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Title: Trap cropping systems and a physical barrier for suppression of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Cotton

Author
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item Khrimian, Ashot
item Cottrell, Ted
item MIZELL, R - University Of Florida
item Johnson, Wiley - Carroll

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/6/2015
Publication Date: 7/28/2015
Citation: Tillman, P.G., Khrimian, A., Cottrell, T.E., Mizell, R.F., Johnson, W.C. 2015. Trap cropping systems and a physical barrier for suppression of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology. doi:10.1093/jee/tov217.

Interpretive Summary: The southern green stink bug, the brown stink bug, and the green stink bug are serious economic pests of cotton. Because stink bug adults disperse into cotton at crop-to-crop field edges, strategic placement of a trap cropping system at these field edges potentially can manage these pests. The overall objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multifunctional habitat which included a combination of a soybean trap crop, a nectar-producing plant, and stink bug pheromone-baited traps, for managing stink bugs in cotton at peanut-cotton interfaces. In 2010, a soybean trap crop was effective in stopping dispersal of each stink bug species into cotton. Pheromone traps captured stink bugs in this soybean trap crop. In 2011, the multifunctional trap cropping system was as effective in protecting cotton from stink bugs as a physical barrier wall. In 2012, this trapping system proved to be more effective in protecting cotton from stink bugs than soybean, either alone or in combination with pheromone traps or buckwheat. Adult stink bug parasitoids fed on nectar of flowering buckwheat, and adding this plant into the trap crop increased the effectiveness of a parasite attacking eggs of brown stink bugs in cotton. In conclusion, the multifunctional trap cropping system effectively deterred dispersal of stink bugs into cotton, captured and killed stink bugs in the trap crop, and provided nectar to stink bug parasites and insect pollinators.

Technical Abstract: Nezara viridula (L.), Euschistus servus (Say), and Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) are economic pests of cotton in peanut-cotton farmscapes in the southeastern USA. Because stink bug adults exhibit edge-mediated dispersal at crop-to-crop interfaces as they colonize cotton, strategic placement of a trap cropping system at these interfaces potentially could manage these pests. The overall objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multifunctional habitat, i.e., a combination of a soybean trap crop, a nectar-producing plant, and stink bug pheromone-baited traps, at the peanut-cotton interface for managing stink bugs in cotton. In 2010, soybean effectively deterred dispersal of each stink bug species from or across peanut into cotton. Pheromone traps more effectively captured stink bugs in combination with fruiting soybean than as stand-alone traps. In 2011, the multifunctional trap cropping system was as effective in deterring stink bugs as a physical barrier wall. In 2012, this trapping system proved to be more effective in protecting cotton from stink bugs than soybean, either alone or in combination with pheromone traps or buckwheat. Adult stink bug parasitoids fed on nectar of flowering buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), and incorporation of this nectar-producing plant increased the efficacy of Telenomus podisi Ashmead attacking sentinel eggs of E. servus in cotton. In conclusion, the multifunctional trap cropping system effectively deterred dispersal of stink bugs into cotton, captured and killed stink bugs in the trap crop, and provided nectar to stink bug parasitoids and insect pollinators.