Kudzu Bug Collected in Christian County, KY

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky

A single adult Kudzu bug was collected on June 16, 2014 from Kudzu at a patch located at ca. KY MM1 on the north bound right-of-way of I-24. No nymphs or eggs were collected. This represents the 1^st confirmed occurrence of this invasive pest in the western KY grain crops production area.

Adult Kudzu Bug. Photo: Univ. GA.

Stink Bugs Could Still be a Problem in Soybeans

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist

Because of delayed planting and a cool summer, Kentucky soybean producers are likely to have considerable acreage of late maturing soybeans. This probably causes most folks to be concerned with frost. However,this extended maturity may also set up fields for additional damage by stink bugs. Producers and consultants should remain watchful as long as pods are still filling.

Kudzu Bugs Found in Kentucky

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist and Garrard Coffey, ANR Agent, Whitley Co. KY

Summary: During the last week of August 2013, Kudzu bug adults and juveniles were collected from Kudzu along Interstate 75 and US Highway 25 E and W in Whitley, Bell, and Laurel Counties KY. Samples taken in Kudzu along US 25E in Knox Co. KY and Interstate 24 in Christian Co. KY did not capture Kudzu bug. This represents the first know collection of Kudzu bug in Kentucky.

New Kudzu Bug Find in Tennessee County Directly Bordering Kentucky.

The first capture of Kudzu bug in a Tennessee (TN) county directly boarding Kentucky (KY) has been reported. A TN Dept. AG plant inspector collected Kudzu bug from Claiborne Co. TN. This county borders Lee Co. VA. and Bell, and a small section of Whitley Co KY. The major roadway leading into KY is US 25E through Cumberland Gap and Middlesboro, KY. Fortunately, this was a very small collection of only three specimens, nearer to the upper reaches of Norris Lake than the KY-TN Line. Nonetheless, it illustrates the continual movement of this pest toward KY.

At present this find changes little concerning how this pest will impact KY grain crops. Whitley and Bell counties contain few acres of soybeans such that US Ag. Statistics does not provide an estimate of the acreage in these counties. However, Kudzu is present and the Kudzu bug feeds on a wide variety of legumes (plants producing pods) that might be produced in home and commercial vegetable gardens. Lack of a host is unlikely to be a controlling factor.

To obtain invasive stink bug updates for KY grain crops follow: @DrDougStinkBugs on Twitter.

Kudzu Bug Moves Into Central and West Tennessee

Doug Johnson, UK Extension Entomologist

Kudzu bug continues to be found ever closer to Kentucky (KY). Until just recently, Kudzu bug in Tennessee (TN) was found only in the eastern portion of the state where few soybeans are grown. These infested counties are the closest to KY, but in an area of KY where few soybeans occur. Unfortunately, within the last week, this pest has been found in two additional TN counties. Both of these TN counties are soybean producing areas of central and west TN (See the Map).

Kudzu Bug – Not Crying Wolf

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky

Any number of you are aware that I have been talking about the arrival of Kudzu bug in Kentucky for the past two years. Fortunately, so far as I know, this invasive pest has not arrived in the commonwealth. Nevertheless, it approaches ever nearer to our area. Dr. Scott Stewart, my colleague in Tennessee, is now dealing with Kudzu bug infestations in several southeastern Tennessee counties (See his article through the link immediately below).

See: http://news.utcrops.com/2013/06/kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/

Like Kentucky, most of Tennessee’s soybean production is in the western portion of the state. None the less, this activity in eastern Tennessee provides a foothold in our area and represents the infestation closest to Kentucky. In addition, this probably represents establishment (a locally overwintered population) and not introduction because this pest was discovered in eastern Tennessee in previous years.

It is as yet unknown how important this pest will be in Kentucky soybeans. However, it has become a major pest within two years of discovery in the soybean production states to the south of us. I see no reason to believe that this will not be the case in Kentucky. It is therefore important for us to keep a watch out for this pest. My guess is that it will first appear in counties with kudzu along the interstate corridors that handle traffic from east Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama. This includes I-75, I-65 and I-24. Producers and other interested parties would do well to look for this bug in kudzu and soybeans that border these highways.

Kudzu Bug moves closer to KY

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist

Title: First Report of Kudzu bug in Soybean [in Tennessee]


Author: Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist

Figure 1. Kudzu bug adults on soybean

Dr. Scott Stewart, Extension Entomologist at the University of Tennessee’s research and education station in Jackson, TN has posted a blog concerning the first report of Kudzu bug on soybeans in Tennessee. I have included the entire text of his blog immediately below. Also, notice the link to the www.kudzubug.org web site. I offer my thanks to Mr. Cam Kenimer, the ANR agent in Fulton Co. KY, for bringing this to my attention.








“ First Report of Kudzu bug in Soybean

Author: Scott Stewart, IPM Extension Specialist

I’ve had the first report of a soybean field in Tennessee being treated for kudzu bug. The field is located in East Tennessee (Polk County).

The threshold recommendation below is quoted directly from a website dedicated solely to this pest (www.kudzubug.org). There is a lot of good information on this site. My counterparts in the Southeast have been working with this pest at a fevered pace for the past three seasons and generating a lot of good data. I would discourage any panic spraying. Kudzu bug infestations on soybean will almost certainly be isolated to a few fields in a very limited area. I do not expect problems in the larger soybean growing areas found in Middle and West Tennessee during 2012.

Threshold: “Kudzu bugs can be scouted using a 15-inch diameter sweep net. Kudzu bug populations can be extremely high, especially on field edges. We are suggesting a threshold of one immature kudzu bug per sweep. This suggested threshold is based on 2011 field trials where a single properly timed insecticide application preserved soybean yield. In the majority of trials we have conducted, nymphs usually appear at about the R-2 to R-3 growth stage. If adult numbers are extremely high (multiple adults per sweep) and soybeans are stressed, treatment should be considered; this is a judgment call but the idea is to avoid bug induced stress on soybeans that are also stressed for some other reason.”

Insecticide Selection: There is a limited list of insecticide that are well tested and specifically list kudzu bug on the label. Of these, Brigade 2E (bifenthrin), Hero (a premix including bifenthrin) and Endigo (a premix) appear to provide the best control. Some other pyrethroids such as Mustang Max, Declare and Karate appear to perform pretty well in limited testing, although Karate [sic same active ingredient as Warrior dwj] does not specifically list kudzu bugs on the label. Sevin, Orthene and Dimethoate also appear to perform reasonably well. These products should be used at or near the full labeled rate.

After looking at the data and talking with my counterparts, Brigade 2E or one of the other bifenthrin products at a rate of 6.0-6.4 oz/acre appears to be an obvious choice. It appears to provide the best bang for the buck. Not all insecticides will provide adequate control. The data I’ve seen suggests that Asana XL, Baythroid XL, Belay, Leverage 360, Lorsban are not good enough.”

To see the original text follow the link immediately below.

http://news.utcrops.com/2012/07/first-report-of-kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/

First, let me say that I concur completely with Dr. Stewart’s conclusions. In KY we should be even a bit further removed. Nevertheless, remember that this pest is not going to fly or walk to KY, but more likely to move on vehicles or in freight so its’ presence near the junction of I-75 and I-24 is important to us.

Figure 2. Location of Polk Co. TN

At present, this is certainly the closest Kudzu bug infestation on soybean to Kentucky. The county from which this is reported (Polk) is in the southeastern portion of TN and is bordered on the east by North Carolina and on the south by Georgia. Of particular interest with respect to eastern / central KY, soybean (also garden beans / peas) production, this county’s western border is only about 10 miles east of I-75. Additionally, Polk Co. TN is only one county removed from the junction of I-75 and I-24. The pest has already been collected from Kudzu in Marion Co. TN which is astride I-24. Interstate-24, of course, goes through the heart of soybean production in western Kentucky. Because of interstate access, this infestation should be of as much interest to Kentucky producers as it is to those in Tennessee.

There is no reason to panic at this point. As Dr. Stewart indicates for TN, we are quite unlikely to see any problem with this pest in Kentucky soybeans in 2012. I think we are much too far along. The story in 2013 may be a different.

Photo Credit Figure 1: Philip Roberts, Univ. GA., bugwood.org.
Photo Credit Figure 2: Wikipedia