Distribution and managment of kudzu bug in commercial soybean

Megacopta cribraria, commonly known in the US as the kudzu bug, is a newly arrived invasive pest that is an economically limiting pest of soybean production.  In response to very large infestations in commercial soybean fields, research and extension entomologists at southeastern land grant institutions determined that M. cribraria feeding in soybean reduced yields in untreated fields from 0-60%, with an average loss of 20%.  The objective of this project was to investigate different types of treatment thresholds (some based on adults, other immatures), for managing kudzu bug populations in commercial soybean production.  Researchers sampled for kudzu bugs weekly at a density of one sample per 1.25 acre in soybean fields ranging from 20 to 50 acres in size and then treated using either a border only or whole field application of bifenthrin when the bugs exceeded the experimental threshold.  Data suggest that waiting until immatures are present followed by a whole field application is the most effective practice to manage this invasive pest.