Spatial Distribution of Tibraca limbativentris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Babassou Palms

Abstract

The babassou plant (Attalea speciosa Mart. Ex. Spreng, Arecaceae) is an important palm tree in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. This plant is the main arboreal component in extensive geographical areas including agricultural areas. However, limited research studies exist on its role as an alternative pest host in this region. This study investigated the occurrence of Tibraca limbativentris Stal (1860) in young babassou palm trees, the effect of abiotic factors (temperature, solar radiation and rainfall) on the number of T. limbativentris adults and postures, and this insect’s spatial arrangement during the rice crop off-season. The research team inspected young babassou plants on a monthly basis in 2012 and 2013 to collect and quantify postures and adults. They collected a total of 1418 live adults, 13 dead and ten postures of T. limbativentris. There was a significant difference between the first and the other collections of live adults carried out in 2012 and 2013. Abiotic factors including rainfall, temperature and solar radiation, had no influence on the number of adults (alive and dead) and postures. The semivariogram adjusted to the Gaussian model showed that in 2013, the spatial distribution of living adults, that had an aggregate pattern, was highly dependent on the season. However, in 2012 there was a pure nugget effect. These results imply that young babassou plants are alternative T. limbativentris hosts.