Assessment of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Damage to Cotton

Field cage studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to assess the damage to cotton bolls by brown marmorated stink bug adults and nymphs.  Small cages were used to confine single bugs on different aged bolls, and larger cages were used to confine several bugs on whole plants.  Bugs were allowed to feed for designated lengths of time then bolls were removed to assess levels of internal feeding induced damage (internal warts, stained lint, etc.).  In 2011, native green sink bugs were also tested to compare damage by the two species.