Kudzu Bug in Eastern Tennessee: What's Going on?

The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria, a non-native, invasive species from Asia, was first discovered in the U.S. in 2009 in several northeastern counties in Georgia. It has since spread to numerous other states, including Tennessee where it has spread rapidly to several counties in two years. The kudzu bug causes agricultural, urban, and health-related concerns. The purpose of this poster is to provide information on the status (distribution, population levels, overwintering, natural enemies, etc.) of kudzu bug in Tennessee. In 2014, three locations in Knox Co. were selected, and two kudzu sites established at each location. These three locations were visited weekly from 21 July to 8 October. Five sweep-net samples were taken from kudzu at each site, and the total number of kudzu bug adults and nymphs (stages 1-5) were counted and recorded. Kudzu bugs were present on kudzu in Knox County until early November. Two new alternate hosts were discovered, and no egg parasitoids have been observed thus far. Further results will be analyzed and presented, as well as summaries of ongoing studies to better assess its life history, overwintering, and the potential role of alternate host plants and natural enemies to enhance management of this pest.