ABSTRACT

Corn may play an important role in the season-long dynamics of tarnished plant bug infesting cotton. During June, VT (tasseling) and R1 (silking) stage field corn may be very attractive to ovipositing tarnished plant bugs. Consultants and researchers have collected nymphs and adult stage tarnished plant bugs from corn; however, it is still unknown if the insect is able to reproduce on the crop. Our objectives for this study were to determine if the pest can develop on corn tissue and to quantify egg production for tarnished plant bug adults reared on the crop. There were no differences in survival rates of tarnished plant bug fed milk-stage kernels collected from the middle and base of the ear when compared to the broccoli control. Plant bugs reared on broccoli and milk-stage kernels took 11.5 d and 11.6 d, respectively, to become adults. Females reared on broccoli produced significantly more eggs than those females reared on milk-stage kernels, but not those reared on corn cob tips which contained blister- and milk-stage kernels. These results indicate that milk-stage corn seed is an excellent food source for developing tarnished plant bug. Because developing corn seed from healthy ears is unavailable to plant bug feeding, ear damage by the corn earworm/bollworm is probably critical for the tarnished plant bug to feed and complete its normal development. Future research will study the life history of tarnished plant bug on corn grown in the field and population densities emerging from silk-feeding resistant and susceptible corn lines will be estimated to determine the relative impact of infestations in mid- to late-season cotton.