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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411160
Research Project: Novel Approaches for Managing Key Pests of Peach and Pecan

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Friend or Foe? Beneficial and Pest Stink Bugs

Author
item Cottrell, Ted

Submitted to: Pecan South
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The predaceous stink bugs are important predators of many pests of pecan and contribute significantly to the overall biological control potential that natural enemies provide. A key morphological difference resides in the robustness of the straw-like mouthparts. Herbivorous stink bugs typically have mouthparts of similar thickness as their antennae. In contrast, the mouthparts of predaceous stink bugs are more robust with the thickness being about twice that of the antennae. The ability to identify pest versus beneficial, not just for stink bugs but all insects associated with pecan increases our understanding of the natural systems at work in pecan orchards.