Redbanded Stink Bug Ditch Bank Survey 4/15/2018

In 2017, we were able to accurately predict the threat of RBSB based on sampling ditch banks in the spring. Every year we sample ditch banks across the state to make collections of various insect pests. With most pests, such as tarnished plant bugs, what we find in ditch banks does not correlate well to what growers may find in the fields. However, with RBSB finding them in the spring in substantial numbers is an indication of how far north and in what numbers they successfully overwintered.  We were commonly finding RBSB in crimson clover well above Hwy 82 in fairly high numbers in 2017.  Additionally, we were seeing reproduction as early as March of 2017.  Unlike other pests, ditch bank samples for RBSB are a strong indicator of the potential problem and this in fact did materialize into a greater issue last year.

Currently, we have sampled crimson clover as far south as Lucedale, MS, along with sampling in all parts of the state.  As of now we have found zero RBSB, even in areas that had extremely high numbers last year. This is good news for our soybean farmers. Will there be a RBSB problem in 2018? Chances that we will experience problems even close to our experiences last year will be very low.  Louisiana entomologist are also conducting these surveys and to date they are only finding low numbers of adults with no reproduction. The Louisiana survey results are normal for the state but this could result in some level of infestation for the southern part of Mississippi in very late planted beans, if these low populations have time to multiply.

If there is one piece of advice I can give you it’s to plant early. Early planted soybeans is the best insecticide we have ever had……………….