Stinkbug population dynamics has been studying in passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) under field conditions in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State. Two sampling methods have been utilized: a) countings of the number of insects occurring in a 0.5 m² wooden frame; b) countings of the number of insects present in 1.5 linear meter, aside of a tutoring system. Five passion fruit species (Passiflora alata, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, P. nitida, P. giberti and P. laurifolia) have been checked as to insect occurrence throughout a year. Weekly, insect samples have been collected in 5 randomly choosen sites in the orchard, for each evolution method.The most frequent stinkbug species, considering all the passion fruit species, have been the following: Leptoglossus gonagra, L. zonatus, Holhymenia histrio and Anisoscelis foliacea marginella; the highest populations for L. gonagra, H. histrio and A. foliacea marginella have occurred from late December to early May while those of L. zonatus revealed the highest numbers from late March to late July. P. laurifolia has been the most attractive species to L. gonagra; P. edulis f. flavicarpa to L. zonatus; P. giberti to A. foliacea marginella and H. histrio.The sampling method using a 0.5 m² wooden frame has shown to be the most effective as to population dynamics evolutions.
Passiflora spp.; Coreidae; Leptoglossus; Holhymenia; Anisoscelis
