ABSTRACT

Whole-plant infestation studies were conducted during 2002 and 2003 to define cotton boll cohorts (based on heat unit accumulation beyond anthesis) that are preferred by brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), for feeding during each of the five initial weeks of flowering. Bolls that accumulated 165.2 through 672 heat units beyond anthesis (ca. 7 to 27 d old) were more commonly injured by brown stink bug when a range of boll ages were available. The susceptible boll ages in our studies corresponded to diameters of 1.161 to 3.586 cm. These data will refine sampling protocols that estimate the level of stink bug-injured bolls within a field.