First record and some aspects of the bio-ecology of Hilda patruelis Stål (Hemiptera: Tettigometridae) on Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asteraceae) in Southern Cameroon

The bug Hilda patruelis Stål is an ant-tended hemipteran, recorded on several non-related plant species such as Arachis hypogea L., Phaseolus vulgaris L, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L, Ficus sur Forsskal in Afrotropical region. For the first time, the bug is recorded in Cameroon on a new host plant, Vernonia amygdalina Delile. The present study carried out from December 2012 to August 2013 at Yaoundé, aimed to provide data on the biology and ecology of H. patruelis. For this purpose, natural enemies and ants associated with the bug were monitored, bug colonies were characterized according to seasons; and finally, its life history was established under field and laboratory conditions. As results, five ant species were recorded: Pheidole megacephala (F)., Myrmicaria opaciventris Emery, Crematogaster castanea Smith, Camponotus sp. and Tetramorium simillimum Smith. Among them the more frequent was P. megacephala. Despite the presence of ants, H. patruelis’s eggs were frequently parasitized by the wasp, Psyllechthrus oophagus Ghesquière. The mean number of bug colonies in the field was greater during the wet period than during the dry, with a highly significant variation. Accordingly, the number of individuals showed the same trend. The fecundity of the females of this bug was positively correlated with the number of males present; thus the number of eggs was lower in polygyny and in monogamy and higher in polyandry. By contrast, female’s life span decreased drastically in polyandry. The whole duration of the development of H. patruelis, including five immature stages ranged from 54 days in field conditions to 55 days in laboratory conditions.

Keywords: New host plant, Cameroon, Bitter-leaf shrub, Ant-tending, Fecundity, Hilda patruelis, Live span, Pests.

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