Ecology and Life History of the Kudzu Bug in East Tennessee: I Heard it Through the Kudzu Vine

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. The kudzu bug causes agricultural, urban, and health-related concerns. The goal of this presentation is to summarize ongoing research to assess ecology and life history (phenology, role of natural enemies, alternate hosts, etc.) of kudzu bug in Tennessee to enhance its management.  Primary host plants for kudzu bugs include soybean and kudzu. To determine if other plant species are suitable hosts for reproduction and development of kudzu bug, choice and no-choice tests were conducted using four plant species: kudzu, soybean, bush honeysuckle, and ragweed. To assess seasonality and phenology in 2014 and 2015, three locations in Knox Co. were selected with three kudzu sites established at each location. These three locations were visited weekly from May to November. Five sweep-net samples were taken from kudzu at each site, and kudzu bug adults and nymphs (stages 1-5) were counted and recorded. Kudzu bugs were present on kudzu in Knox County until early November in 2014 and late November in 2015. Results will be analyzed and presented.