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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341865
Research Project: Improved Biologically-Based Tactics to Manage Invasive Insect Pests and Weeds

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Integrated pest management of the southern green stinkbug, Nezara viridula on tomato crop using trap and refuge crops

Author
item HASEEB, MUHAMMAD - Florida A & M University
item GORDON, TAVIA - Florida A & M University
item Legaspi, Jesusa
item KANGA, LAMBERT - Florida A & M University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Southern Green Stinkbug, Nezara viridula (L.) Hemiptera: Pentatomidae is a serious insect pest of tomato crop in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The green stinkbug is difficult to control with currently available insecticides on the market. In this study we investigated the potential use of three trap crops and three varieties of refuge crops in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for N. viridula on tomatoes during two growing seasons. The experimental trap crops were striped sunflower (Helianthus annuus), wild game feed sorghum, (Sorghum bicolor) and millet (brown top millet Panicum ramosum in 2014; pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum in 2015). The refuge crops were three varieties of sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima (carpet of snow, royal carpet and tall white). Among the three trap crops, the number of stink bugs collected from wild game feed sorghum exceeded the cumulative number from sunflower and none were collected from either species of millet. Sorghum attracted a statistically significant higher number of adults compared to other trap crops, however, both sunflower and sorghum served as host plants for N. viridula. In addition, 82 % of stink bugs collected from sorghum were parasitized by Trichopoda pennipes, a natural enemy of late instar nymphs and adult stages of N. viridula. Although fewer stink bugs were found on sunflower, the sunflower was found to be a good source of other natural enemies and pollinators, and also attracted a significantly higher number of the brown stink bug Euschistus servus (another hemipteran pest). While this study demonstrated the effectiveness of sorghum to control N. viridula, we recommend that sorghum be planted with another trap crop preferably sunflower to increase the preventive control factor. Among refuge crops, all varieties of Lobularia maritima attracted natural enemies. The carpet of snow variety attracted the greatest diversity of natural enemies of insect pests. The tall white variety was also very effective in attracting Geocoris punctipes in tomato crop. The population of N. viridula was significantly lower in the experimental plots than in the control, indicating that trap cropping and refuge cropping may be effective management tools for N. viridula in a tomato cropping system. The results of this field study confirmed the potential of selected trap crops and refuge crops for IPM of N. viridula on tomato crops in north Florida.