VARIEGATED THISTLE (SILYBUM MARIANUM (L.)), A NON‐CROP HOST PLANT OF NEZARA VIRIDULA (L.) (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) IN SOUTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND

Abstract

During spring in southeastern Queensland, Nezara viridula was found regularly on Silybum marianum. Adults were most commonly collected, but glasshouse trials confirmed that the plant would support nymphal development. The highly clumped distribution of individual adults and mating pairs on plants in the field suggested that the thistle may act as a focus of mating aggregations. The Mediterranean origin of the non‐crop host plants used by N. viridula in southeastern Queensland provides indirect evidence in support of the Mediterranean or North African origin of this species. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved