Abundance Of Stink Bugs Research Articles

The first extensive analysis of species composition and abundance of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on soybean crops in Brazil.

Soybean is the third-greatest global commodity crop with respect to grain production, Brazil is the largest soybean producer in the world. We performed the first extensive survey including all the five main soybean cultivation regions in Brazil over three seasons (2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021). A total of 2386 localities were sampled, corresponding to 145 municipalities in 11 states. Sampling was carried out between the R1 and R8 soybean growth stages, using a beating sheet. Fifteen species were recorded, with five species accounting for more than 99% of the sampled insects. The Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), was the most abundant species (82.4% of the adults and 84.1% of the nymphs overall), with differences in the mean abundance between soybean macroregions. The melacanthus green belly stink bug, Diceraeus melacanthus Dallas was the second most abundant species overall, followed by the brown winged stink bug, Edessa meditabunda (F.), the furcatus green belly stink bug, Diceraeus furcatus (F.) and the red-banded green stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood). The relative abundance of each species differed between soybean macroregions. The mean abundance of nymphs and adults of Euschistus heros at different soybean reproductive stages showed an increase from early reproductive stages to the beginning of the late reproductive stages (R5 or R6). This large-scale assessment of stink bugs provides a basis for outlining integrated pest management programs and drives the development of monitoring and control strategies, as well as future studies investigating population dynamics over time and space in soybean fields. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hierarchical forecasting models of stink bug population dynamics for pest management

In recent decades, the intensification of agricultural production, accompanied by an increasing pressure from pests in various crops, has resulted in a substantial increase in the use of synthetic pesticides. Integrated pest management (IPM) provides a framework for the development and use of sustainable control strategies, which include the monitoring of the crop pest complex and the use of decision tools such as predictive models. In this study, an empirical modeling approach based on a hierarchical Bayesian model with a state-space structure was developed to perform stink bug (Pentatomidae) density forecasts to assist in deciding when to carry out pest control interventions, thus increasing the efficacy and efficiency of IPM. Using stink bug abundance and crop phenology data, along with meteorological data from eight different sites in Argentina, we made 1-week forecasts of population density, evaluated the predictive capacity of different models using Leave-One-Out-Cross-Validation, and analyzed how the uncertainty in the predictions vary as a function of the number of vertical beat sheet samples. The forecasts made with our best model showed a reasonable degree of accuracy. We found that i) the observation error of the vertical beat sheet method was much larger than expected, and ii) the uncertainty analysis suggested a sample size of 40 to obtain a good balance between precision and sampling effort, which is in stark contrast to the average sample size usually taken by advisors. Our approach provides advisors with a tool to make better-informed decisions about when and if to carry out pest control interventions.

Semi-natural habitats support populations of stink bug pests in agricultural landscapes

Semi-natural habitats are considered fundamental for biodiversity conservation and the provision of biological control services in agroecosystems. However, crop pests that exploit different types of habitats during their life cycle might thrive in complex landscapes. Understanding how crop pests use a range of resources across the agroecosystem is fundamental to plan sustainable crop protection strategies. Here we explored the effects of local habitat type (i.e., annual crop, perennial crop, dry grassland and forest) and landscape composition (increasing cover of forest and dry grassland) on stink bug pests in Mediterranean agroecosystems. Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea) are polyphagous and highly mobile organisms considered a serious threat for numerous crops worldwide. To better understand how stink bugs used different habitats, we sampled active adults and juveniles in spring and summer, and overwintering individuals in autumn and winter. Our results showed that semi-natural habitats supported more abundant stink bug populations, potentially providing alternative feeding, reproduction, and overwintering sites. Specifically, we found more active adults and juveniles in dry grasslands, while forests hosted greater numbers of overwintering individuals. Moreover, forest cover in the landscape was positively related to active stink bug abundance in all sampled habitats. Finally, we found complex landscapes rich in overall semi-natural habitats to support higher abundance of overwintering individuals in both forests and dry grasslands, while perennial crop might provide suitable overwintering sites in highly simplified landscape. These results have important implications for pest management as crop fields situated in complex landscapes might be more susceptible to pest infestation. Effective control strategies may require a landscape-based approach.

A novel trophobiotic interaction between a Neotropical stink bug and an ant species: Insights into potential benefits to the host plant

Trophobiotic interactions occur when phytophagous insects provide a sugary liquid, the honeydew, for ants and obtain defence against predators or parasitoids. The plants may indirectly benefit from an increased ant foraging activity by reducing the herbivorous abundance. These three trophic interactions have been previously studied for several species, but mainly involving plants with extrafloral nectaries, which is a plant structure that also produce attractive substances for ants. Previous studies have reported an ant preference for honeydew over extrafloral nectary content. Therefore, trophobiosis can be an important mediator of ant-plant interactions. In this study, we describe a trophobiotic interaction between Edessa contermina stink bugs and Camponotus blandus ants on the Byrsonima verbascifolia plants occurring in a conservation area of Brazilian savanna. Stink bugs excreted a sugary liquid which was consumed by the ants, and C. blandus ants were observed consuming potential parasitoids. Stink bugs were more abundant in plants containing high food supply and shelter availability. The occurrence of ants depended of the number of inflorescences and trunk circumference of B. verbascifolia. Ant abundance, however, was positively correlated with stink bug abundance and the number of inflorescences. Herbivory was not explained by neither plant architecture nor ant abundance. This high ant activity may benefit plants from a protection against herbivory, but we did not detect this effect during the study period. Hence, the interaction among ants and plants was apparently commensal. We concluded that plant traits were important in ant attraction, but stink bugs foraging also increased ant activity on the plant, but mainly on inflorescences. Therefore, the plant may benefit from an increased defence of inflorescences rather than leaves.

Forest cover and proximity decrease herbivory and increase crop yield via enhanced natural enemies in soybean fields

Abstract Non‐crop habitats are essential for sustaining biodiversity of beneficial arthropods in agricultural landscapes, which can increase ecosystem services provision and crop yield. However, their effects on specific crop systems are less clear, such as soybean in South America, where the responses of pests and natural enemies to landscape structure have only recently been studied. Here, we analysed how native forest fragments at local and landscape scales influenced arthropod communities, herbivory and yield in soybean fields in central Argentina. To do this, we selected soybean fields located in agricultural landscapes with varying proportions of forest cover. At two distances (10 and 100 m) from a focal forest fragment, we sampled natural enemy and herbivore arthropods, and measured soybean herbivory and yield. We focused on herbivore diversity, abundance of key soybean pests in the region (caterpillars and stink bugs), and their generalist and specialist natural enemies. Higher abundance of predators, lower herbivory rates and increased yield were found near forests, while overall forest cover in the landscape was positively related with parasitoid and stink bug abundance, soybean yield, and negatively with herbivory. Moreover, yield was positively linked to richness and abundance of generalist and specialist enemies and independent of herbivory according to piecewise Structural Equation Models. Synthesis and applications. Our results show positive effects of native forests on biodiversity and yield in soybean crops, highlighting the need for conservation of forest fragments in agricultural landscapes. Moreover, the relation between natural enemies and crop yield suggests that Chaco forests support a diverse and abundant community of natural enemies that can provide sustained levels of ecosystem services and result in positive effects for farmers.

Relationship Between Stink Bug Populations in Winter Shelters and Atmospheric Variables in Soybean Growing Areas in Southern Brazil.

Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) are among the main entomological problems in the international farming. Their ability in using alternative plants (refuges) during the off-season is one of the reasons that led them to the status of key pests in several crops. Like other insect species, stink bugs are subject to atmospheric variations. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the abundance, the co-occurrence, and its variations according to the weather in the off-season. The work was conducted between 2014 and 2018, in the municipality of Cruz Alta, state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. Every year, refuges formed by Poaceae and located around the cropped area were evaluated in the second fortnight of June, corresponding to the beginning of the winter solstice. Atmospheric variables corresponding to the evaluation period were used to explain the variation in the populations. In short, our results demonstrated interannual variations in the population abundance of stink bugs in the evaluated refuges. We also found variations in the co-occurrence between species. Finally, we demonstrate the trend in the increase in these refuges in years with cold and dry off-seasons.

Diversity of stink bugs (Pentatomidae) in Chloris distichophylla Lag. (Poaceae) overwintering

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity and abundance of stink bugs in Chloris distichophylla Lag (Poales: Poaceae) during the soybean and corn off-season. The work was carried out in the municipality of Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul state, over the soybean and corn off-season between 2014 and 2018. 3543 adults were identified into six species: Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798), Dichelops furcatus (Fabricius, 1775), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas, 1851), Edessa meditabunda (Fabricus, 1794), Edessa ruformaginata (De Geer, 1773) and Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). E. heros was the most abundant, followed by D. furcatus. The diameter of the clumps directly affects the population density of the stink bugs. Finally, C. distichophylla is shown as favorable to the maintenance of the stink bug populations over the soybean and corn off-season.

Arthropod communities and biological control in soybean fields: Forest cover at landscape scale is more influential than forest proximity

Natural habitats surrounding annual crops influence biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services within the cultivated habitats. Soybean, an important crop worldwide and the main crop in Argentina, is affected by several pest species, including stink-bugs that damage soybean pods. Here, we studied the effects of Chaco Serrano forests on arthropod herbivores and natural enemies and on biological control of stink bugs on soybean, at landscape (forest cover) and local (forest proximity) scales. We sampled arthropods on soybean plants by using the beating-sheet method, on nine landscapes (with low and high forest cover) and at 5, 25, 50 and 100m from the forest, during soybean flowering and pod-filling stages. Biological control of stink bug eggs was assessed via sentinel-egg experiments in soybean and forest habitats. We found that landscapes with high forest cover presented higher richness and abundance of natural enemies and higher levels of biological control on stink bug eggs (both in the cropland and in the forest), while a similar trend for herbivores was restricted to soybean flowering stage. Community composition of both functional groups was also affected by forest cover and crop phenological stage. Forest proximity had more limited effects: natural enemies showed more species and individuals at 5m from the forest than at larger distances and, conversely, stink bug abundance was lower at the closest distance to the forest. We conclude than forest amount at landscape scale is more influential for arthropod biodiversity and biological control in soybean than forest proximity. Moreover, our results suggest that maintaining remnants of forest in agricultural landscapes can be effective for conservation of arthropod biodiversity while contributing to biological control of stink bugs in soybean fields.

Competitive release and outbreaks of non-target pests associated with transgenic Bt cotton.

The adoption of transgenic Bt cotton has, in some cases, led to environmental and economic benefits through reduced insecticide use. However, the distribution of these benefits and associated risks among cotton growers and cotton-growing regions has been uneven due in part to outbreaks of non-target or secondary pests, thereby requiring the continued use of synthetic insecticides. In the southeastern USA, Bt cotton adoption has resulted in increased abundance of and damage from stink bug pests, Euschistus servus and Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). While the impact of increased stink bug abundance has been well-documented, the causes have remained unclear. We hypothesize that release from competition with Bt-susceptible target pests may drive stink bug outbreaks in Bt cotton. We first examined the evidence for competitive release of stink bugs through meta-analysis of previous studies. We then experimentally tested if herbivory by Bt-susceptible Helicoverpa zea increases stink bug leaving rates and deters oviposition on non-Bt cotton. Consistent with previous studies, we found differences in leaving rates only for E servus, but we found that both species strongly avoided ovipositing on H. zea-damaged plants. Considering all available evidence, competitive release of stink bug populations in Bt cotton likely contributes to outbreaks, though the relative importance of competitive release remains an open question. Ecological risk assessments of Bt crops and other transgenic insecticidal crops would benefit from greater understanding of the ecological mechanisms underlying non-target pest outbreaks and greater attention to indirect ecological effects more broadly.

Fruit availability influences the seasonal abundance of invasive stink bugs in ornamental tree nurseries

Invasive plant-feeding insects cause billions of dollars in economics losses annually around the world. Understanding how they utilize different host plants directly informs their management. The highly invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has destroyed crops and invaded homes since its discovery in the U.S. in the mid-1990s. In this study, we test the hypothesis that in diverse resource environments, the presence and maturity of fruits on trees influences the abundance of H. halys. Observational surveys of the abundance of H. halys life stages (egg masses, nymphs, and adults) on 3884 trees of 223 cultivars in woody plant nurseries revealed that fruit maturity was a strong predictor of the seasonal abundance and within-tree distribution of H. halys. We next explicitly tested whether fruits themselves were the key resource for H. halys through a manipulative field experiment. Removal of fruits from trees suppressed stink bug abundance throughout the season. Despite being considered a broad feeding generalist, our results highlight that in landscapes with highly heterogeneous and ephemeral resources, H. halys specializes on finding mature fruits. Therefore, H. halys can be controlled by designing landscapes with fruitless varieties of popular trees, exploiting phenological mismatches between the pest and its host plants, and through targeted management of H. halys on fruiting trees in the landscape.

Species Composition and Seasonal Abundance of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Louisiana Soybean

In Louisiana during the last decade, the redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), has become a significant and yield-limiting pest of soybean. The redbanded stink bug was previously reported in the United States in 1892, but was never considered an economically important pest until recently. Soybeans representing four maturity groups (MG) III, IV, V, and VI were sampled weekly from beginning bloom (R1) to physiological maturity (R8) during 2008-2010 at five locations across Louisiana to determine the Pentatomidae composition. In total, 13,146 stink bugs were captured and subsequently identified to species. The predominant species included the redbanded stink bug (54.2%); southern green stink bug (27.1%), Nezara viridula L.; brown stink bug (6.6%), Euschistus servus (Say); and green stink bug (5.5%), Acrosternum hilare (Say). Redbanded stink bug comprised the largest percentage of the complex collected at four of the five survey sites. Numbers exceeding action thresholds of this stink bug complex were only detected during R4 to R7 growth stages. Redbanded stink bug accounted for the largest percentage of the stink bug complex in early maturing soybean varieties (MG III [86%] and IV [60%]) and declined in later maturing soybeans (MG V [54%] and VI [50%]). The redbanded stink bug was initially identified in southern Louisiana during 2000 and had been reported in all soybean producing regions in Louisiana by 2006. This survey is the first to report the redbanded stink bug as a predominant pest of soybeans from locations within the United States.

Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), a Leaffooted Bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae), and their Predators in Sorghum in Georgia

The objective of this 4-yr study was to determine species composition and abundance of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and a leaffooted bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and their predators in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench spp. bicolor] in Georgia. Nezara viridula (L.) was the predominant species in sorghum; density of this stink bug was twice as high as that of the second most abundant stink bug, Oebalus pugnax pugnax (F.). Euschistus servus (Say) was the third most abundant stink bug species. Density of both Leptoglossus phyllopus (L.) and Euschistus quadrator (Rolston) was about half that of E. servus. Chinavia hilaris (Say), Thyanta custator custator (F.), Euschistus tristigmus (Say), Euschistus ictericus (L.), and Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) were minor pests in sorghum. Adult bugs primarily fed on developing seed. For all bug species, except E. tristigmus and E. ictericus, sorghum served as a reproductive host plant. In order of descending overall abundance, bug predators present in sorghum were Orius insidiosus (Say), Geocoris spp. [Geocoris punctipes (Say) and G. uliginosus (Say)], lady beetle species, i.e., Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, Coccinella septempunctata (L.), Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer), and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), spiders, i.e., Peucetia viridans (Hentz), Oxyopes salticus Hentz, and spiders in the Salticidae and Thomisidae families, Solenopsis invicta Buren, Podisus maculiventris (Say), Sinea diadema (F.), and Nabis spp. Conserving these natural enemies of panicle-feeding bugs in sorghum could possibly be used in management of these bugs in southeastern farmscapes.

Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and their Natural Enemies in Alfalfa in South Georgia

Abstract The objective of this 3-yr study was to determine species composition and abundance of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and their natural enemies in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in Georgia. Six species of phytophagous stink bugs, Nezara viridula (L.), Euschistus servus (Say), Thyanta custator custator (F.), Euschistus quadrator Rolston, Oebalus pugnax pugnax (F.), and Chinavia hilaris (Say), and one predatory species, Podisus maculiventris (Say), occurred in alfalfa. Generally, density of N. viridula, the predominant stink bug species, was high in seeding alfalfa in the late spring-early summer, and parasitization of this stink bug by Trichopoda pennipes (F.) could reach high levels as density of the pest increased in the crop. Euschistus servus and T. c. custator together comprised the second most predominant group of stink bugs in this crop. Based on seasonal occurrence of nymphs (all 5 instars) and adults, nymphal development time, ovarian development time, and reproductive status of adu...

Composition and Abundance of Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Corn

The species composition and abundance of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in corn, Zea mays L., was determined in this on-farm study in Georgia. Seven species of phytophagous stink bugs were found on corn with the predominant species being Nezara viridula (L.) and Euschistus servus (Say). All developmental stages of these two pests were found, indicating they were developing on the corn crop. The remaining five species, Oebalus pugnax pugnax (F.), Euschistus quadrator (Rolston), Euschistus tristigmus (Say), Euschistus ictericus (L.), and Acrosternum hilare (Say), were found in relatively low numbers. Adult N. viridula were parasitized by the tachinid parasitoid Trichopoda pennipes (F.). There was a pronounced edge effect in distribution of stink bugs in corn. Population dynamics of N. viridula and E. servus were different on early and late-planted corn. Oviposition by females of both stink bug species occurred in mid-to-late-May and again mid-to-late-June in corn, regardless of planting date. In early planted fields, if stink bug females oviposited on corn in mid-July, the resulting nymphs did not survive to the adult stage in corn because ears were close to physiological maturity and leaves were senescing. Density of stink bug adults in early planted corn was relatively low throughout the growing season. In late-planted corn, females of both stink bug species consistently laid eggs in mid-to-late-July on corn with developing ears. This habitat favored continued nymph development, and the resulting adult population reached high levels. These results indicate that corn management practices play a key role in the ecology of stink bugs in corn agroecosystems and provide information for designing management strategies to suppress stink bugs in farmscapes with corn.

Southern Green Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) as Vectors of Pathogens Affecting Cotton Bolls — A Brief Review

The southern green stink bug, Nezara viridule L., is a member of the stink bug complex that has become more economically important in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., production in recent years. A disease of cotton bolls, identified as South Carolina boll rot, seemed coincidental to the increase in abundance of stink bugs. The relationship between the occurrence of the cotton disease and the southern green stink bug is discussed here. This review documents: the identification and description of the disease; potential causal agents and insect vectors; conclusive identification of Pentoea egglomerans (Ewing and Fife) Gavini et al. as the causative agent of the disease; establishment of southern green stink bug as a model insect based on ingestion, retention, and transmission of the disease to cotton bolls; determination of vulnerability of bolls of different ages to disease; and, transmission of other disease agents by southern green stink bugs. Future research needs also are discussed.

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

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.

Assessing Stink Bug Resistance in Soybean Breeding Lines Containing Genes from Germplasm IAC-100

Sixty-five soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., breeding lines containing the stink bug resistant ‘IAC-100′ in their pedigrees were evaluated for their resistance to stink bug, primarily southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L., feeding in replicated field trials from 2001 to 2005. Plots were sampled throughout the season for stink bug abundance, and, at harvest, seed samples were rated for stink bug-induced kernel damage. Individual seeds were categorized as having none, light, moderate, or heavy damage plus 100-seed wt and plot yields were determined. Both ground cloth and sweep net sampling procedures were used to compare stink bug densities between the soybean entries. Stink bug densities varied between years; however, in the years when populations exceeded four per row-meter or six per 25 sweeps, there were more damaged soybean seeds (>25%) in the entries with higher stink bug numbers. During the first 2 yr of evaluations, the mean stink bug-damaged soybean seeds ranged from 10.0 to 38.2%. From these differential responses, 28 entries were selected for continued study in 2003–2004. In 2003, stink bug-damaged soybean seeds were low, with damage ranging from 2.9 to 18.2%. In 2004, stink bug damage ranged from 8.8 to 53.2%. From these 28 lines, 12 entries were selected for an advanced field screening trial in 2005, including the IAC-100 and ‘Hutcheson’. Damaged soybean seeds ranged from 18.5 to 54.1% among these 12 entries in 2005, under heavy stink bug pressure. From these evaluations, four breeding lines with either Hutcheson × IAC-100 or IAC-100 × ‘V71-370′ in their genealogy were identified as possible breeding material for future soybean stink bug resistance cultivar development.

Assessing Stink Bug Resistance in Soybean Breeding Lines Containing Genes from Germplasm IAC-100

Sixty-five soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., breeding lines containing the stink bug resistant 'IAC-100' in their pedigrees were evaluated for their resistance to stink bug, primarily southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L., feeding in replicated field trials from 2001 to 2005. Plots were sampled throughout the season for stink bug abundance, and, at harvest, seed samples were rated for stink bug-induced kernel damage. Individual seeds were categorized as having none, light, moderate, or heavy damage plus 100-seed wt and plot yields were determined. Both ground cloth and sweep net sampling procedures were used to compare stink bug densities between the soybean entries. Stink bug densities varied between years; however, in the years when populations exceeded four per row-meter or six per 25 sweeps, there were more damaged soybean seeds (>25%) in the entries with higher stink bug numbers. During the first 2 yr of evaluations, the mean stink bug-damaged soybean seeds ranged from 10.0 to 38.2%. From these differential responses, 28 entries were selected for continued study in 2003-2004. In 2003, stink bug-damaged soybean seeds were low, with damage ranging from 2.9 to 18.2%. In 2004, stink bug damage ranged from 8.8 to 53.2%. From these 28 lines, 12 entries were selected for an advanced field screening trial in 2005, including the IAC-100 and 'Hutcheson'. Damaged soybean seeds ranged from 18.5 to 54.1% among these 12 entries in 2005, under heavy stink bug pressure. From these evaluations, four breeding lines with either Hutcheson X IAC-100 or IAC-100 x 'V71-370' in their genealogy were identified as possible breeding material for future soybean stink bug resistance cultivar development.

Dynamics and seasonal abundance of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in a cotton-soybean ecosystem.

Two soybean varieties (early-maturing group V and late-maturing group VII) and two cotton varieties (conventional and transgenic (Bt) were grown in adjacent replicated large field plots (approximately 0.1 ha each) at two locations for 3 yr. The dynamics and relative abundance of phytophagous stink bugs within these two crops were observed. The most abundant pentatomid species in both crops for all 3 yr were Nezara viridula (L.), Acrosternum hilare (Say), and Euschistus servus (Say). Several other species also were commonly collected. This is the first record of Mormidea lugens (F.) on soybean and E. quadrator Rolston, E. obscurus (Palisot), Holcostethus limbolarius (Stål), and Oebalus pugnax (F.) on cotton. Stink bugs began arriving in soybean when plant growth stages ranged from pod formation to full seed development. Peak numbers of these insects were found in soybean from the time of full-size seeds in the pods until early maturity. The bugs were first attracted to the earlier maturing cultivar (group V), where they remained until plants began to mature (R7). The pentatomids then moved to the later-maturing cultivar (group VII) as it reached full pod to full seed. Stink bugs began arriving in cotton from the time of the earliest flowers until after the first bolls formed. Peak numbers in cotton occurred during the time when all stages of developing bolls were present. Stink bug numbers were much greater in soybean than in cotton over all three seasons. This preference for soybean over cotton indicates the potential use of soybean as a trap crop for attracting stink bugs away from cotton. Additionally, the coordinated use of early- and late-maturing soybean cultivars as a trap crop could minimize the area requiring insecticides, as well as the number of insecticide applications to cotton.

Evaluation of Insecticides for Suppression of Rice Stink Bug on Sorghum, 1997

Abstract Insecticides for rice stink bug control were evaluated at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Farm near College Station, TX. Seed of hybrid sorghum (AT x 399 X RT x 430) was planted 16 Jun on rows spaced 30 inches apart. Insecticide treatments were compared in plots, 8 rows X 40 ft long, arranged in a RCB design with 4 replications. Insecticides were applied to the middle 2 rows of plots when sorghum was in the dough stage. Insecticides were applied on 9 Sep between 0930 and 1100 h CDT by using a hand-held backpack sprayer with 4, TX-3 hollow cone nozzles at 35 psi, producing a finished spray volume of 4.9 gpa. Stink bug abundance was assessed by using the “beat bucket” technique to sample 10 panicles per plot. A pre-treatment count of rice stink bug nymph and adult abundance was made just prior to insecticide applications. Post-treatment counts were made on 10 (1 DAT) and 12 Sep (3 DAT). Data were statistically analyzed by using ANOVA and LSD. Percent control was calculated by using the Henderson and Tilton (1955) sampling formula.