Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus servus, Management Thresholds for Seedling and Grain Developing Maize in Southeastern Virginia

In 2016 and 2017, large numbers of brown stink bugs, Euschistus servus (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), were found in maize, Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae), research plots with subsequent reductions of grain yield in eastern regions of Virginia. It is unclear what level of infestation during what period of time in maize development will cause economic injury to grain yield. While previous research has shown a reduction in maize yield from herbivory during both seedling development (R2-4) and grain fill (R1), no research-based thresholds exist for managing stink bug populations in southeastern Virginia maize. Field experiments were conducted in Suffolk, Virginia in 2018 to determine 1) if infestations during seedling development or during grain fill have a greater impact on grain yield and 2) the infestation levels that result in economic injury at each of these growth stages. Results from these studies have indicated that stink bug infestations of less than 3 bugs/per plant during early corn development do not cause a significant decrease in early maize growth or the grain yield. Full results of these studies will help to determine if there is a need for brown stink bug management in Virginia maize, and determine management thresholds for various critical growth stages.