as a component of IPM programs in eucalyptus plantations.