Katherine Kamminga

Survey of Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Egg Parasitoids in Wheat, Soybean, and Vegetable Crops in Southeast Virginia

ABSTRACT Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) cause significant damage to many different crops and horticultural commodities in Virginia. However, little is known about the species diversity or impact of stink bug egg parasitoids in the state. A survey was conducted in 2005 and 2006 (May through September) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and several vegetable crops by collecting natural egg masses of various stink bug species and by monitoring sentinel egg masses. A total of 570 Euschistus servus (Say) eggs in 26 egg masses, 11,197 Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) eggs in 939 egg masses, 15 Podisus maculiventris (Say) eggs in 2 egg masses, and 546 Acrosternum hilare (Say) eggs in 18 egg masses were field collected and returned to the laboratory, where emerging parasitoids were identified to species. In addition, 2,512 laboratory-reared E. servus eggs and 230 P. maculiventris eggs were placed as sentinels into crop fields and collected after 7 d, and parasitoid or stink bug emergence was recorded. Four species of hymenopteran parasitoids in the family Scelionidae were recovered from stink bug eggs: Telenomus podisi Ashmead, Trissolcus basalis Wollaston, Trissolcus edessae Fouts, and Trissolcus euschisti Ashmead. In addition, one parasitoid in the family Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) was recovered. Parasitism rates were highest in E. servus with 89.7 and 49.2% of egg masses and individual eggs parasitized, respectively. The predominant parasitoid species was T. podisi.

Efficacy of insecticides against Acrosternum hilare and Euschistus servus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Virginia and North Carolina.

Laboratory bioassays and field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of selected organophosphate, pyrethroid, and neonicotinoid insecticides, as well as a chitin inhibitor, novaluron, against 2 common stink bug pests in Virginia, the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say), and the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say). Green bean dip bioassays revealed differences in insecticide susceptibility between the 2 species. Acrosternum hilare adults were highly susceptible to all pyrethroids tested, the organophosphates except acephate, and the neonicotinoids except acetamiprid. Acrosternum hilare nymphs were also susceptible to all pyrethroids tested. In general, the neonicotinoids, dinotefuran and clothianidin, were toxic to A. hilare, whereas thiamethoxam and acetamiprid were toxic to E. servus. In field trials in soybean, the neonicotinoids, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam were efficacious at controlling stink bugs and, in general, performed comparably to the organophosphates and py...

Predicting black light trap catch and flight activity of Acrosternum hilare (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) adults.

ABSTRACT A regression model was developed to predict the flight activity of Acrosternum hilare (Say) using data on the number of adults collected in a single black light trap located in Painter, VA, in the 18-yr period from 1990 to 2007. Eighteen initial weather variables, including cumulative precipitation over different time periods, mean monthly precipitation (PJA) and days below freezing (DFJA) from January to April, and mean monthly temperatures from December to April were tested in developing the regression model. Mixed (backward and forward) stepwise regression analysis showed that a two-variable model using PJA and DFJA was adequate for predicting the seasonal mean weekly number of A. hilare adults in the trap. Validation of the model using five independent black light trap data sets resulted in a strong correlation (r = 0.98) between observed and predicted mean weekly number of A. hilare adults caught in traps. Three peaks in flights of A. hilare adults were observed when mean trap catch was plotted over time for the 18-yr period. Peaks occurred at 319, 892, and 1,331 degree days (DD) from 1 January. Based on known developmental rates, the first peak was attributed to overwintered adults, the second to first-generation adults, and the third to a second generation of adults. This research suggests that A. hilare undergoes two complete generations in Virginia. Cumulative trap catch estimated from the 18-yr mean trap catch showed that 10, 50, and 90% of the total seasonal catch should occur by 153, 501, and 1,066 DD.

Toxicity, Feeding Preference, and Repellency Associated with Selected Organic Insecticides Against Acrosternum hilare, and Euschistus servus, (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

ARSTRACT Experiments were conducted to evaluate the toxicity, feeding preference, repellency, and field efficacy associated with the organic insecticides azadirachtin, pyrethrins, and spinosad against two stink bug species, Acrosternum hilare, (Say) and Euschistus servus, (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Laboratory toxicity bioassays were conducted using treated green bean pods. The conventional pyrethroid &lgr;-cyhalothrin was included for comparison. A. hilare, adults and nymphs were most susceptible to &lgr;-cyhalothrin and to tank mixes of pyrethrins + spinosad. E. servus, adults were susceptible to &lgr;-cyhalothrin, spinosad, and all tank mixes, whereas E. servus, nymphs were susceptible to &lgr;-cyhalothrin only. Feeding preference tests were conducted using insecticide-treated tomatoes and counting the number of feeding stylet sheaths on fruit after 24 h. All tomatoes treated with either azadirachtin, pyrethrins, or tank mixes resulted in fewer numbers of stylet sheaths than the untreated control, whereas treatment with spinosad alone did not. In filter paper repellency tests, both E. servus, and A. hilare, were repelled by pyrethrins and exhibited no response to azadirachtin. E. servus, was attracted to spinosad in comparison with a water-treated control; however, A. hilare, displayed no response. In field efficacy trials, each of the organic insecticides reduced the number of stink bugs in soybean, Glycine max, (L.) Merr., for up to 2 d after treatment; however, none of the insecticides reduced stink bug damage to fruit in tomatoes even after multiple applications. Implications for organic growers and integrated pest management programs are discussed.

Biology and Management of the Green Stink Bug

The green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say) \[ Chinavia hilaris (Say)\] (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is one of the most damaging native stink bug species in the United States. It is a pest of economic importance in a variety of commodities, including cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.), soybeans [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.], tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum L.), and peaches [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch].Stink bug feeding can result in cosmetic damage as well as reduced quality and yield. Acrosternum hilare and other stink bugs have become a major challenge to integrated pest management systems because control options are basically limited to the application of broad-spectrum insecticides such as organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids. However, neonicotinoids are generally effective for control of this stink bug and may be less disruptive to natural enemies. Further options for stink bug management that are being explored include the use of trap crops and enhancing beneficial parasitoid populations. The green stink bug is native and found throughout the United States. It has a wide host range, and is a pest of many agricultural commodities. The green stink bug can cause feeding injury to fruit, vegetable, and field crops that may require preventative management. Many strategies are available for its control, which include multiple chemical, cultural, and biological options. Broad-spectrum insecticides such as pyrethroids and organophosphates, as well as the less toxic neonicotinoids, are efficacious against the green stink bug. Cultural options, including trap cropping and the planting of resistant varieties, have been documented as decreasing crop injury by stink bugs. In addition, there are multiple natural enemies that reduce population numbers.

Seasonal Abundance and Phenology of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Different Pepper Cultivars in the Mid-Atlantic (United States)

Abstract The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) introduced into the United States in the mid-1990s. Since its initial establishment, it has spread throughout the east coast as far south as Georgia, and as far north as New Hampshire. While information is available regarding H. halys behavior and life history in some crops, relatively little information is available for vegetables such as peppers. Key questions include understanding when H. halys enters pepper fields to feed and how best to predict infestations, what population levels create economic damage, and if peppers that vary in capsaicin levels also vary in susceptibility to attack. To answer these questions, replicated plots were set up across four mid-Atlantic states using three types of peppers: sweet bell, sweet banana, and hot chili. We found that there was no difference in the overall abundance of all life stages of H. halys on all pepper varieties tested. However, there were differences in bug density by site, but these differences did not translate to differences in the proportion of damaged fruit. The presence of adult H. halys is a better predictor of damage in banana peppers, whereas nymphs are a better predictor in bell pepper. In addition, across all sites, the presence of egg masses was low in pepper crops and densities of both adults and immatures tend to peak on pepper plants in early August. Altogether, this information can be used to help develop a pest management program in peppers that will reduce crop losses to this new devastating pest, while reducing the reliance on insecticides to manage this pest at the same time.

Chemical Control of Potato Pests

Chemical control using natural and synthetic insecticides has been one of the most widely used pest management tactics in potato production for over a century. It will likely remain the base of pest management for the foreseeable future. In this chapter we review the history and pitfalls of insecticide use in potato production, and discuss strategies and novel insecticide chemistries that are available to growers today for control of Colorado potato beetle, potato psyllid, aphids, wireworms, potato tuberworm, and other pests.