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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174182
Title: Influence of Soybean Planting Date and Maturity Group on Population Growth of Stink Bugs

Author
item Gore, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2006
Publication Date: 4/1/2006
Citation: Gore, J. 2006. Influence of Soybean Planting Date and Maturity Group on Population Growth of Stink Bugs. Environmental Entomology. 35:531-536.

Interpretive Summary: Field experiments were conducted in Stoneville, MS to determine the impact of soybean planting date and maturity group on stink bug populations. Maturity group IV and V soybeans were planted at three planting dates that represent the ranges of normal planting dates for soybeans in the mid-South. Plots were sampled weekly with a sweep net and the numbers of stink bugs were counted. In general, soybeans planted during April had the fewest stink bugs; while, soybeans planted in June had the highest numbers of stink bugs. Soybeans planted in May had stink bug infestation levels that were intermediate to those observed on soybeans planted in April and June. In addition, early maturing group IV varieties had fewer stink bugs than later maturing group V varieties. Results from this experiment demonstrate that early maturing soybean varieties planted early will escape intense stink bug pressure.

Technical Abstract: Stink bugs are an important pest of soybeans in the southern U.S. Recently, there has been a change in soybean production. Historically, maturity group V soybeans were planted in late May and early June; however, the majority of soybeans planted in Mississippi during recent years have been maturity group IV soybeans planted in April and early May. Consequently, early planted group IV's mature earlier in the year than the group V's. Therefore, the objective of current research is to determine the impact this change has had on stink bug populations. Maturity group IV and V soybeans were planted at three times (late April, mid May, and early June) during 2003 and 2004. Plots were sampled weekly and the numbers of stink bugs were counted. Stink bugs never reached economically damaging levels in the April plantings of both maturity groups. For the mid May planting date, stink bugs exceeded damage thresholds in both maturity groups; however, populations were approximately two-fold higher in the group V soybeans. The highest stink bug densities were observed in the June plantings of both maturity groups. In conclusion, early maturing soybeans escape damaging levels of stink bugs, while late maturing soybeans have the greatest risk for injury.