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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328500
Research Project: Ecology and Biologically-based Management Systems for Insect Pests in Agricultural Landscapes in the Southeastern Region

Location: Southeast Watershed Research

Title: Density and egg parasitism of stink bugs (hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in elderberry and dispersal into crops

Author
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item Cottrell, Ted

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/14/2016
Publication Date: 10/23/2016
Citation: Tillman, P.G., Cottrell, T.E. 2016. Density and egg parasitism of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in elderberry and dispersal into crops. Journal of Insect Science. 16:108. doi:10.1093/jisesa/iew091.

Interpretive Summary: Stink bugs are economic pests of cotton. Our specific objectives for this study were to determine if elderberry in woodland habitats serves as a source of stink bugs into crops alongside these habitats and to examine parasitization of naturally-occurring stink bug eggs on this non-crop host. Four species of stink bugs fed and developed into adults on elderberry, and seven species of parasites attacked stink bug eggs on this plant. As elderberry died and cotton fruit (i.e., bolls) became available, large nymphs and adults dispersed from elderberry into cotton based on the timing of presence of stink bugs in elderberry and cotton during this time period and stink bugs which had been marked in elderberry were recaptured in cotton. Over the 2-yr study, economic threshold (based on percentage internal boll damage) was reached for four of the seven cotton field plots. Thus, dispersal of stink bugs from elderberry into cotton can result in economic damage to this crop. Elimination of elderberry in woodland habitats adjacent to cotton may be a viable biologically-based management tactic for control of stink bug populations in this crop.

Technical Abstract: Chinavia hilaris (Say), Euschistus servus (Say), E. tristigmus (Say), and Thyanta custator custator (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are serious pests of crops in the southeastern USA, but little is known concerning the dispersal of these stink bugs from non-crop host plants in woodland habitats into crops. This study was conducted to investigate whether elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis [L.] R. Bolli) in woodland habitats serves as a source of stink bugs into crops alongside these habitats and to examine parasitism of naturally-occurring C. hilaris and E. servus eggs on this non-crop host. Elderberry was a reproductive host plant for C. hilaris, E. servus, E. tristigmus, and T. c. custator, for females oviposited on plants and subsequent nymphs fed on elderberry and developed into adults. Anastatus mirabilis (Walsh & Riley), A. reduvii, and Trissolcus edessae Fouts (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were the prevalent egg parasitoids of C. hilaris in elderberry. Anastatus reduvii (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) was the most prevalent egg parasitoid of E. servus. As elderberry senesced and cotton fruit became available, late instars and adults dispersed from elderberry into cotton based on the timing of presence of stink bugs in elderberry and cotton during this time period and recapture of elderberry-marked stink bugs in cotton. Over the 2-yr study, economic threshold (based on percentage internal boll damage) was reached for four of the seven cotton field plots. Thus, dispersal of stink bugs from elderberry into cotton can result in economic damage to this crop. Elimination of elderberry in woodland habitats adjacent to cotton may be a viable biologically-based management tactic for control of stink bug populations in this crop.