Studies of peanut burrower bug biology, Pangaeus bilineatus Say (Hemiptera: Cydnidae), conducted under laboratory conditions

Monday, November 14, 2022

11:54 AM – 12:06 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 213

Presenting Author(s)

Benjamin L. Aigner (he/him/his)

Student
University of Georgia
Tifton, Georgia

Co-Author(s)

Mark R. Abney

Associate Professor, Extension Specialist
University of Georgia
Tifton, Georgia

Peanut burrower bug (PBB), Pangaeus bilineatus Say (Hemiptera: Cydnidae), is a severe pest of peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., in the Southeast US. Adults and nymphs feed directly on peanut seed with piercing sucking mouthparts reducing seed quality and value. Little is known of the insect’s biology; therefore, multiple studies were conducted to describe PBB developmental biology, morphometrics, and parental care. Adults were paired in 266 mL resealable plastic containers (11×8×5cm) with screened lids, 70g of sterile sandy loam soil wetted to ~15% VWC, and peanut seed for food. To define PBB life cycle, soil was cycled to collect fresh eggs each day. To define fecundity and longevity, virgin adults were collected by maturing 5^th instar nymphs in isolation, then placed in containers. In either study, containers were checked daily for eggs, nymphs, and adults; date, time, no. of eggs, no. of nymphs and their life stage, and/or no. of adults were recorded. Time of development from egg to adult completed in approx. 35 days through 5 nymphal instars. Instars last 3.3 – 8.5 days and head capsule width (.46 – 1.68 mm) progressively increased as nymphs age. Females produced a mean total of 78.5 ± 25.2 offspring after pairing 14 days and lived an average of 88.7 ± 31.2 days. Parental care studies indicate first instar nymphs need an adult female present to molt to successive instars. All studies were conducted in a growth chamber (RCBD) on a 14:10 L:D cycle, constant temperature of 29°C, and 55% RH ± 10%.