474 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
In Tanzania, monitoring of adults at outdoor temperatures showed that the female lifespan was lon-
ger than the male, with averages between 121 and 131 days for females and 98 and 106 days for males
(Kirkpatrick 1937). In Kenya, a mean lifespan of 93 days for females and 86 days for males was obtained
for adults of a population from Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, reared in incubators at 20°C (Ahmed et al. 2016).
In Rwanda and Burundi, Foucart and Brion (1959) reported an average female lifespan of 76.5 days,
with a maximum value of 245 days, whereas males survived 50.2 days on average with a maximum of
96 days. The complete life cycle was estimated to be between 3 and 6 months depending on temperature
(Kirkpatrick 1937, Ahmed et al. 2016). In Rwanda and Burundi, duration of development from egg to
adult was reported between 72 and 82 days, whereas the duration from egg to mature female (i.e., ready
to oviposit) was between 90 and 99 days (Foucart and Brion 1959).
10.3.3.2 Antestiopsis intricata
10.3.3.2.1 Egg Stage
Eggs are almost spherical and are 1.05 mm in length and 0.90 mm in width (Mbondji Mbondji 2001).
They are dull white and develop two reddish lines just before hatching (Le Pelley 1968, Abebe 1987).
Eggs usually are laid on the underside of leaves in clusters of 12, but sometimes they are laid on other
plant parts such as berries, branches, and the trunk (Le Pelley 1968). They are bonded to the support by
glue excreted by the female during oviposition.
Under laboratory conditions in Ethiopia, the incubation period of eggs ranged from 3 to 5 days with
an average of 3.6 days at a mean temperature of 25.1°C (Abebe 1987). In another study in Ethiopia,
incubation periods ranged from 6 to 8 days, with an average of 7.4 days at a mean temperature of 27°C
(Mendesil and Abebe 2004). In outside conditions in Western Cameroon (1100 m asl), incubation periods
were 6 to 7 days between June and October, at a mean temperature of 25.8°C and 4 to 5 days between
November and March, at a mean temperature of 27.4°C (Mbondji Mbondji 2001).
10.3.3.2.2 Nymphal Instars
Antestiopsis intricata has five instars, which are circular in shape and similar in color to the adults. Molts
from one instar to another usually occur during the night. The first instar is ≈1.1 mm in length, circular
in shape, and slightly flattened dorsoventrally. The thoracic segments are similar, brown in color as is
the head. The second instar is similar but longer, 2.0 mm on average. The third instar is longer, 2.8 mm,
and the prothorax begins to extend posteriorly. The fourth instar is 4.2 mm on average and has well-
developed wing pads. The fifth instar has wing pads that overlap the first abdominal segments. Global
shape and colors, as noted above, are similar to those of adults. At this stage, male and female nymphs
begin to differentiate in size with average lengths for males and females of 5.70 and 6.45 mm, respec-
tively. The mean durations of the various nymphal stadia from two studies, one in Western Cameroon
(Mbondji Mbondji 2001) and one in Ethiopia (Mendesil and Abebe 2004), are given in Table 10.2.
TABLE 10.2
Development Duration of the Five Nymphal Instars of Antestiopsis intricata Reared at Two Average
Temperatures in Outside Conditions Calculated in Western Cameroon (1100 m) for Two Distinct Periods,
June to October and November to March (Mbondji Mbondji 2001),^1 and at One Average Temperature
Under Laboratory Conditions in Ethiopia (Mendesil and Abebe 2004)^2
Development Stage Duration (in Days)
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Egg-Adult
Average temp. (°C)^1
25.8 6.0 11.0 9.5 9.5 13.5 56.0
27.4 6.0 10.6 8.6 8.6 12.5 50.8
Average temp. (°C)^2
27.0 ± 0.5 6.6
(6–8)10.3
(9–13)7.5
(7–10)8.8
(6–14)9.7
(7-14)50.3
(41-67)