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

Abstract

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.

Species Composition, Abundance, and Seasonal Dynamics of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Minnesota Soybean Fields

“…These three species were also the most abundant in Louisiana (Boyd et al 1997, Peters et al 2004); however, Pi. guildinii has recently become the most abundant pentatomid in Louisiana soybean (Temple et al 2013).…”

“…In addition, feeding by Pentatomidae can cause delayed maturity of soybean plants and permit entrance of pathogens into the plants ( McPherson and McPherson 2000). Species of current concern in southern states are the southern green stink bug, Nezera viridula (L.), green stink bug, Chinavia hilaris (Say), brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say) (McPherson and McPherson 2000), and red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Temple et al 2013).…”

Feeding preference of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and attractiveness of soybean genotypes

“…stand out as both a healthy food source and a renewable energy source, known as biodiesel. According to forecasts by the United States Department of Agriculture, in 2014/2015, Brazil will produce 71 million tons of soybeans from the cultivation of 25 million hectares (USDA, 2009 (Chocorosqui and Panizzi, 2004;Temple et al, 2013). During feeding, the bugs, both at a young age and as adults, constantly suck the grains inside the green pods, causing punctures, mottles and a reduction in the number and quality of seeds, an increase in the protein content, a reduction of the oil and a reduction in seed germination, in addition to changes in the physiology of the plant, causing a disorder known as "crazy soybean" (Panizzi and Slansky, 1985).…”

Parasitoids of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae) recovered in western North America and first record of its egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in California

“…Although already reported in the United States in 1892, P. guildinii was never considered an economically relevant pest until recently (Temple et al 2013). Crinocerus sanctus (F.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and P. guildinii are important cowpea pests in Brazil.…”