Abstract
Since its development, the electrical penetration graph (EPG) has been used to record the feeding behavior of mostly small, relatively weak insects (aphids and leafhoppers). Recently the larger, more robust true bugs (e.g., pentatomids) began to be monitored via EPG, and some problems were encountered, especially related to gold wire attachment. Wiring procedures involve the choice of an electrically conductive adhesive (silver paint or silver glue) and methods to immobilize the bugs to facilitate the process and guarantee successful wiring by sanding the cuticle. Histological studies are often coupled with EPG recordings to correlate waveforms with the location of the salivary sheaths or stylets in the plant tissue. EPG can also be applied in quantitative studies to determine counts and durations of the waveforms recorded and then to compare via statistical analysis. At the start of EPG research, essential variables must be standardized, such as the ideal starvation period (if required), recording times, and laboratory environmental conditions. Appropriate experimental design and the acceptable sample size (number of insects recorded per treatment) are also important considerations.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Almeida ACS, Jesus FG, Barrigossi JAF (2020) Unveiling the feeding behavior of Tibraca limbativentris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on rice using an electropenetrography waveform library. J Insect Sci 20:14;1–8
Backus EA, Bennett WH (1992) New AC electronic insect feeding monitor for fine-structure analysis of waveforms. Ann Entomol Soc Am 85:437–444
Backus EA, Bennett WH (2009) The AC-DC correlation monitor: new EPG design with flexible input resistors to detect both R and emf components for any piercing-sucking hemipteran. J Insect Physiol 55:869–884
Backus EA, Cline AR, Ellerseick MR, Serrano MS (2007) Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) feeding on cotton: new methods and parameters for analysis of nonsequential electrical penetration graph data. Ann Entomol Soc Am 100:296–310
Backus EA, Cervantes FA, Godfrey L, Akbar W, Clark TL, Rojas MG (2018) Certain applied electrical signals during EPG cause negative effects on stylet probing behaviors by adult Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae). J Insect Physiol 105:64–75
Backus EA, Rangasamy M, Stamm M, McAuslane HJ, Cherry R (2013) Waveform library for chinch bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Blissidae): Characterization of electrical penetration graph waveforms at multiple input impedances. Ann Entomol Soc Am 106:524–539
Bonani JP, Fereres A, Garzo E, Miranda MP, Appezzato-da-Gloria B, Lopes JRS (2010) Characterization of electrical penetration graphs of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, in sweet orange seedlings. Entomol Exp Appl 134:35–49
Cervantes FA, Backus EA (2018) EPG waveform library for Graphocephala atropunctata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): effect of adhesive, input resistor, and voltage levels on waveform appearance and stylet probing behaviors. J Insect Physiol 109:21–40
Cervantes FA, Backus EA, Godfrey L, Akbar W, Clark TL (2016) Characterization of an EPG waveform library for pre-reproductive adult Lygus lineolaris and L. hesperus feeding on cotton squares. Ann Entomol Soc Am 109:684–697
Cervantes FA, Backus EA, Godfrey L, Rojas MG, Akbar W, Clark TL (2019) Quantitative differences in feeding behavior of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) on transgenic and nontransgenic cotton. J Econ Entomol 112:1920–1925
Chinchilla-RamÃrez M, Garzo E, Fereres A, Gavara-Vidal J, ten Broeke CJM, van Loon JJA, Urbaneja A, Pérez-Hedo M (2021) Plant feeding by Nesidiocoris tenuis: Quantifying its behavioral and mechanical components. Biol Control 152:104402;1–10
Cline AR, Backus EA (2002) Correlations among AC electronic monitoring waveforms, body postures, and stylet penetration behaviors of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae). Environ Entomol 31:538–549
Jin S, Chen ZM, Backus EA, Sun XL, Xiao B (2012) Characterization of EPG waveforms for the tea green leafhopper, Empoasca vitis Göthe (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), on tea plants and their correlation with stylet activities. J Insect Physiol 58:12351244
Joost PH, Backus EA, Morgan D, Yan F (2006) Correlation of stylet activities by the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say), with electrical penetration graph (EPG) waveforms. J Insect Physiol 52:327–337
Kindt F, Joosten NN, Peters D, Tjallingii WF (2003) Characterization of the feeding behaviour of western flower thrips in terms of electrical penetration graph (EPG) waveforms. J Insect Physiol 49:183–191
Li W, Wyckhuys KAG, Wu K (2016) Does feeding behavior of a zoophytophagous mirid differ between host plant and insect prey items? Arthropod Plant Interact 10:79–86
Lu Z, Dong S, Li C, Li L, Yu Y, Men X, Yin S (2020) Sublethal and transgenerational effects of dinotefuran on biological parameters and behavioural traits of the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum. Sci Rep 10:226;1–8
Lucini T, Panizzi AR (2016) Waveform characterization of the soybean stem feeder Edessa meditabunda: overcoming the challenge of wiring pentatomids for EPG. Entomol Exp Appl 158:118–132
Lucini T, Panizzi AR (2017a) Feeding behavior of the stink bug Dichelops melacanthus Dallas on corn seedlings: an EPG analysis at multiple input impedances and histology correlation. Ann Entomol Soc Am 110:160–171
Lucini T, Panizzi AR (2017b) Probing behavior of Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on wheat plants characterized by electropenetrography (EPG) and histological studies. J Insect Sci 17:65;1–15
Lucini T, Panizzi AR (2018a) Electropenetrography (EPG): a breakthrough tool unveiling stink bug (Pentatomidae) feeding on plants. Neotrop Entomol 47:6–18
Lucini T, Panizzi AR (2018b) Electropenetrography monitoring of the neotropical brown-stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on soybean pods: an electrical penetration graph-histology analysis. J Insect Sci 18:5;1–14
Lucini T, Panizzi AR (2020) Electropenetrographic comparison of feeding behavior of Dichelops furcatus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on soybean and spring cereals. J Econ Entomol 113:1796–1803
McLean DL, Kinsey MG (1964) A technique for electronically recording aphid feeding and salivation. Nature 202:1358–1359
Mitchell PL, Cooke SB, Smaniotto LF (2018) Probing behavior of Nezara viridula on soybean: characterization and comparison of electrical penetration graph (EPG) waveforms on vegetative and reproductive plant structures. J Agric Urban Entomol 34:19–43
Rangasamy M, McAuslane HJ, Backus EA, Cherry RH (2015) Differential probing behavior of Blissus insularis (Hemiptera: Blissidae) on resistant and susceptible St. Augustinegrasses. J Econ Entomol 108:780–788
Rivera KL, Mitchell PL (2020) Probing behavior of Nezara viridula first instars: EPG analysis and effect of food availability on subsequent development. J Agric Urban Entomol 36:47–63
Sarria E, Cid M, Garzo E, Fereres A (2009) Workbook for automatic parameter calculation of EPG data. Comput Electron Agric 67:35–42
Serteyn L, Ponnet L, Saive M, Fauconnier ML, Francis F (2020) Changes of feeding behavior and salivary proteome of brown marmorated stink bug when exposed to insect-induced plant defenses. Arthropod Plant Interact 14:101–112
Spiller NJ, Koenders L, Tjallingii WF (1990) Xylem ingestion by aphids – a strategy for maintaining water balance. Entomol Exp Appl 55:101–104
Stubbins FL, Mitchell PL, Turnbull MW, Reay-Jones FPF, Greene JK (2017) Mouthpart morphology and feeding behavior of the invasive kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae). Invert Biol 136:309–320
Tjallingii WF (1978) Electronic recording of penetration behaviour by aphids. Entomol Exp Appl 24:721–730
Tjallingii WF (1988) Electrical recording of stylet penetration activities. In: Minks AK, Harrewijn P (eds) World crop pests: aphids, their biology, natural enemies and control. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 95–108
Tuelher ES, Backus EA, Cervantes F, Oliveira EE (2020) Quantifying Lygus lineolaris stylet probing behavior and associated damage to cotton leaf terminals. J Pest Sci 93:663–677
Van Helden M, Tjallingii WF (2000) Experimental design and analysis in EPG experiments with emphasis on plant resistance research. In: Walker GP, Backus EA (eds) Principles and applications of electronic monitoring and other techniques in the study of homopteran feeding behavior. Lanham, Entomological Society of America, pp 144–171
Walker GP (2000) A beginner’s guide to electronic monitoring of homopteran probing behavior. In: Walker GP, Backus EA (eds) Principles and applications of electronic monitoring and other techniques in the study of homopteran feeding behavior. Lanham, Entomological Society of America, pp 14–40
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Panizzi, A.R., Lucini, T., Mitchell, P.L. (2021). EPG Procedures for True Bugs (Heteroptera ). In: Electronic Monitoring of Feeding Behavior of Phytophagous True Bugs (Heteroptera). Entomology in Focus, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64674-5_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64674-5_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-64673-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-64674-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)