Biology and predation of assassin bug (Sycanus dichotomus) on fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae

ASIRI  SINGHAMUNI; AZIDAH ABDUL AZIZ; NURUL ASHIKIN  ABDULLAH

doi:10.56093/ijas.v95i11.155179

Authors

ASIRI SINGHAMUNI Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
AZIDAH ABDUL AZIZ Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NURUL ASHIKIN ABDULLAH Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v95i11.155179

Keywords:

Life cycle, Maize, Predation, Spodoptera frugiperda, Sycanus dichotomus

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during 2023 and 2024 at the Sungai Burung, Tanjung Karang, Selangor, Malaysia to investigate the life cycle and predation ability of assassin bug (S. dichotomus) on fall armyworm (S. frugiperda) larvae. Results revealed that S. dichotomus laid eggs in a cluster of 34–116 eggs, and the mean egg incubation period was 18.50 ± 0.27 days with a 12–25 days range. The nymph passed through five instars, and the respective mean nymphal durations of females and males were 107.16 ± 0.94 days and 106.13 ± 1.07 days. Adult female longevity was 55.18 ± 0.41 days, and adult male longevity was 55.12 ± 0.51 days. The predation ability of the nymphal and adult stages of S. dichotomus varied with the different larval categories of S. frugiperda. Where all the nymphal and adult stages of S. dichotomus have the ability to attack 1^st category larvae of S. frugiperda, conversely, the 1^st instar nymph of S. dichotomus was unable to prey on the 2^nd category larvae of S. frugiperda. Additionally, the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd nymphs of S. dichotomus were unable to attack the 3^rd larval category of S. frugiperda. Results on the predation potentiality of S. dichotomus revealed the adult females and males showed significantly higher (p<0.05) performances than their nymphal stages, with the adult females the most voracious. Thus the adults of S. dichotomus could be an efficient biocontrol for S. frugiperda.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmad S H and Kamarudin N. 2016. Growth and longevity of the insect predator, Sycanus dichotomus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) fed on live insect larvae. Journal of Oil Palm Research 28: 471–78.

Ahmad S N, Masri M M M and Kamarudin N. 2020. Assessment on voracity and predation by predator, Sycanus dichotomus Stal. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to oil palm bagworm, Pteroma pendula. Journal of Oil Palm Research 32: 480–87.

Balakrishnan P, Nagarajan K, Kumar A G and Ambrose D P. 2011. Host preference, stage preference and functional response of Acanthaspis pedestris Stal (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to its most preferred prey the acridid grasshopper, Orthacris maindroni Boliver. (In) Insect Pest Management, A Current Scenario, pp. 210–17. Ambrose D P (Ed). Entomology Research Unit, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Bong L J, Neoh K B, Lee C Y and Jaal Z. 2014. Effect of diet quality on survival and reproduction of adult Paederus fuscipes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 51(4): 752–59.

CABI. 2017. Community-Based Fall Armyworm Monitoring, Early warning and Management. https://www.cabi.org/wp-content/uploads/ToT-manual.pdf

Cock M J, Beseh P K, Buddie A G, Cafa G and Crozier J. 2017. Molecular methods to detect Spodoptera frugiperda in Ghana, and implications for monitoring the spread of invasive species in developing countries. Scientific Report 7: 4103.

DOA. 2019. Report on New Pest: Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Malaysia. Department of Agriculture, Malaysia. https://www.ippc.int/static/media/files/pestreport/2019/12/06/2.1 vi Report FAW

Duran Prieto J, Trotta V, Fanti P, Castane C and Battaglia D. 2016. Predation by Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) on Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae): Influence of prey age/size and predator’s intraspecific interactions. European Journal of Entomology 117: 37–43.

Gil-Santana H R, Forero D and Weirauch C. 2015. Assassin bugs (Reduviidae excluding Triatominae). (In) True bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics, pp. 307–51. Panizzi and Grazia J (Eds). Springer Dordrecht eBook. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9861-7_12

Halil M F M, Hussain M H, Nasir D M, Jalinas J, Yusop R M, Fauzi M, Muzamil M and Ghani I A. 2021. Predation efficiency and feeding preferences of laboratory-reared Sycanus dichotomus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on oil palm bagworm, Metisa plana (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). Journal of Sustainability Science and Management 16(8): 81–90.

Ibrahim Y and Othman M F. 2011. Demographic parameters and reproductive performance of the assassin bug Sycanus dichotomus Stal fed on mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. Journal of Oil Palm Research 23: 974–78.

IPPC. 2019. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Malaysia. https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/malaysia/ pestreports/2019/11/fall-armyworm-spodoptera-frugiperda-control/

Jamian S and Adam N A. 2018. The performance of predatory insect, Sycanus dichotomus Stal. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on combination of plant host and prey. Serangga 23(3): 56–64.

Jamil S, Saranum M, Hudin L and Ali W. 2021. First incidence of the invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith J E,1797) attacking maize in Malaysia. Biolnvasions Rrecords 10(1): 81–90.

Kenis Marc, Benelli Giovanni, Biondi Antonio, Calatayud P-A, Day Roger, Desneux Nicolas, Harrison Rhett D, Kriticos Darren, Rwomushana Ivan, Van den Berg Johnnie, Verheggen Francois, Zhang Yongjun, Agboyi Lakpo K, Ahissou Besmer Régis B, Ba M N, Bernal Julio, de Freitas Bueno Adeney, Carriere Yves, Carvalho Geraldo H, Chen Xue-Xin, Cicero L, Plessis Hannalene du, Early R, Fallet P, Fiaboe K K M, Firake D M, Goergen G, Groot A T, Gueded R N C, Gupta A, Hu G, Huang F N, Jaber L R, Malo E A, McCarthy C B, Meagher Jr R L, Mohamed S, sanchez D M, Nagoshi R N, negre N, Niassy S, Ota N, Nyamukondiwa C, Omoto C, Palli S R, Pavela R, Ramirez-Romero R, Rojas J C, Subramanian S, Tabashnik B E, Tay W T, virla E G, Wang S, Williams T, Zang Lian-Sheng, Zhang L and Wu K. 2023. Invasiveness, biology, ecology, and management of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Entomologia Generalis 43(2): 187–241. 10.1127/entomologia/2022/1659

Lamsal S, Sibi S and Yadav S. 2020. Fall armyworm in South Asia: Threats and management. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research 13(3): 21–34.

McClure M and Despland E. 2011. Defensive responses by a social caterpillar are tailored to different predators and change with larval instar and group size. Naturwissenschaften 98: 425–34.

Morales-Ramos J A, Rojas M G, Coudron T A, Huynh M P, Zou D and Shelby K S. 2023. Artificial diet development for entomophagous arthropods. (In) Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms: Invertebrates and Entomopathogens, pp. 233–60. Morales-Ramos J A, Rojas M G and Shapiro-Ilan D I (Eds). Academic Press, San Diego, California.

Pebriansyah. 2023. Predation power of Sycanus dichotomus Dohrn (Hemiptera: Reduvidae) on grayak caterpillar pest larvae Spodoptera frugiperda J E Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the laboratory. https://repository.uisu.ac.id/bitstream/123456789/2553/1/Cover%2CBibliography.pdf

Sahayaraj K, Kumar S M and Enkegaard A. 2016. Response of the reduviid bug, Rhynocoris marginatus (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) to six different species of cotton pests. European Journal of Entomology 113: 29–36.

Sahid A, Natawigena W D, Hersanti and Sudarjat. 2018. Laboratory rearing of Sycanus annulicornis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on two species of prey: Differences in its biology and efficiency as a predator of the nettle caterpillar pest Setothosea asigna (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae). European Journal of Entomology 115: 208–16.

Shingleton A W. 2015. Physiology: Female flies have the guts for reproduction. Current Biology 25(16): 716–18.

Syari J, Muhamad R, Norman K and Idris A B. 2011. Pemeliharaan Sycanus dichotomus Stal. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) serangga pemangsa ulat bungkus tanaman sawit, Metisa plana (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) Walker di Makmal. Sains Malaysiana 40(10): 1129–37.

Zulkefli M. 1996. ‘The effect of selected insecticides on the oil palm bagworm Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) and predatory bug Cantheconidea spp. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)’. BSc Dissertation, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.

Zulkefli M, Norman K and Basri M W. 2004. Life cycle of Sycanus dichotomus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)-A common predator of bagworm in oil palm. Journal of Oil Palm Research 16(2): 50–56.