Brown Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Damage to Seedling Corn and Impact on Grain Yield

Abstract

Brown stink bugs, Euschistus servus, are an important early-season pest of field corn in the southeastern United States. Feeding in the early stages of corn development can lead to a number of growth deformities and deficiencies and, ultimately, a reduction in yield. An observational and two experimentally manipulated trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to 1) determine optimal timing for assessing brown stink bug damage, 2) assess the level of damage from which yield compensation can occur, and 3) examine the relationship between brown stink bug density and early-season damage and yield. Fields were identified with infestations of brown stink bugs and a damage rating system for early stages of corn was established. Varying rates of brown stink bug densities were introduced using field cages and damage was assessed throughout the season. The density and duration of stink bug infestations were critical factors for damage potential, with each day of active feeding per plant resulting in a loss of ~14 kg/ha in yield. The level of damage in early stages of corn was categorized into easily identifiable groups, with only the most severe damage leading to a reduction in yield. Moderate and minimal feeding damage did not result in yield loss. This study emphasizes the need for early and frequent scouting of corn to determine the risk of damage and yield loss from brown stink bugs. Results from this study can be used to help develop management programs for brown stink bugs in the early vegetative stages of field corn.

The stink bug Dichelops furcatus: a new pest of corn that emerges from soybean stubble

“…3(D)), induce development of tillers or abortion of seedlings, and therefore, decrease corn yield. 18,45 The severity of D. furcatus damage at the seedling stage is related to the intensity of the effects on yield components, such as height of plants, stem diameter and number of seeds produced. 46 It has been reported that heavy infestations of this stink bug can reduce yields by up to 50% in Brazilian and Argentine corn fields.…”

“…46 It has been reported that heavy infestations of this stink bug can reduce yields by up to 50% in Brazilian and Argentine corn fields. 23,43,46,47 Although adults of D. furcatus in Argentina and Brazil, and similarly Euchistus servus in USA, feed on corn seedlings, 45 after a short period of time they leave the corn field to look for alternative hosts, thus suggesting that seedlings are not the most appropriate food source for these stink bugs. Feeding bioassays under laboratory conditions has shown that D. furcatus adults feed on corn seedlings for only 2 h. 20 Noteworthy, there is no record about D. furcatus depositing their eggs or nymphs completing their development on corn seedlings.…”

“…Moreover, stink bug attacks may produce deformation of seedlings (Fig. 3(D)), induce development of tillers or abortion of seedlings, and therefore, decrease corn yield 18,45 . The severity of D. furcatus damage at the seedling stage is related to the intensity of the effects on yield components, such as height of plants, stem diameter and number of seeds produced 46 .…”

“…Although adults of D. furcatus in Argentina and Brazil, and similarly Euchistus servus in USA, feed on corn seedlings, 45 after a short period of time they leave the corn field to look for alternative hosts, thus suggesting that seedlings are not the most appropriate food source for these stink bugs. Feeding bioassays under laboratory conditions has shown that D. furcatus adults feed on corn seedlings for only 2 h 20 .…”

“…Over the past years efforts have been directed towards exploiting volatile signals that mediate tritrophic interactions to control insect pest in agriculture. The number of D. furcatus adults in the field can be reduced by the emission of VOCs from damaged corn seedlings that attract generalist parasitoids 20–56 . In addition, other proposed methods include the use of plant volatiles as attractants or repellents 63 .…”