Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415099
Research Project: Insect Control and Resistance Management in Corn, Cotton, Sorghum, Soybean, and Sweet Potato, and Alternative Approaches to Tarnished Plant Bug Control in the Southern United States

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: Natural incidence of Beaveria bassianna as biological control agent of tarnished plant bug and stink bugs in Mississippi Delta

Author
item Portilla, Maribel
item Du, Yuzhe - Cathy
item Glover, James
item Reddy, Gadi V.P.

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The southern green stink bug (SGSB), and tarnished plant bug are invasive insects responsible for reducing production in soybean and cotton. Losses may vary depending on their population levels, efficacy of insecticides, and environmental conditions. Globally, is well known the high resistance of these pests to pyrethroids and organophosphates, yet chemical control remains the primary tool to manage these insects in most of the southern states of the U.S., and tropical and subtropical zones in five continents. The entomopathogenic fungi B. Bassiana is well recognized as an essential source of myco-pesticides and is one of the most common pathogens that occur naturally that could contribute to building a sustainable environment. B. bassiana could be considered a potential non-chemical approach to be adopted for use in the integrated management of the southern green stink bug or stink bug complex.

Technical Abstract: The stink bug complex (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and the tarnished plant bug (TPB) Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are the most significant pests of soybean and cotton worldwide. Over 14,000 adults of TPB and 20,000 nymphs and adults of the stink bug complex were collected in 12 counties of MS Delta. B. bassiana infection ranged from 2 to 33% for TPB adults. The natural infection of B. bassiana on stink bug populations reached >7% for Oebalus pugnax, >4% for Nezara viridula and Piezodorus guildinii, mainly in 4th and 5th instars. Low levels of natural infection (<1%) were found for Euschistus servus, Chinavia hilaris, Thyanta custator, and Podisus maculiventris. The highest incidence of B. b. was found in Yazoo County, where kudzu plants are growing on the edges of fields and border of water canals. In general, the seasonal distribution of B. bassiana mainly tends to be high from April to August. It coincides with the highest population level of TPB and July to September for the stink bug complex.