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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330777
Research Project: Ecology and Biologically-based Management Systems for Insect Pests in Agricultural Landscapes in the Southeastern Region

Location: Southeast Watershed Research

Title: Population census of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in kudzu in Georgia, USA, 2013-2016

Author
item GARDNER, WAYNE - University Of Georgia
item Olson, Dawn

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2016
Publication Date: 11/13/2016
Citation: Gardner, W., Olson, D.M. 2016. Population census of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in kudzu in Georgia, USA, 2013-2016. Journal of Entomological Science. 51(4):325-328. https://doi.org/10.18474/JES16-29.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18474/JES16-29.1

Interpretive Summary: Since its invasion in 2009 in the SE USA, the bean plataspid or kudzu bug, has become an agricultural pest of soybean initiating studies to determine potential biological control agents. We determined fungal infection rates of overwintering adult kudzu bugs at 4 kudzu patches in southern GA and 3 kudzu patches in northern Georgia, and kudzu bug and predator population densities from 2013 through 2016 in southern Georgia. Kudzu bug adults, nymphs and eggs decreased over the years. The area of kudzu in the patches also decreased over the years at all sites and in 2016 was reduced by approximately 80% from that present in 2013. Predator density, mainly spiders and lady bugs, was low throughout all sites over the 4 years. Kudzu bug fungal infection rates were higher in specimens found under tree bark than those found in the soil and ranged from 73% to 98%.The kudzu bug had a relatively large effect (80% reduction) on reducing kudzu at all sites over the 4 years. As kudzu bug declines, primarily from the fungal pathogen the kudzu is beginning to rebound. It is possible that an equilibrium between the fungus, bug and the plant over time will keep bug and kudzu densities low. Releases of an exotic egg parasitoid in kudzu is another potential option should the kudzu bug population increase at these sites.

Technical Abstract: Kudzu bug populations, predators, and parasitoid and fungal infection rates in 7 kudzu patches were censused from 2013 through 2016 in north-central and southern Georgia. Within these sites, the terminal growth where most eggs are oviposited of 25 randomly selected kudzu vines at the patch edge, from 0-10 m into the patch, were cut and placed in individual bags for transport to the laboratory. Egg masses were counted per sample cutting and incubated for two weeks to determine status as ’parasitized’, ‘normal eclosion’, or ‘infertile or embryo mortality’. Sampling of adults and nymphs on the sampling date was accomplished by taking a 20-sweep sample per site and recording all kudzu bugs per sample by development stage (adults or 1st-5th instars). Infection rates of overwintering adults were estimated in the soil of the kudzu patch and under bark of nearby trees in 2016. Kudzu bug adults, nymphs and eggs decreased over the 4 years. No egg parasitoid were recovered in the kudzu in 2015 in north Georgia and in 2016 at all sites. Predator density was low over the 4 years. Infection rates of adults ranged from 73-98% under the bark of trees.