306 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Fabaceae), although survival was significantly lower on black-eye pea,
lima bean, and pinto bean than on kudzu or soybean. Survival on pigeon pea was not significantly dif-
ferent than that on kudzu or soybean, which contradicts a report by Thippeswamy and Rajagopal (2005a)
who stated that M. cribraria did not lay eggs on pigeon pea and nymphs that were placed on the plant
did not survive. Results from host preference studies conducted by Blount et al. (2015) also found pigeon
pea to be a suitable developmental host, but black-eyed pea, lima bean, or pinto bean were not suitable
hosts. Using overwintered M. cribraria, Golec et al. (2015) obtained oviposition and development to
adult on mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilzcek (Fabaceae)], lima bean, soybean and kudzu, but not
on black-eyed pea. In a large study (Medal et al. 2016a), 21 plant species were evaluated to determine
their suitability for development of M. cribraria. The plant species that were not suitable are included
in Table 5.1. Eight species of Fabaceae were suitable for development and were statistically grouped
as follows: soybean = kudzu > white sweet clover (Melilotus alba Medickus) = white clover (Trifolium
repens L. > red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) = alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) > perennial peanut (Arachis
glabrata Benth.) = American joint vetch (Aeschynomene americana L.). Although there is agreement
between most of the studies on the suitability of different plants for development, some of the host plants
that were suitable in one study were not in others. These plants generally had fairly low survival in the
trials where development was completed so differences in observed survival were not great. However, it
would appear that some leguminous plants other than soybean and kudzu are suitable hosts for develop-
ment in the southeastern U.S.
Huskisson et al. (2015) evaluated the density of bugs on kudzu, soybean, and lima bean in greenhouse
paired choice studies. They found significantly more bugs on soybean than on lima bean. Kudzu had
consistently higher numbers of bugs than soybean, but differences were significant only on one date;
M. cribraria fed on soybeans, even in the presence of kudzu.
In the spring in Japan, Megacopta cribraria forms mating aggregations on Lespedeza cyrtobotrya
Miq. (reported as L. cyrtobotria) and Vicia angustifolia L. (Fabaceae), and may feed on these plants,
but rarely lays eggs on them, moving to kudzu after mating (Hibino and Ito 1983; Hibino 1985, 1986).
TABLE 5.1 (CONTINUED)
Plants Associated with Megacopta cribraria
Scientific Name Common Name Reference Location
Salicaceae
Salix nigra Marsh Black willow Gardner et al. 2013a^2. Southeastern United
States
Solanaceae
Capsicum annuum L. Bell pepper Medal et al. 2016a^4. Southeastern United
States
Solanum carolinense L. Horsenettle Imura 2003^2. Japan
Solanum lycopersicum L. Tomato Medal et al. 2016a^4. Southeastern United
States
Solanum tuberosum L. Potato Gardner et al. 2013a^2 , Hoffmann
19323.
China, Southeastern
United States
Vitaceae
Vitus rotundiflora Michx. Muscadine Gardner et al. 2013a^2. Southeastern United
States
Zingiberaceae
Curcuma longa L. Turmeric Kotikal and Kulkarni 2000^3. India
(^1) Rearing attempted on this plant and at least some survived from egg to adult.
(^2) Only adults reported from this plant.
(^3) Listed plants as ‘hosts’ or bugs as ‘pests’ without further information on stages found or host suitability.
(^4) Rearing attempted on this plant but no survival from egg to adult.
(^5) Eggs and/or nymphs observed on this plant, usually in addition to adults.