Species Composition and Relative Abundance of Stink Bugs in Cotton and Other Crops in the Brazos River Bottom Production Area of Texas

The species composition and relative abundance of stink bugs in cotton, corn, milo, and soybean fields were examined in the Brazos River Bottom production area of Texas.  Sampling was initiated in cotton (10 fields) during the first week of bloom, in corn (11 fields) at the green silk stage, and in milo (6 fields) and soybean (4 fields) at full bloom.  Sampling continued weekly in each field until crop maturity or harvest.  Cotton and soybean plants were sampled with a sweep net (200 sweeps x 2 rows per field) whereas corn plants were visually examined in the field (240 plants per field) and observed stink bugs were collected by hand.  Milo plants were sampled by vigorously tapping the seed head (240 plants per field) into a sweep net to dislodge stink bugs.  Overall, soybean fields contained the greatest diversity of stink bug species (8 species) and on a per field basis, also possessed the greatest abundance of adults (206 stink bugs per field).  In comparison, the total number of stink bug adults in cotton averaged 14 adults per field and included six species of stink bugs (Acrosternum hilare, Euschistus servus, E. quadrator, E. crassus, Oebalus pugnax, and Thyanta custator).  Four of these species (A. hilare, E. servus, O. pugnax, and T. custator) were also found in corn, milo, and soybean fields.  The brown stink bug (E. servus) was the most abundant species in corn, cotton, and soybean fields whereas the rice stink bug (O. pugnax) was by far the most abundant species in milo.  Interestingly, no southern green stink bugs (Nezara viridula) were detected in any of the fields this year.