Template B v3.0 (beta): Created by J. Nail 06/2015 Evaluation of kudzu bug as a pest in Mississippi soybean production systems By TITLE PAGE William Michael McRight Jr. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State, Mississippi May 2018 Copyright by COPYRIGHT PAGE William Michael McRight Jr. 2018 Evaluation of kudzu bug as a pest in Mississippi soybean production systems By APPROVAL PAGE William Michael McRight Jr. Approved: ____________________________________ Fred R. Musser (Director of Thesis) ____________________________________ Angus L. Catchot Jr. (Director of Thesis) ____________________________________ Donald R. Cook (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Jeffrey Gore (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Kenneth Willeford (Graduate Coordinator) ____________________________________ George M. Hopper Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Name: William Michael McRight Jr. ABSTRACT Date of Degree: May 1, 2018 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Agricultural Life Sciences Major Professors: Dr. Fred R. Musser and Dr. Angus L. Catchot Jr. Title of Study: Evaluation of kudzu bug as a pest in Mississippi soybean production systems Pages in Study: 60 Candidate for Degree of Master of Science The kudzu bug is an invasive species to the United States, and it has recently become a problem in the southern U.S. Experiments were conducted to examine the potential damage to vegetative stage soybean. Foliar insecticides and neonicotinoid seed treatments were studied to determine the efficacy of those treatments against kudzu bugs. Kudzu bug population densities of adults and nymphs along with egg masses were observed to determine peak activity in kudzu and soybean. This project was designed to develop a better understanding of the damage potential that kudzu bugs can cause as well as the best control methods available. DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my wife, Callie. Thank you for supporting me in all that I do and pushing me to be the best man I can be. I would also like to dedicate this research to my parents, Bill and Meredith McRight. You have loved and supported me in everything I have done. Thank you for making me person I am today. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my major professors, Dr. Fred Musser and Dr. Angus Catchot. I greatly appreciate the opportunity they gave me to further my education. Their knowledge and guidance has been invaluable in helping me complete this degree. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Don Cook and Dr. Jeff Gore. Their guidance was instrumental in getting me where I am today. I would like to thank research associates Dung Bao and Whitney Crow for their time and commitment to my project. Thank you to all of my fellow graduate students Adam Whalen, Ben Thrash, Brittany Lipsey, Chelsie Darnell, John Corbin, John North, Keiton Croom, Nick Bateman, Tyler Smith, and Tyler Towles, for their support and assistance in the field and in the lab. Thank you to all of the student workers who provided countless hours helping me complete this project. This project would not be possible without your help. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 Soybean .................................................................................................................1 Origin .............................................................................................................1 Biology ............................................................................................................3 Insect Pests of Soybean in Mississippi ............................................................4 Insect Management, Threshold, and Economic Injury Level ..........................6 Kudzu Bug .............................................................................................................8 Biology ............................................................................................................8 Pest Status and Damage in Soybean ................................................................9 Pest Status and Damage to Homeowners ......................................................10 Management Options ...........................................................................................11 Biological Control .........................................................................................11 Chemical Control ...........................................................................................12 References Cited ..................................................................................................13 II. REFINING THRESHOLD AND EVALUATING KUDZU BUG IMPACT ON VEGETATIVE STAGE SOYBEAN ...............................19 Abstract ................................................................................................................19 Introduction .........................................................................................................19 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................20 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................22 References Cited ..................................................................................................23 III. FOLIAR AND SEED TREATMENT INSECTICIDE EFFICACY ON KUDZU BUG .........................................................................................26 Abstract ................................................................................................................26 iv Introduction .........................................................................................................26 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................29 Foliar Insecticides ..........................................................................................29 Insecticidal Seed Treatments .........................................................................30 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................32 Foliar Insecticides ..........................................................................................32 Insecticidal Seed Treatments .........................................................................34 References Cited ..................................................................................................35 IV. POPULATION DENSITY AND NATURAL ENEMIES OF MEGACOPTA CRIBRARIA IN KUDZU AND SOYBEAN IN MISSISSIPPI ..........................................................................................44 Abstract ................................................................................................................44 Introduction .........................................................................................................45 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................47 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................48 Population Dynamics in Kudzu .....................................................................48 Population Dynamics in Soybean ..................................................................49 Natural Enemies ............................................................................................51 References Cited ..................................................................................................52 V. SUMMARY ........................................................................................................59 v LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Mean cage observations taken 1, 2, and 3 weeks after infestation. Yield data corrected to 13% moisture. .................................................24 Table 3.1 Foliar Insecticide Formulation Rates and Active Ingredient Rates Tested ...................................................................................................38 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Soybean yield as impacted by kudzu bug infestations.....................................25 Figure 2.2 Soybean yield as impacted by the cages during infetation ... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 3.1 Foliar Insecticide Efficacy on Adults in 2016 .................................................39 Figure 3.2 Foliar Insecticide Efficacy on Adults in 2017 .................................................40 Figure 3.3 Foliar Insecticide Efficacy on Nymphs in 2017 ..............................................41 Figure 3.4 Percent Mortality for Each Seed Treatment in Stoneville During 2016 ..........42 Figure 3.5 Percent Mortality