Stink Bugs: Annoying Pests or Crop Protectors?

Many of us consider bugs of any kind ordinary pests, annoyances and just down right distractions. Yet a recent study looks at how the stink bug-a brown marmorated insect that spreads throughout parts of the United states, can be especially beneficial as a biological control agent for various insect that feed off of cotton, soybeans, kale, corn, tomato and other crops.

In fact, researchers found that this bug could potentially aid companies growing field plans. The study in particular looks at a storage technique of the bug's predator, P. nigrispinus, to improve the mass rearing of crops via laboratory conditions without compromising the quality of the insects that are produced.

"Our goal was to evaluate the effect of low temperatures on the biological characteristics of P. nigrispinus, with the aim of optimizing mass-rearing programs for this potential biological control agent," the authors wrote, via a press release. "The successful storage of eggs at a low temperature is important for the use of natural enemies in pest control programs, as it allows greater flexibility in the mass-rearing process. It also increases the availability of insects for release in the field at the earliest opportunity."

The study showed that for the predator's eggs to be stored, the optimum temperature should be 15 degrees Celsius for a period of approximately 17 days without signficiantly affecting many of the biological characteristics that were examined in the study.

"Our results suggest that low temperatures can be used to store eggs for mass rearing of this potential biological control agent," the authors note, via a the release. "This would allow P. nigrispinus to be used in augmentative releases that could be coordinated with pest outbreaks in the field."

More information regarding the study can be found via the Annals of the Entomological Society of America.