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Plant feeding can improve development and reproduction of the stink bug Supputius cincticeps
(Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), an important biological control agent in South American agro-forestry
ecosystems. However, defensive compounds of plants may negatively impact this predator. The
development, reproduction and survival of S. cincticeps fed on mealworm, Tenebrio molitor
(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) pupae with bean (Fabaceae), cotton (Malvaceae), eucalyptus
(Myrtaceae), soybean (Fabaceae), or tomato (Solanaceae) leaves were evaluated. Females and
males were heavier and the number of nymphs produced per female, the oviposition period and the
longevity of females of this predator were higher when fed on eucalyptus, soybean, bean, and cotton
than with tomato leaves. Leaves of those plants improved biological parameters of S. cincticeps, while
tomato leaves showed antibiosis with lower reproduction and survival of S. cincticeps, probably due to
toxic compounds.
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