The biology of the stink bug apodiphus amygdali (germar)‎ (hemiptera : pentatomidae)‎

Abstract EN

In this investigation the biology of Apodiphus amygdali (Germar) were studied on the three kinds of fruit trees apricot, pear and apple in the field during the growth season of 2007 in Erbil governorate, Northeren Iraq.

It was found that the mean of incubation period was 3.75 days and the egg hatching rates for the two generations were (89.29, 100.0), (96.94, 92.86) and (100.0, 100.0%) on apricot, pear and apple trees respectively.

The nymph complete their development after five instars, the mean period of each were 4.0, 7.7, 7.8, 8.7 and 9.3 days for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th instar, respectively.

The mean natural mortality among the nymphal stage was 73.49%, and the majority of which occurred among the fifth instar nymph.

The pre-oviposition period usually ranged between 3-6 days for the first generation, but the overwintered females of the second generation have a long preoviposition period began to lay their eggs after hibernation.

The stink bug A.

amygdali had two generations throughout the year, the first one began in the fourth week of June while the second began in the second week of August which the emerged adult enter hibernation from mid October and the fourth week of May of the next year.

The general sex ratio was 1:1.