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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341861
Research Project: Improved Biologically-Based Tactics to Manage Invasive Insect Pests and Weeds

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: IPM of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) using trap and refuge crops within tomato fields in North Florida

Author
item GORDON, TAVIA - Florida A & M University
item HASEEB, MUHAMMAD - Florida A & M University
item KANGA, LAMBERT - Florida A & M University
item Legaspi, Jesusa

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Southern Green Stink Bug (SGSB), Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a serious insect pest of tomatoes and numerous vegetable and fruit plants in north Florida. We evaluated three trap crops and three refuge crops to investigate their potential to be used for IPM (Integrated Pest Management) of N. viridula. The experimental trap crops were composed of striped sunflower, WGF (Wild Grain Feed) sorghum and brown top millet; the refuge crops were three varieties (var: carpet of snow, royal carpet and tall white) of sweet alyssum. The trap crops were grown on the periphery of tomato fields to attract adults of the SGSBs. The refuge crops were planted close to tomato fields to attract and conserve biological control agents. Among the three trap crops, stinkbugs recorded on sorghum had the highest number of adults compared to the two other trap crops examined. Other hemipteran pests were also recorded on both sorghum and sunflower. During the sampling, millet plants did not yield any adults of N. viridula. Carpet of snow was the most effective refuge crop as it had attracted the highest number and most species of natural enemies among the refuge crops. In addition, approximately 80% of stinkbugs collected from sorghum were parasitized by the natural enemy Trichopoda pennipes. This study confirms the application potential of selected trap and refuge crops for IPM of N. viridula on tomatoes in north Florida.