Determining a treatment threshold for the green stink bug (Acrosternum hilare) in edamame soybeans

Edamame soybeans are an emerging crop in Arkansas and as with our customary soybeans the green stink bug is a major pest of this crop.  Due to edamame’s use as a food crop, as opposed to the soybean typically used in industry and animal feed, appearance of the pod and bean is a major factor in crop value.  As with any new crop, new economic thresholds must be determined for each production region.  Lumite cages (6ft x 6ft x 6ft) were placed over edamame soybeans and used to contain fourth instar green stinkbug nymphs at densities of 0, 2, 6, or 12 nymphs per cage and left to feed for 7 days.  Yields were taken from one row in each cage and evidence of feeding was confirmed by staining and counting salivary sheaths on 50 pods per cage using Bowling’s method.