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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334663
Research Project: Integrated Insect Pest and Resistance Management on Corn, Cotton, Sorghum, Soybean, and Sweet Potato

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: First report of soybean pest, Euschistus quadrator (Hempitera: pentatomidae) in Mississippi

Author
item Blackman, Bryce
item Allen, Clint
item Jones, Walker
item Little, Nathan
item Grodowitz, Michael
item Luttrell, Randall

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2016
Publication Date: 3/1/2017
Citation: Blackman, B.D., Allen, K.C., Jones, W.A., Little, N., Grodowitz, M.J., Luttrell, R.G. 2017. First report of soybean pest, Euschistus quadrator (Hempitera: pentatomidae) in Mississippi. Florida Entomologist. 100(1):192-194. doi:10.1653/024.100.0132.

Interpretive Summary: Intensive late-season sampling of soybean fields in the Stoneville, MS, area resulted in the collection of a previously undocumented stink bug pest, Euchistus quadrator, in the state. This scientific note documents the discovery of the insect and provides a literature review documenting the range expansion and host plants for the pest. The primary host plants for this member of the lesser brown stink bug complex are cotton and soybean. This stink bug may be confused with the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus,and the predatory stink bug, Podisus maculiventris, which are also commonly found on the same host plants. The authors provide tips for distinguishing between the insects and discuss the importance of this find in a major cotton and soybean production areas of Mississippi.

Technical Abstract: Here we report on the first state and county record of Euschistus quadrator Ralston (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Washington County, Mississippi. The species has been documented from Honduras to Virginia primarily on soybeans, cotton, various row crops, fruit, and non-crop hosts. The local impact on agricultural crops in the area is unknown. The lack of E. quadrator sightings in Mississippi compared to the frequency it is mentioned in literature in Louisiana is of interest. Weather patterns may have contributed to their range expansion. Future efforts to educate growers and consultants on identifying key characteristics of the various Euschistus species common in the southeast US may reveal an even larger expansion of range of E. quadrator in the state and region.