Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to determine the effects of developmental stage of soybean pods on the survival and fecundity of the bean bug (Riptortus pedestris) adults. 【Methods】 Different day-old (5-, 15-, 25-, 35- and 45-d-old) fresh pods in vitro were fed to R. pedestris adults at the constant temperature of 24℃±1℃ in the laboratory. The biological parameters of R. pedestris including the adult longevity, pre-oviposition period, oviposition period, and number of eggs laid per female, and the contents of fat, total proteins and total sugars in seeds of different day-old pods were determined. The correlations between the biological parameters of R. pedestris adults and the contents of main nutrients in seeds of different day-old pods were analyzed. 【Results】 With the increase of pod age, the average longevity, oviposition period, and number of eggs laid per female of R. pedestris adults increased first and then decreased, while the pre-oviposition period showed the opposite change trend. When fed with the 35-d-old pods, R. pedestris adults had the longest longevity (56.90±9.47 d), the shortest pre-oviposition period (6.00±0.58 d), the longest oviposition period (29.67±6.61 d), and the highest number of eggs laid per female (129.56±36.53), showing significant differences from adults fed with the other day-old pods. The adult longevity, oviposition period, and number of eggs laid per female of R. pedestris were significantly positively correlated with the contents of fat and total proteins in seeds of pods, while the pre-oviposition period was significant negatively correlated with the contents of fat and total proteins in seeds of pods. 【Conclusion】 The developmental stage of soybean pods has significant effects on such biological parameters as the longevity and fecundity of R. pedestris adults, and the 35-d-old pods are the most conducive to the survival and reproduction of R. pedestris adults.

Key words: Riptortus pedestris, soybean pod, adult longevity, fecundity, nutrients