Role of Host Plants in Population Dynamics of Stink Bug1Pests of Soybean in South Carolina2

Abstract

The seasonal abundance of the three most important stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) pests of soybean were studied weekly between 1977 and 1978 on both cultivated and uncultivated host plants by using a sweep-net. The sequence of black cherry, Prunus serotina Ehrhart, and elderberry, Sambucus canadensis L., in the study area allowed large populations of the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say), to develop before entering soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill. Populations of A. hilare in soybean peaked during September and early October. Fourteen other breeding hosts were identified but were considered unimportant. The control of black cherry and elderberry would drastically reduce the importance of A. hilare in soybean. Populations of the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), were sampled during the fruiting cycles of several hosts, including sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceous L., wheat, Triticum aestivale L., peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum L., vetch, Vicia spp., partridge pea, Cassia faseiculata Michaux, wild lettuce, Lactuca canadensis L., and horseweed, Erigeron canadensis L. The availability of preferred hosts throughout the season may account for comparatively low populations in soybean. Important hosts of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), were wild radish, Raphanus raphinistrum L., and wheat in spring; soybean, cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers, and showy crotalaria, Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, during summer and fall. Coffee senna, Cassia occidentalis L., was highly attractive to adults of both Acrosternum hilare and Nezara viridula . Several hosts of Thyanta accerra McAtee, T. calceata (Say), and Euschistus tristigmus (Say) were also identified. Mark-recapture studies showed that adult populations of Acrosternum hilare on black cherry and Euschistus servus on mullein, Verbascum thapsus L., frequently move among individual plants.