Investigations on the amount of damage caused by Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on bean pod [Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)'nin fasulye baklasindaki zarar miktari üzerine araştirmalar]

The study aimed to find out correlation between number of individuals and the amount of damage caused by Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and to determine which stage of N. viridula cause the most damage on bean pod. For this purpose, 3 individual groups consisting of 10, 15 and 20 individuals were put to feed for 5 days separately in the observation cages, each of them were placed on bean plants in the manner involving a pod. At the end of the 5th day, individuals removed from the observation cages and total sucking-spot areas on the pods were calculated by measuring symptoms in square millimeter (mm2). Experiments conducted in a controlled climate room conditions at temperature 25±1°C, relative humidity 45% ± 5% and photoperiod 16:8 h. By the results of experiments on the amount of damage, the fifth-stage nymphs were on the first rank with 26.11 mm2 sucking-spot area, followed by preoviposition females with 24.89 mm2 and oviposition females with 22.89 mm2. After those stages, male adults and the second-stage nymphs sorted with 18.95 mm2 and 16.06 mm2, respectively. The fourth-stage nymphs followed the third-stage nymphs with 11.39 mm2 caused the least sucking-spot area. Also, a correlation was found between number of individuals and the amount of damage caused by them.