Pest status and management of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in field corn in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are the most important economic pests of field corn (Zea mays L.) in the southeastern United States. The most common pest species include the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), green stink bug, Chinavia hilaris (Say), and southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). Stink bugs are highly mobile and feed on a wide range of crops and wild hosts across the highly fragmented southeastern landscapes. Because of their strong dispersal ability and the sporadic nature of their occurrence in corn, effective monitoring and implementation of control tactics can be challenging to prevent yield losses in field corn. This article provides an overview of the current literature on key stink bug species in the southeastern United States associated with corn production. A key focus of this review is on the seasonal dynamics of stink bugs in southeastern agroecosystems as related to their pest status in field corn. We discuss the suite of available integrated pest management practices for stink bugs and suggest areas for developing improved strategies in the future.