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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #318359
Title: Parasitism of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae)by Paratelenomus saccharalis (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in organic soybean plots in Georgia, USA

Author
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item GASKIN, JULIA - University Of Georgia
item Endale, Dinku
item Johnson, Wiley - Carroll
item Schomberg, Harry

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2016
Citation: Tillman, P.G., Gaskin, J., Endale, D.M., Johnson, W.C., Schomberg, H.H. 2016. Parasitism of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae)by Paratelenomus saccharalis (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in organic soybean plots in Georgia, USA. Florida Entomologist. 99(2):300-302.

Interpretive Summary: The kudzu bug is a newly-invasive exotic pest of soybean in the southeastern US. In 2013, an exotic egg parasite was discovered parasitizing eggs of this pest in kudzu and soybean in three states in this region of the US. In this study, the number kudzu bug eggs was higher in conventional tillage soybean than in no-till soybean on weeks 2 through 5 for the 7 wk period kudzu bug egg were detected on soybean plants. Percent parasitism of kudzu bug eggs by the egg parasite was significantly higher in conventional tillage plots (58.4%) than in no-till plots (44.9%). In general, parasitism rates were higher in conventional tillage soybean where kudzu bug egg density was higher.

Technical Abstract: The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is a newly-invasive exotic pest of soybean in the southeastern US. In 2013, the exotic egg parasitoid Paratelenomus saccharalis (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) (Dodd) was discovered parasitizing eggs of this pest in kudzu and soybean in three states in this region of the US. In this study, M. cribraria egg density and percent parasitism of eggs by P. saccharalis were influenced by tillage in organic soybean plots. Density of M. cribraria eggs was significantly higher in conventional tillage plots than in no-till plots on weeks 2 through 5 for the 7 wk period kudzu bug egg were detected on soybean plants. Percent parasitism of M. cribraria eggs by P. saccharalis was significantly higher in conventional tillage plots (58.4%) than in no-till plots (44.9%). In general, parasitism rates were higher in conventional tillage soybean where M. cribraria egg density was higher.