Host plants and their role in the ecology of the fruitspotting bugs Amblypelta nitida Stål and Amblypelta lutescens lutescens (Distant) (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

Abstract

An expanded host list is given for Amblypelta nitida (fruitspotting bug) and Amblypelta lutescens lutescens (banana-spotting bug) in Australia. These are compared with those extracted from the literature for Amblypelta cocophaga China, Amblypelta theobromae Brown, Amblypelta lutescens papuensis Brown, and Amblypelta brevicornis Brown. Despite many new additions to the list of known hosts for A. nitida and A. I. lutescens, Australian native plant species are relatively poorly represented. Rainforest species are thought to be important refugia and breeding hosts for the bugs since orchards located adjacent to such vegetation are often severely damaged. the broad host range of several Amblypelta spp. is discussed with respect to the bugs' pest status and the role of alternative hosts as breeding sites for fruitspotting bugs which migrate into commercial orchards.