Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Entomology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) is an invasive stink bug species that was first documented as a soybean pest in Louisiana during the year 2000. This species continues to expand northward in the MidSouth but information is lacking on its biology and ecology in the U.S. In order to determine P. guildinii’s northern range, studies were designed to investigate the cold tolerance ability of this species. The mean supercooling points of adult P. guildinii ranged from highest -8.3 ± 0.2°C in March to the lowest of -11.0 ± 0.2°C in January. Evaluation of lethal exposure time (LT50) and (LT90) at subzero temperatures of 0°C, -2°C, and -5°C respectively showed that this insect had high mortality due to chill injury at these temperatures. Winter survival under field conditions was significantly different in two years of the study as mortality increased with progression of winter months. Next, in order to determine spring bridging hosts, field studies were conducted to evaluate the preference of P. guildinii to six leguminous cover crops. Our study showed that crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum (L.) and white clover, Trifolium repens (L.) are the preferred spring hosts as well as being the main reproductive host plants of P. guildinii. These hosts are therefore important linking hosts leading to P. guildinii infestation into soybean production field in Louisiana. In order to predict recolonization of soybean fields after spray applications, studies were conducted on P. guildinii movement. The dispersion of adult and nymph stink bugs was monitored using protein marking via the mark-captured method. Protein marking was a viable option which provided direct proof of insect movement. The adult P. guildinii dispersed up to 137 m along and 15.3 m across the soybean rows. Evidence of dispersion of nymphs up to 122 m along and 11.7 m across the soybean rows was also documented.

Date

11-9-2017

Committee Chair

Davis, Jeffrey A.

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.4147

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Entomology Commons

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