Host preference of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) on selected edible bean crops and soybean

Megacopta cribraria F. is an Old World pest that until discovered in Georgia in 2009 was not found in the western hemisphere (Eger et al. 2010). Megacopta cribraria is a legume pest in its native range, and completes its life cycle on kudzu and soybean in the southern U.S. Its ability to feed and reproduce on other legume crops has not been investigated. Our research was initiated to determine the potential for multiple (16) varieties of edible beans to serve as feeding and/or reproductive hosts by M. cribraria. A series of greenhouse studies were set up consisting of an adult longevity trial and nymph survival study as choice and no-choice tests. Tests were arranged as RCBD and replicated. For the adult entries, one pair of adults per bean was applied and one egg mass per variety for the nymph entries. Number of adults and nymphs on each plant was recorded daily for one week and every other day for the following week. Field trials also were carried out with the addition of sweep samples executed weekly until plants matured. We found significant survival, feeding, and ovoposition occurred on soybean varieties in both the greenhouse and field studies.