02231nas a2200193   4500008004100000022001300041245016000054210006900214260001300283300001400296490000800310520159200318653001301910100001401923700001501937700001701952700001501969856005301984       2015                        eng d  a1210575900aDevelopment, reproduction, host range and geographical distribution of the variegated caper bug Stenozygum coloratum (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)0 aDevelopment reproduction host range and geographical distributio  bEJEcfeb  a362–3720 v1123 aThe variegated caper bug (CB) Stenozygum coloratum (Klug, 1845) is common in the Eastern Mediterranean region and a minor agricultural pest. CB eggs were recently shown to serve as alternative hosts for Ooencyrtus pityocampae Mercet, 1921, an important natural enemy of the pine processionary moth (PPM) Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, 1924 (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae). In this study various aspects of the life history of CB were studied, including its distribution, host range, development, reproduction and ability to develop on various cultivated species of plants. CB occurs in almost all areas and habitats in Israel, except in the coldest regions, attacking several caper species (Capparis spp.). When reared on Capparis zoharyi at 25&deg;C, one generation lasted 6 weeks and females laid a single 12-egg cluster every 3 days. Decreases in temperature, but not changes in day length, terminated reproductive activity. CB nymphs survived for up to three months, or even completed their development, on some agricultural plants. However, reproductive activity was initiated only if adults were fed capers. These findings emphasize the importance of capers in the CB life cycle and account for why other plants are rarely attacked. These plants may serve as a temporary refuge for CB when capers are scarce or unsuitable, mainly late in the season. Morphology of developmental stages, egg deposition, cannibalistic behaviour, sex ratio and effects of temperature on egg production were also studied. The possibility of using CB for enhancing the biological control of PPM is discussed.10aBulgaria1 aSamra, S.1 aGhanim, M.1 aProtasov, A.1 aMendel, Z.  uhttp://www.eje.cz/doi/10.14411/eje.2015.041.html