title: Influence of corn on stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in subsequent crops.
abstract: In southeastern United States farmscapes, corn, Zea mays L., is often closely associated with peanut, (Arachis hypogaea L.), cotton, (Gossypium hirsutum L.), or both. The objective of this 3-yr on-farm study was to examine the influence of corn on stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae),  Nezara viridula (L.), and Euschistus servus (Say), in subsequent crops in these farmscapes. Adults of both stink bug species entered corn first, and seasonal occurrence of stink bug eggs, nymphs, and adults indicated that corn was a suitable host plant for adult survival and nymphal development  to adults. Stink bug females generally oviposited on cotton or peanut near the interface, or common boundary, of the farmscape before senescence of corn, availability of a new food, or both. Adult stink bugs dispersed from crop to crop at the interface of a farmscape in response to senescence  of corn, availability of new food, or both. In corn-cotton farmscapes, adult stink bugs dispersed from senescing corn into cotton to feed on bolls (fruit). In corn-peanut farmscapes, adult stink bugs dispersed from senescing corn into peanut, which apparently played a role in  nymphal development in these farmscapes. In the corn-cotton-peanut farmscape, stink bug nymphs and adults dispersed from peanut into cotton in response to newly available food, not senescence of peanut. Stink bug dispersal into cotton resulted in severe boll damage. In conclusion,  N. viridula and E. servus are generalist feeders that exhibit edge-mediated dispersal from corn into subsequent adjacent crops in corn-cotton, corn-peanut, and corn-peanut-cotton farmscapes to take advantage of suitable resources available in time and space for  oviposition, nymphal development, and adult survival. Management strategies for crops in this region need to be designed to break the cycle of stink bug production, dispersal, and expansion by exploiting their edge-mediated movement and host plant preferences.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Crop Protection and Management Research Laboratory, Tifton, GA 31793, USA. glynn.tillman@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Tillman
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis / Q000469:parasitology*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D003368:Gossypium / Q000469:parasitology*; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000502:physiology*; D058507:Host Specificity; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development; D010058:Oviposition; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000469:parasitology*