Damage of Sweet Persimmon Fruit by the Inoculation Date and Number of Stink Bugs, Riptortus clavatus, Halyomorpha halys and Plautia stali

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the fruit damage according to the number of released stink bugs and date of adult introduced on non-astringent persimmon. The fruit damage differed significantly by the number, date, and the source of feed for Riptortus clavatus. Damages on the fruits appeared when five bugs were released to mother branches bearing fruits. Damages to the fruits was heavy in the case that bugs were introduced in September and October, compared with in June, July and August. Persimmon fruit damage was influenced significantly by the available sources to R. clavatus, persimmon fruit alone or additional supply of kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris) and water. Characteristic damage symptoms by R. clavatus showed only scars on the fruit skin, without fruit dropping. Halyomorpha halys (= mista) showed significantly higher fruit damage when they were released in July, August, and September compared with other periods. Number of H. halys to the fruit also showed significant differences in fruit damages. Five H. halys in July showed 100% damaged fruits. The fruit damage by Plautia stali was not significantly different according to dates of introduction but the number of insects gave significant differences in the fruit damage ratio at the level of 1, 3, 5 bugs introduced to the mother branche bearing friuts. The damage symptoms by P. stali was fruit dropping in July and August but from September damaged fruits were found in the branches.