Effects of parental age on the life cycle of the southern green stink bug, nezara viridula L. (heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

The effect of parental age on the life cycle of Nazara viridula was studied. The experiments were carried out at 25°C under 15 hr illumination. The hatchability of eggs decreased with progress of the age of the mothers. With aging of parents the larval period fluctuated. However, appreciable changes in the duration of larval period, averaging about 30 days, was not observed with aging of parents. The survival rate decreased with increasing parental age among the larvae originated from the egg masses which were deposited after the 30th day since the beginning of oviposition. No adults were recruited from the eggs deposited after the 70th day. The female offspring from the older parents were short lived, and contained a smaller proportion of reproductive females with a low fecundity as compared with those from the younger parents. The biological properties of F2 progeny were affected by the ages of both grandmother and mother. Unlike the F1 progeny, all F2 eggs except those of the first egg mass hatched successfully. The prolongation of the duration of larval stage and the decrease in the survival rate of F2 larvae tended to associate with progress of the ages of both grandmother and mother. A discussion was held regarding the possible effect of parental age on the life cycle of this insect species under natural conditions. © 1967, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.