Dispersal Pattern and Dispersion of Adult and Nymph Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Wheat and Corn

Abstract

Euschistus servus (Say) can develop a generation on wheat, Triticum aestivum L., before moving to corn, Zea mays L., where it can be a pest. Because effective management methods are unknown, this study sought to describe the spatial distribution and dispersal of E. servus in the wheat and corn interface. In addition, Oebalus pugnax (F.) densities were documented in both crops. Wheat fields adjacent to the corn were sampled before harvest and stink bugs were marked using a product containing egg whites. Dispersal into the adjacent corn was measured using grid sampling, and dispersion was measured over time using an immunoassay targeting egg albumin on E. servus collected in corn. Dispersion was measured using Anselin Local Moran's I for unmarked stink bugs only. O. pugnax was prominent in wheat but was rarely recovered from corn. In contrast, E. servus was common in wheat during both years and dispersed into the adjacent corn. E. servus nymph and adult densities increased quadratically over time in corn in 2011. In contrast, E. servus nymph densities decreased over time in corn in 2012, while adult densities remained static. Most aggregations of E. servus nymphs and adults were located on the edge of the corn, directly adjacent to the harvested wheat. This is likely the first study to directly document the movement of E. servus nymphs to the adjacent crop. Movement from wheat to corn was not consistent between the years and may have been influenced by factors such as variations in weather, timing of wheat harvest, or other available alternative hosts.

Contrasting Role of Temperature in Structuring Regional Patterns of Invasive and Native Pestilential Stink Bugs

“…On the other hand, spatial structures arising due to due to biotic processes are expected to occur at medium to fine spatial scales [ 5 , 54 , 67 – 69 ]. The lack of spatial patterns at fine scales suggests that the influence of biotic processes such as semio-chemical aggregation [ 40 ] or dispersal [ 49 , 50 , 70 ] on the abundances of H . halys and the native stink bugs may be localized (fine scales).…”

Scientific Opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of plant protection products for non‐target arthropods

“…Movement from wheat to maize was not consistent between the years and may have been influenced by factors such as variations in weather, timing of wheat harvest or other available alternative hosts (Reisig et al, 2013).…”

Ecosystem-Based Incorporation of Nectar-Producing Plants for Stink Bug Parasitoids

“…Crop-to-crop dispersal of stink bug species has been reported for many cropping systems [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Although these studies are based on seasonal abundance or spatial distribution of stink bugs in adjoining crops, three mark-recapture studies have demonstrated direct movement of stink bugs from one crop to another [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. For native species, as well as H. halys , stink bugs exhibit a pronounced edge effect during dispersal in crops [ 24 , 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

“…Although these studies are based on seasonal abundance or spatial distribution of stink bugs in adjoining crops, three mark-recapture studies have demonstrated direct movement of stink bugs from one crop to another [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. For native species, as well as H. halys , stink bugs exhibit a pronounced edge effect during dispersal in crops [ 24 , 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Previous studies have indicated that stink bug adults move from non-crop host plants into nearby crop field edges [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”