The Developmental Processes of Dolycoris baccarum (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Under Different Temperature Regimes
by
, ,
Rameswor Maharjan
1
,
Seo Yeon Hong
1,*,
Jun Hyoung Jeon
1,*,
Jeong Joon Ahn
2,
Young Nam Yoon
1,
Ok Jae Won
1,
Hyeon Su Lee
1 and
Jee-Yeon Ko
1 1
Smart Agricultural Technology Division, Department of Upland Crop Research & Development, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, Miryang 50424, Republic of Korea
2
Research Institute of Climate Change and Agriculture, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeju 63240, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(12), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16121245
Submission received: 16 October 2025
/
Revised: 4 December 2025
/
Accepted: 5 December 2025
/
Published: 9 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology and Management of Sap-Sucking Pests)
Simple Summary
The shield bug Dolycoris baccarum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) poses a significant threat to the cultivation of various plants in Korea. Prompt management is crucial since delays can result in significant economic losses. The creation of accurate forecasting models is vital for effective pest management. Therefore, we assessed the temperature-dependent thermal requirements of D. baccarum using both linear and nonlinear models from data of sesame seed pods to create models that can predict its spring emergence and population trends. Temperature had a considerable influence on the growth of D. baccarum. Development slowed as temperature became less optimal, with no development at very high or low temperatures. Utilizing the estimated thermal requirements, we developed a model predicting the spring emergence of D. baccarum in June and July. Continuous monitoring in agricultural fields is necessary to develop better management strategies. This is the first study that clarifies the developmental processes of a Korean population of D. baccarum infesting sesame fields.
Abstract
Understanding how insects adapt to temperature is crucial to elucidating the ecological factors shaping their life history traits. Phenological models are influenced by temperature, allowing researchers to examine how temperature affects population dynamics, geographical distribution, and the management of various insect species. This study was conducted at seven constant temperatures (15.3, 20.8, 25.0, 27.0, 30.1, 35.0, and 40.0 °C) under temperature-controlled conditions in an incubator to assess temperature-dependent development of D. baccarum. Clusters of eggs were put into Petri dishes and kept in a humidity chamber. The humidity chamber was then placed inside the incubator. Temperature affected the developmental parameters and mortality of D. baccarum reared on sesame seed pods. Stage-specific parameters, including the lower developmental threshold (LDT) and thermal constant (K, in degree days [DD]), were estimated using linear (GLM) and nonlinear (Lactin2) models, respectively. Total development time from egg to adult decreased with increasing temperature. Successful development occurred between 20.8 and 35.0 °C, and failed under 15.3 and 40.0 °C (100% nymph mortality). Egg stage duration ranged from 30.56 days at 15.3 °C to 2.07 days at 40 °C, while nymphal development ranged from 64.75 days at 20.8 °C to 21.17 days at 35.0 °C. The estimated LDT and K-values were 14.22 °C and 492.22 degree days (DD), respectively. Based on these thermal requirements, we developed a predictive model to better understand population dynamics and inform pest management strategies, which can help predict the spring occurrence, number of generations, and population dynamics of D. baccarum.
Keywords:
shield bug; models; spring emergence; forecasting; population dynamics; management
