Vol. 100. No. 4. September & October 1989 133 P1CROMERUS BIDENS (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA, WITH A WORLD REVIEW OF DISTRIBUTION AND BIONOMICS 1 M.-C. Lariviere-% A. Larochelle^ ABSTRACT: The Palearctic. predatory pentatomid Picromerus bidens was introduced into North America about 50 years ago. Only recently, however, was this species recorded in the North American literature (1967). The introduction of the species on this continent is of particular interest since it has been shown, in Europe, to prey upon the larvae of many agricultural and forest insect pests. The species has been studied by the authors in 10 states or provinces of northeastern North America from 1978 to 1988. The establishment of the species in North America is discussed, and a world review of its distribution and bionomics (including habitat, associated plants, life cycle, seasonal activity, food, predators, and parasites) is given. The introduction of the Palearctic, predatory pentatomid Picromerus bidens (L.) in North America occurred about 50 years ago. Cooper ( 1 967) first reported the species in the North American literature. Since then, only a few papers have been published that dealt with the distribution, biology, and ecology off. bidens in North America (Lattin and Donahue 1969; Oliveira and Juillet 197 l;Kelton 1972; Larochelle 1979; Larochelle and Lariviere 1980; McPherson 1982; Larochelle 1984; Javahery 1986; Froeschner 1988). The European literature, on the other hand, has dealt extensively with this species since 1911. Many studies such as those of Schumacher (1911), Butler (1923), Strawinski (1927), Mayne and Breny (1947a,b; 1948a,b), Dupuis (1949), Southwood and Leston (1959), and Javahery (1967, 1968) have covered the morphology, biology, and ecology of P. bidens, and its potential use in biological control. The introduction of this species on this continent is of particular interest since European studies have shown this pentatomid preys upon the larvae of many agricultural and forest insect pests. Until 1986, P. bidens was known in North America only from a few localities in Quebec, New York, and northern New England. We have studied and collected this species from 1978 to 1988 in more than 10 1 Received April 1. 1989. Accepted May 6. 1989. -Department of Entomology. Macdonald College of McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X ICO. -^Lyrnan Entomological Museum and Research Laboratory. Macdonald College of McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X ICO. ENT NEWS 100(4): 133-146. September & October. 1989
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