Contents Vol. 43

GENERAL AND APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY

The Journal of the Entomological Society of New South Wales Inc.

VOLUME 43

CHANTHY, P., MARTIN, R.J., GUNNING, R.V. AND ANDREW, N.R. Influence of temperature and humidity regimes on the developmental stages of green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from inland and coastal populations in Australia. . . . . . .37

Laboratory studies were conducted to assess impacts of temperature and humidity regimes on the development of Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from inland and coastal populations in NSW, Australia.  Four temperature regimes, 25° +- 2°C, 30° +- 2°C, 33° +- 2°C, and 36° +- 2°C and two humidity regimes, 40 +- 10% and 80 +- 10% RH were applied in the experiment with a constant photoperiod of 14:10 h (L:D).  The developmental time of the nymphal stage of N. viridula significantly decreased with increasing temperature.  Percentage nymphal survival significantly decreased with increasing temperature or high humidity (80% RH) regimes.  Longevity of N. viridula adults declined with increasing temperature or high humidity regimes and female longevity was longer than males.  High temperatures (30, 33 and 36C) or high humidity significantly reduced reproductive performance and capacity of N. viridula compared to low temperature (25°C) or low humidity (40% RH).  However, high humidity significantly increased egg hatchability of N. viridula compared with a low humidity regime.  Interactions of temperature and humidity regimes significantly changed incubation period, adult longevity, mating frequency, pre-mating period, egg-mass size and egg hatchability of N. viridula.  Interactions of population location (coastal or inland), temperature and humidity regimes significantly changed incubation period and pre-oviposition period of N. viridula.  Temperature and humidity are important environmental factors for the development and reproduction of N. viridula.  Higher temperatures shorten the length of nymphal duration, but reduce nymphal survival.  The optimum temperature for the development and reproduction of N. viridula was 25°C with 40 +- 10% RH.  No differences in nymphal duration, nymphal survival, adult longevity or reproduction performance between inland and coastal N. viridula populations were found under different climate conditions.  We show the importance of assessing all life-stages in the response to varying temperature and humidity regimes, especially in terms of assessing responses to climate change.

General and Applied Entomology 43: 37-55

GIA, M.H. AND ANDREW, N.R. Performance of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphidae) on canola varieties. . . . 1

The cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most abundant canola pest insects, causing economic damage to flowering and podding crops.  Cabbage aphid performance (abundance, fecundity, development, longevity and generation time) in canola, juncea canola, and canola-mustard was studied under glasshouse conditions.  The three canola varieties tested in this study are highly susceptible to cabbage aphid damage.  There were no significant differences between canola-mustards and conventional canola in attracting cabbage aphids.  Twenty one days after the initial aphid infestation, numbers of winged adults and wingless adults were similar among the canola varieties (p > 0.05).  Within a Brassica variety, cabbage aphids responded differently to plant parts.  In the life table study, there was a significant difference in fecundity (p=0.04), finite rate of increase lambda (p=0.048) and doubling time DT (p=0.032) of cabbage aphids reared on mature leaves among the canola varieties.  The highest fecundity (55.93 +- 3.35 nymphs/female) and intrinsic rate of increase rm (0.364 +- 0.013) were observed on canola-mustard.  However, no significant differences were found in the nymphal development period, longevity, survival and mean generation time of cabbage aphids on the canola varieties tested.  Assessing the ability of mustard and canola varieties to resist aphid infestation in the drier and warmer regions of Australia is critical with new canola varieties being released, and the increasing climatic variability in the cropping regions of NSW due to human-induced climate change.

General and Applied Entomology 43: 1-10

REYNOLDS, O.L., OSBORNE, T. AND FINLAY, A. Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid.: A new host record for Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Della platura (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). . . . . . . . . .19

Three dipteran flies, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), Delia platura (Meigen) and an unidentified species, family Muscidae, have been reared from fruit collected from Osage orange, Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid. in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia.  This is the first record of B. tryoni and D. platura recorded in M. pomifera fruit and has management implications for this tree species, particularly in and surrounding horticultural production areas.

General and Applied Entomology 43: 19-23

SMITH, G. Australian Lepismatinae (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae). . . . . . . . . 25

Species of Lepismatinae present in Australia are discussed including a new record of Xenolepisma penangi Smith and Kuah, 2011 and the description of a new species of Lepisma Linnaeus, 1758 sensu Mendes, 1988 with a key to the species of this genus.

General and Applied Entomology 43: 25-36

WEBB, G. Field evaluation of Synergy®ant bait for direct nest treatment of tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) and other nuisance ant species on a golf range in northern Australia. . . . . . . 11

Tropical fire ant is present in northern Australia, occurring in urban, agricultural and natural environments.  Synergy Ant Bait was evaluated for direct nest treatment of tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata F.) and some native nuisance species on a golf range in Darwin (Australia).  Synergy was applied directly to nests of tropical fire ant, meat ant (Iridomyrmex sanguineus Forel), pale tyrant ant (Iridomyrmex pallidus Forel) and Monomorium sp. (rothsteini gp) at rates of 1 to 16g per nest and colony viability evaluated over a period of several months.  Almost all nests were eliminated within 37 days and all but two large meat ant nests were inactive by 68 days after application.  These two remaining meat ant colonies were considered moribund as there were very few worker ants active and excavation of the main nest resulted in little or no defensive response from the colony.  Synergy used as a direct nest treatment provided very effective control of nests of tropical fire ant and several species of nuisance ants in managed turf on a golf range in northern Australia.

General and Applied Entomology 43: 11-18