Stink Bugs: Spatial Distribution, Pecan Phenological Susceptibility and Sampling Program Brian Cowell University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
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University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 12-2015 Stink Bugs: Spatial Distribution, Pecan Phenological Susceptibility and Sampling Program Brian Cowell University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Botany Commons, and the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Cowell, Brian, "Stink Bugs: Spatial Distribution, Pecan Phenological Susceptibility and Sampling Program" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1354. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1354 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Stink Bugs: Spatial Distribution, Pecan Phenological Susceptibility and Sampling Program A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology By Brian Daniel Cowell College of the Ozarks Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2008 Missouri State University Masters of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2011 December 2015 University of Arkansas This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the graduate council. Dr. Donn Johnson Dissertation Director Dr. Elena Garcia Dr. Russell Mizell Committee Member Committee Member Dr. Fred M. Stephen Dr. Robert Wiedenmann Committee Member Committee Member ABSTRACT An effective management program for stink bugs (SBs) in pecan groves requires knowledge of: stages of the pecans susceptible to SB damage; strata of the tree with SB damaged nuts; a practical SB monitoring method; and, effects of landscapes contributing SBs into pecan groves. Stink bugs produced feeding punctures in pecan shucks at all phenological stages. Pecans punctured before the dough stage drop from the tree. Kernel damage occurs in the pecans’ dough stage, whereas mature pecans are not damaged. The pecans collected from the whole tree using the tree shaker had significantly less punctures than the pecans collected from lower limbs. Stink bug feeding damage occurred more in the lower pecan canopy than the middle or upper canopy. Pecans collected in late-September near harvest had significantly more SB punctures and damage in the lower strata of the pecan trees than the middle or the upper strata. The SB counts were compared from four SB monitoring methods (baited yellow pyramid traps, UV-light traps, visual surveys and canopy knock-down sprays). The most practical method for pecan growers was the baited yellow pyramid trap. Yellow pyramid traps baited with Euschistus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) aggregation pheromone were used to monitor movement of SBs from adjacent landscapes to pecan groves. SB trap counts were compared to percentages of SB punctured or damaged pecans. The grove center acted as a refuge for SBs. The forest tree line and soybean landscape contributed more SBs to a pecan grove than other landscapes. The number of SBs or percentages of SB punctured nuts did not equate to percentages of SB damaged nuts. SB damaged nuts remained relatively low until the water stage. I suggested using baited yellow pyramid traps for making SB pest management decisions during susceptible water through dough pecan nut stages. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the many people who have helped and supported me throughout my research and made this dissertation possible. First of all I’d like to thank my advisor, Dr. Donn T. Johnson, for his endless guidance, patience and editorial reviews through this dissertation project, and assistance in the field during the collection of stink bugs and pecans. I would also like to thank the members of my committee: Dr. Donn Johnson, Dr. Elena Garcia, Dr. Russell Mizell, Dr. Fred Stephen, and Dr. Robert Wiedenmann who helped guide my research and offer new perspectives. I would also like to thank the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project Development of practices for sustainable, local production of specialty crops in the South accession number: 0223689; 2010 and 2011 USDA/Specialty Crops Research Initiative Block Grant and Arkansas Agricultural Department Partnered with the Arkansas Pecan Growers Association and participating pecan growers; and University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station for funding and supporting me and my research. Special thanks to Barbara Lewis for helping me process pecan samples along with her overwhelming support and encouragement. A special thanks to Mr. Robert Carruthers for his great support of this project and for transporting an Orbit lift and helping collect pecan nuts from different strata of the pecan canopy in several pecan orchards. I would also like to thank Virgil Piazza, Kevin Durden, Rickie Lee Hicks, Cory Johnson, Cate Clark, Bennie Tillis, and Clay Wingfield for their help in collecting and processing stink bug and pecan samples. Thank you to all the participating Arkansas pecan growers that allowed me to conduct my studies in their pecan groves and for their participation in my research. Finally I would like to thank my family including my parents Dan and Brenda, my brother and sister, Brendan and Brittany, my fiancée, Jami, and all my friends for their support and encouragement through the ups and downs of my studies. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction to Pecans and Stink Bugs ........................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCUCTION ................................................................................................................. 2 REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Monitoring Insect and Pest Damage in Pecan in Arkansas .......................................................... 20 ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 21 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 22 MATERIALS AND METHODS .............................................................................................. 23 ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................... 24 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 24 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................... 27 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... 29 REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 37 Brown Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Damage to Pecans at Different Phenological Nut Development Stages...................................................................................................................... 37 ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 38 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 39 MATERIALS AND METHODS .............................................................................................. 41 ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................... 44 RESULTS.................................................................................................................................. 44 DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................................... 45 REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................................. 48 ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 Chapter 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 54 The Stratification of Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Feeding Punctures and Damage within the Pecan Canopy .............................................................................................................. 54 ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 55 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 56 MATERIALS AND METHODS .............................................................................................. 58 ANALYSIS ..............................................................................................................................