Evaluation of damage to physic nut (Jatropha curcas) by true bugs

The type of injury and amount of damage to the fruits and seeds of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L., Euphorbiaceae) caused by two species of fruit feeding true bugs, Pachycoris klugii Burmeister (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae) and Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Coreidae), and the flower feeding true bug, Hypselonotus intermedius Distant (Heteroptera: Coreidae), were assessed using field cages. The parameters analysed were infructescence, fruit, seed and seed kernel weight, seed length, fruit and seed abortion, seed malformation and oil and protein content of the seed kernels. All three species reduced overall yield. The two members of the fruit feeding guild led to premature fruit abortion and malformed seeds. Reduction of fruit, seed and seed kernel weight as well as seed length could be expressed as linear regressions of adult population densities. The oil content of the seeds was slightly reduced by the bugs, but protein content remained unchanged. Damage increased with the developmental stage of the larvae. Whereas adult L. zonatus of both sexes produced more damage than the nymphs, female P. klugii caused less damage than nymphs, and male P. klugii no significant damage at all. H. intermedius is a pollinator of this entomogamous plant. At high densities, however, it reduced the number of fruits maturing.