Mass Rearing of Chinch Bugs of the Genus Blissus (Hemiptera: Blissidae) in an Indoor Cultivation System.

Abstract

Insect pest infestations in pasture areas have a detrimental impact on Brazilian livestock. One of the challenges currently faced by livestock farmers is the control of pests such as chinch bugs of the genus Blissus (Hemiptera: Blissidae), an emerging pest of pastures in Brazil. There is a significant gap in the literature on this group of insects. The first step in developing management tools for this pest involves establishing a mass-rearing protocol that enables individuals to be reared in sufficient numbers for subsequent studies. In this study, we present a protocol for the mass rearing of Blissus pulchellus Montadon (Hemiptera: Blissidae) in an indoor cultivation system, including the environmental conditions necessary for the growth of the evaluated host grasses (Urochloa humidicola cv. Humidicola, Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis, Urochloa humidicola cv. Llanero, and Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) along with the chinch bug B. pulchellus. Mass rearing of B. pulchellus during indoor cultivation was possible. Both host grasses and B. pulchellus developed adequately at 30 ± 2°C and variable photoperiods ranging from 16:8 to 14:10 light:dark. Urochloa humidicola cv. Humidicola and Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis enhanced the population growth of insects, enabling the collection of up to 2000 insects per tray per week. This study presents the first successful mass-rearing method for chinch bugs, Blissus sp., in an indoor cultivation system for use in different studies.