Biology of the kudzu bug Mecacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), on soybean and kudzu in realtion to soybean maturity group, planting date

Megacopta cribraria (F.) is an invasive, Old World pest of legume crops (Eger 2010) not previously found in the U.S. until its discovery in north Georgia in 2009. M. cribraria has two known host plants in the U.S., kudzu; Pueraria montana, an invasive weed, and soybean, Glycine max, an economically important crop. Little is known about the life history of this insect. In this experiment we propose to determine the phenology of M. cribraria on soybean and kudzu. Soybeans in maturity groups 5, and 7 were planted with various planting dates from early April to mid-July. Visual inspections of soybeans were done from 14 to 28 days after planting and sweeps taken from 35 days after planting to maturity. Sweep samples were taken to the lab, frozen, and nymph and adult numbers recorded. Kudzu patches in near proximity to soybean fields were monitored weekly via sweep samples and shoot clippings taken for egg mass counts. Bucket traps were also set up in kudzu and soybean environments to monitor aerial movement of the insect, adults were counted and any egg masses laid on the trap were also counted. Adults began moving into soybeans from kudzu in May infesting the earliest planted soybeans at stage V2 and V3 plants. Egg masses were laid on V4 and V5 plants and nymphs began to appear once V6 growth stage was reached.