Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) 229
plant parts (Colazza et al. 2010). No native species likely has evolved cues leading to attacking single
eggs deposited in the soil.
Podisus maculiventris (Figure 3.9) has been reported to feed on a wide variety of prey, including various
lepidopteran larvae, several species of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Orthoptera (McPherson
1982). It has been reported to attack other pest pentatomids such as the southern green stink bug, Nezara
viridula (L.) (De Clercq et al. 2002). In laboratory experiments, De Clercq et al. (2002) reported that the
highest daily predation rates by adult P. maculiventris were for first instars of N. viridula and the low-
est rates for adults (3.4–7.6 and 0.3–0.6 prey items, respectively). Predation by adult P. maculiventris on
adult Bagrada hilaris has been observed in New Mexico (Tessa R. Grasswitz, unpublished data). Female
prey were consumed at a significantly higher rate than males when individual predators were presented
with three mating pairs of B. hilaris per day. Predation on third and fifth instars of B. hilaris was low (an
average of 0.6 and 0.8 per day, respectively), likely due to the difficulty of capturing such highly mobile
stages; mating adults are probably much easier targets because coupled males and females are orientated
in opposite directions, making it more difficult for them to escape from potential predators.
Collops vittatus is an important generalist predator in alfalfa, cotton, pastures, and gardens (Walker
1957). It has been reported to prey on various aphids, mites, whiteflies, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera (includ-
ing Lygus species) (Knowlton 1944, Walker 1957, Nielson and Henderson 1959, Ellsworth et al. 2011). In
laboratory studies with adults of this beetle predator in New Mexico, individuals provisioned daily with
20 first instars of Bagrada hilaris killed an average of five and nine each day (male and female beetles,
respectively), with only approximately half that number being fully consumed. Incomplete (partial) con-
sumption of prey also was observed when individual C. vittatus were given third instars of B. hilaris with
average predation rates of three nymphs per day for both sexes of beetles (Tessa R. Grasswitz, unpublished
data). Partial consumption of captured prey also was reported by Knowlton (1944).
Sinea diadema has been reported to feed on a variety of prey, including lepidopteran larvae, several
species of Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera (Voss and McPherson 2003). Reports of its
feeding on Bagrada hilaris are limited to a single observation in New Mexico in October, 2014, when an
adult Sinea diadema was seen feeding on fourth or fifth instars of B. hilaris nymphs (Tessa R. Grasswitz,
personal observation).
In summary, none of the native natural enemies found attacking B. hilaris in the United States seems
likely to inflict high enough levels of mortality to achieve adequate control of this pest under field
conditions.
3.6.3.5 Classical Biological Control
Prospects for classical biological control are good. Although our knowledge of key, co-evolved natural
enemies (egg parasitoids in the case of most Pentatomidae) are very poor, the apparent native geographic
FIGURE 3.9 Adult spined soldier bugs (Podisus maculiventris) feeding on Bagrada hilaris, Los Lunas, New Mexico.
(Courtesy of Tessa R. Grasswitz).