Supercooling Capacity of Kudzu Bug (Megacopta cribraria)

The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria is an invasive pest species found in the southeastern regions of the United States.  Kudzu bug is both a nuisance pest to home owners and a yield limiting pest to soybean producers.  It was first fount in Georgia in 2009 and has since invaded 12 states.  Study on thermal tolerance can be critical in determining and predicting the geographical range expansion of this species.  In this study, we evaluated the supercooling point (SCP) of field collected adult kudzu bug as an index of its cold tolerance.  The mean (±SE) SCP for adult kudzu bug was -25.5 ± 0.2⁰C.  Based on SCP, kudzu bug would be categorized as a cold intolerant insect.  However, due to its cryptic behavior of overwintering under bark and in structures, it has the potential to survive at colder temperatures.