Bean plataspid (Hemiptera: Plataspididae: Megacopta cribraria)

John TookerPenn State University

University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental

SciencesMegacopta Working Group

University of GeorgiaGeorgia Dept of AgricultureEmory UniversityUSDA Forest ServiceUSDA-ARSUSDA-APHIS-PPQClemson UniversityNC State UniversityNC Dept of AgricultureWingate UniversityVirginia TechAuburn UniversityDow AgroScienceUniversity of FloridaFlorida Dept of AgricultureMississippi State UniversityMississoppi Dept of AgricultureTennessee Dept of AgricultureUniversity of Tennessee

Wayne A. Gardner, ProfessorDepartment of EntomologyUniversity of GeorgiaGriffin CampusGriffin, Georgia

Halyomorpha halys (Stål), (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Plataspididae: Old World family (mostly tropical/subtropical)• Megacopta cribraria is only family member in N. America

Bean plataspid (Hemiptera: Plataspididae: Megacopta cribraria)

Identification:• Scutellum: broader along bottom than it is along \top, and much wider than it is long.• Tarsi are 2-segmented • Round shape, not rather than triangular to semi-elliptical body shape of other stink bugs • Distinctive head shape. • Size: ⅙ to ¼” (3.5 - 6 mm long)

Shield-backed bugs

Scutelleridae

Symphylus sp. Diolcus sp.

Diolcus species (Scutelleridae)

Diolcus: head's lateral lobes of are separated ; Diolcus 2nd antennal segment is longerMegacopta: lobes are contiguous, touch at the nose end.

Kudzu bug (Plataspididae)

Family Plataspididae (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea)

Bean plataspid = kudzu bug

• A type of “stink bug” or “shield bug”

• Defensive chemical emission

• Strong smell

• Noticeable to some

• Smells like natural gas, cucumbers

• Can cause an occasional skin rash

Family Plataspididae (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea)

Lifecycle:• 2-2.5 gens in GA• Adults overwinter (under bark or in leaf litter) • Fly to kudzu or early planted soybeans (can fly to homes)• When soybeans senesce, 2nd generation can be nuisance pests

Jeremy Greene, Clemson University

Eggs masses on kudzuplant stipules

Phillip Roberts, University of Georgia John Ruberson, University of Georgia

Family Plataspididae (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea)

Development of Megacopta cribraria

First Instars

Third instar Fourth instar

Fifth instar

• 15 eggs per mass (females: 26-274 eggs)• First instar consume symbiont capsules• Five nymphal instars

Development of Megacopta cribraria

Symbiotic capsules

Symbiotic capsules

Initial Discovery, October 2009

• Samples sent to UGA Diagnostics Lab• 28 Oct 2009: Jackson Co, 1000s of adult

kudzubugs on homes

• Kudzu with adults, late-instar nymphs)• Adults seeking overwintering• Confirmed in 9 counties covering 7050

km2

Images by and courtesy of Daniel R. Suiter & Lisa Ames (University of Georgia) & Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, UGA (www.insectimages.org)

Range Expansion2009 - 2013

Area Infested by Year:2010: 13x increase2011: 27x 2012: 29x

Confirmed in 12 states:• Alabama• Delaware• Florida• Georgia• Louisiana• Maryland• Mississippi• North Carolina• Kentucky• South Carolina• Tennessee• Virginia

Closest populations to PA

2011 Confirmed

2012 Confirmed

2013 Confirmed

Origin of Kudzu bug

Native Range: Southeast Asia, China, Japan, India, northern Australian, Malaysia, etc..

Genetic comparisons: Japan is source

Mode of introductionIs unclear

Reported Host Plants in Expanded Range

LegumesKudzuSoybeanPigeon PeaAmerican WisteriaChinese WisteriaJapanese WisteriaLima BeanPole/String/Green BeanLablab BeanAmerican YellowwoodLespedezaPeanutCrimson CloverCloverAlfalfaSicklepodBlack Locust

Non-Legumes

AlligatorweedBlack WillowBananaCockleburCottonFigLoquatMuscadine GrapePecanPine TreesPotatoSatsuma MandarinTangerineWax MyrtleWheatWild Blackberry

Images courtesy of Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, UGAwww.insectimages.org

Host Preference Testing

Choice and No-Choice Preference Testing in 2012 conducted by UGA

No adult or nymph feeding:Peanut, Snap bean, Pinto bean, Winter pea

Some adult feeding:Lima bean, Black bean, Black-eyed pea, Azuki bean, Lablab, Mung bean

Reproductive HostsSoybean, Kudzu (maybe Wisteria)

Distribution of kudzu

Kudzu bug as a Biocontrol agent for kudzu?

Reduced kudzu biomass by: • 33% in 1 year• 50% over 2 years

Other plants appear in kudzu patches after 2-3 yr• Reduced competition

Impact of kudzu bug on soybean

Yield loss: ~20% (0%-60%) • Untreated beans in 25 tests

in GA

Indirect injury causes reduction in seeds per pod and seed weight.

Infestations are higher in field edges.

Impact of kudzu bug on soybean

Location of bugs on soybeans:

• Eggs laid on leaves (or pods)

• Nymphs and adults feed mostly

on stems

• Occasionally on petioles and

undersides of leaves

• Rarely seen feeding on pods

Also decreases yield of ediblebeans but no details available

Kudzu bug Management in Soybean

Risk & planting Date: • April > May > June > July

Threshold: One nymph per sweep (single application may be sufficient to eliminate yield loss)

Easily killed with insecticides, but re-infestation occurs quickly• Endigo (λ cyhalothrin,

thiamethoxam) and Brigade (bifenthrin) perform best

Impact of Adult Feeding on Non-reproductive Hosts

Large numbers of adults found on American Wisteria before leaf out.

• Adult feeding clearly affects the vine when leafed out.

• No egg-laying found (some reports of nymphs)

Green beans: Adults can be found on plants• Like in soybeans, they do not feed on pods• Thus far, no evidence of yield loss• Contamination in fresh produce?

Nuisance Pest• Urban areas, abundance and

activityof adults, staining, odor

• Smell of natural gas (do not call 911)

• Adults attracted to light-colored surfaces but NOT to lights

• They do not overwinter in homes

Other impacts of kudzu bug

Localized Skin Reactions• Some individuals are

sensitive• Usually folks that deal

with big pops.• Chemical does not burn

through screens

Kudzu bug as a nuisance pest

Homeowner often call pest control operators

Alpine: Excellent knockdown and residual control of adults up to 48 hours on treated surfaces• a.i. = dinotefuran

• Neonic labeled for indoor use, tree fruit, leafy vegetables, etc.

Kudzu bug in international trade

February 2012 • 7 dead kudzu bugs adults in the

container of poultry meat products from Georgia.

• 2 dead adults in a container of live eggs

Honduran Servicio de Proteccion Agropecuaria• Agricultural protection service• Halted all ag. imports from GA, AL, SC &

NC

Honduras

March 2012:Eased restrictions to begin inspecting and unloading individual containers • Continue to inspect 10% of arriving

containers at ports in Central America.

Kudzu bug in international trade

Airline Travel:

• Live adults found in passenger compartments of jets

leaving Atlanta

• Dead adults have been intercepted in luggage

compartments

• Delta try hard to keep them out of planes

Potential for Biological ControlSome generalist predators attack upon nymphs and adults, but impact is mimimal.

Entomogenous fungus Beauveria bassiana found naturally infecting adults.

No known nymphal or adult parasitoids

Paratelenomus saccharalis(Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

Best candidate for importation: Egg parasitoid Paratelenomus saccharalis• Wide distribution in native range

(Japan)• High host specificity• Currently in quarantine in

Stoneville• Release permit was in development

• Has since been found across the south

Potential Range Expansion

Will kudzu bug expand its range to match soybean and/or kudzu?

Kudzu Distribution by County

Soybean Yield per Harvest Acre by County

Potential Range Expansion

Using correlative niche modeling, high potential for invasion in these shaded areas of U.S. and World.• Annual mean temperature• annual temperature range• Temperature seasonality• Precipitation seasonality• Solar radiation levels,• Topographic elevation

Did not account of presence of reproductive host plants.

(Zhu et al. 2012)

http://www.kudzubug.org

• University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health