Abstract
The local dispersal of polyphagous, mobile insects within agricultural systems impacts pest management. In the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, stink bugs, especially the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål 1855), contribute to economic losses across a range of cropping systems. Here, we characterized the density of stink bugs along the field edges of field corn and soybean at different study sites. Specifically, we examined the influence of adjacent managed and natural habitats on the density of stink bugs in corn and soybean fields at different distances along transects from the field edge. We also quantified damage to corn grain, and to soybean pods and seeds, and measured yield in relation to the observed stink bug densities at different distances from field edge. Highest density of stink bugs was limited to the edge of both corn and soybean fields. Fields adjacent to wooded, crop and building habitats harbored higher densities of stink bugs than those adjacent to open habitats. Damage to corn kernels and to soybean pods and seeds increased with stink bug density in plots and was highest at the field edges. Stink bug density was also negatively associated with yield per plant in soybean. The spatial pattern of stink bugs in both corn and soybeans, with significant edge effects, suggests the use of pest management strategies for crop placement in the landscape, as well as spatially targeted pest suppression within fields.
Highlights
Agricultural fields are components within a heterogeneous landscape that strongly connect to and interact with surrounding habitats [1]
Species composition and density A total of 9440 individuals (66% nymphs; 34% adults) of four phytophagous stink bug species (E servus, H. halys, C. hilaris, and M. histrionica) were recorded in field corn, of which H. halys accounted for 97% of the total
A total of 9867 individuals (68% nymphs; 32% adults) of five phytophagous stink bug species (E. servus, H. halys, C. hilaris, M. histrionic, T. custator) were recorded, of which H. halys accounted for 93% of the total
Summary
Agricultural fields are components within a heterogeneous landscape that strongly connect to and interact with surrounding habitats [1]. The movement of pest insects among seasonal crop resources is often non-random and directional as pest species disperse and colonize crops [3]. This movement may result in insect pests immigrating into an agricultural field in an aggregated manner in specific areas within the field [1]. In such cases, species-specific characteristics such as host range, vagility, chemical ecology, and host developmental status influence the spatial pattern of a pest population within crop fields, often resulting in the aggregation of pests along field edges as they disperse between habitats. Knowledge about insect pest movement among habitats in the landscape, and the subsequent colonization of plants within crop fields, may inform risk of infestation by an insect pest prior to their subsequent population increase as well as provide opportunities for pest management [1]
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