Why Is Thaumastocoris Peregrinus Attack Other Plants?
The research question which will be attempted to be answered is whether the biocontrol agent, Thaumastocoris peregrinus (bronze bug) attack other plants except for the eucalyptus species.
Hypothesis:
It is expected that T. peregrinus does attack other nearby plant species and does not only feed on eucalyptus plants.
Aim:
To determine whether T. peregrinus feeds on other species of plants other than the eucalyptus species.
Introduction:
The T. peregrinus, also known as the bronze bug is known as one of the most serious pests of the eucalyptus plant in all parts of the world, especially in South Africa. The insect feeds on most and nearly all species of eucalyptus plants. Hybrids of the eucalyptus plant are also severely affected by this pest. …show more content…
The following resources have been researched thoroughly and professionally. Experiments have been conducted to show that the information is of a reliable nature. The bronze bug is therefore proven to be a major influence on the predation of the eucalyptus species due to its abundance in population and its ability to withstand many different climates. Experiments have been conducted by people in the sources whom have had been professionally trained in the subject of biocontrol. These experiments have little to no evident flaws, making the information present reliable and useful to a large extent. The noticeable flaws of these experiments and research that has been conducted is that it is not specific to the region of this research task. The research has been conducted under the possible flaws of human error and unpredictable natural phenomenon. The specific area of study is in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Randburg, Northcliff, Delta Park. Although the research is not specific to this location, the information provided still portrays an in depth view on the bronze bug, C. noakae and the eucalyptus …show more content…
The leaves of various eucalyptus plants are observed to determine whether there is predation by the bronze bug present. Predation is evident due to the black larvae present on the leaves. These plants will then be noted if predation has occurred, this is evident due to branch dieback, tree mortality and the yellowing of the foliage. Scars become evident once predation occurs on the leaves, these scars will therefore be observed for validity and be added to the final results. Over the period of 6 weeks, data has been collected from 5 eucalyptus plants and 5 other plants at the same time of day at 17:00 every Wednesday and Sunday. Eucalyptus plants were tallied on Sundays and the other plants were tallied on Wednesdays. Scars on the leaves, which show predation by the bronze bug, are observed and tallied. The information is reliable as all the eucalyptus and other miscellaneous plants that are observed have evidence of bronze bug presence. This is due to the black larvae and adult bronze bugs present on the leaves of the plants.
This therefore concludes that the bronze bug does feed on other plants except eucalyptus plants. Although it is not a considerably higher amount it is evident that predation takes place on various species of plants in the same area as the eucalyptus
Hypothesis:
It is expected that T. peregrinus does attack other nearby plant species and does not only feed on eucalyptus plants.
Aim:
To determine whether T. peregrinus feeds on other species of plants other than the eucalyptus species.
Introduction:
The T. peregrinus, also known as the bronze bug is known as one of the most serious pests of the eucalyptus plant in all parts of the world, especially in South Africa. The insect feeds on most and nearly all species of eucalyptus plants. Hybrids of the eucalyptus plant are also severely affected by this pest. …show more content…
The following resources have been researched thoroughly and professionally. Experiments have been conducted to show that the information is of a reliable nature. The bronze bug is therefore proven to be a major influence on the predation of the eucalyptus species due to its abundance in population and its ability to withstand many different climates. Experiments have been conducted by people in the sources whom have had been professionally trained in the subject of biocontrol. These experiments have little to no evident flaws, making the information present reliable and useful to a large extent. The noticeable flaws of these experiments and research that has been conducted is that it is not specific to the region of this research task. The research has been conducted under the possible flaws of human error and unpredictable natural phenomenon. The specific area of study is in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Randburg, Northcliff, Delta Park. Although the research is not specific to this location, the information provided still portrays an in depth view on the bronze bug, C. noakae and the eucalyptus …show more content…
The leaves of various eucalyptus plants are observed to determine whether there is predation by the bronze bug present. Predation is evident due to the black larvae present on the leaves. These plants will then be noted if predation has occurred, this is evident due to branch dieback, tree mortality and the yellowing of the foliage. Scars become evident once predation occurs on the leaves, these scars will therefore be observed for validity and be added to the final results. Over the period of 6 weeks, data has been collected from 5 eucalyptus plants and 5 other plants at the same time of day at 17:00 every Wednesday and Sunday. Eucalyptus plants were tallied on Sundays and the other plants were tallied on Wednesdays. Scars on the leaves, which show predation by the bronze bug, are observed and tallied. The information is reliable as all the eucalyptus and other miscellaneous plants that are observed have evidence of bronze bug presence. This is due to the black larvae and adult bronze bugs present on the leaves of the plants.
This therefore concludes that the bronze bug does feed on other plants except eucalyptus plants. Although it is not a considerably higher amount it is evident that predation takes place on various species of plants in the same area as the eucalyptus