Stink bug species associated with Missouri soybean production

Soybean is an important cash crop in Missouri worth nearly $2.6 billion annually. For over a decade, economic infestations of stink bug species have increased in abundance and frequency. Current species commonly found in Missouri soybean include the green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris), the Southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula), the brown stink bug (Euschistus servus), the red-shouldered stink bug (Thyanta custator), and the one-spotted stink bug (Euschistus variolarius), Of these species, the green stink bug most often requires management strategies to limit yield loss of soybean. Other stink bug species can be found in various states bordering Missouri and are possible pests of soybean for the state. These species include (1) the red banded stink bug (Piezodorus guildinii), (2) the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), and (3) the bean plataspid (Megacopta cribraria).

A statewide survey of sixty producer soybean fields over three years documented annual stink bug species and their abundance in Missouri’s four soybean production regions prior to the invasion of potential soybean insect pests. The objective was to evaluate the current communities of stink bug species that exist in Missouri in anticipation of how the communities may change as new pest species immigrate from bordering states. To identify insect species and numbers, sweep net collections were gathered from each field three times during the growing season. With this information, enhancements for current stink bug recommendations in soybean and the advancement of new control strategies for invading pest species have developed.