Seasonal Abundance of Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and Other Polyphagous Species in a Multi-Crop Environment in South Arkansas

Abstract

A 3-yr study was conducted to determine seasonal abundance of major pentatomid, noctuid, and mirid pests in a multicrop environment in south Arkansas. Replicated field plots (~0.1 ha) containing cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), genetically engineered to express the Cry 1Ac toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), nonBt cotton, Bt corn, Zea mays (L.), genetically engineered to express the Cry 1Ab toxin of B. thuringiensis, nonBt corn, maturity group (MG) III, IV, V, and VI soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, and grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, were planted each year. Crop preferences of 3 stink bug species [southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say), and brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say)] were recorded and observations also were made on the relative abundance of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), and tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beavois). Significantly higher densities of stink bugs were present in MG IV soybean than in all other crops in July and August during all 3 yrs of study. Densities of heliothines were significantly greater in grain sorghum and corn than in other crops during July. Tarnished plant bugs were most commonly observed in cotton. Preferences of these polyphagous pests for different crops at specific stages of phenological development appear to be predictable aspects of insect behavior that may be exploited in trap crops or other landscape management systems.