Occurrence of Scaptocoris castanea Perty (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) damaging Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) seedlings in Brazil

Abstract

Neem (Azadirachta indica) seedlings were found infested by the brown burrower bug, Scaptocoris castanea Perty, in December 2009, in the county of Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais state. Symptoms observed varied from leaf yellowing and stem drying, reduction in root size and number to plant death. This is the first report of S. castanea attacking neem plants. © 2011 Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.