Warm winters may be troublesome for soy crops. It has been reported that red-banded stink bugs (Piezodorus guildinii) are being found earlier than usual this year. In Louisiana, this species is the primary pest to soybean crops.
To deal with these agricultural tests, researchers will study 2 aspects of the problem. The first is to examine whatever traits may make soy beans undesirable to the pests. The second is to examine how the bugs survive in the winter and how they distribute into the fields with the crops:
“Clover appears to be a bridge species that harbors stink bugs until soybeans are growing,” Davis said. “Farmers who use clover as a cover crop should be aware that killing the clover could cause stink bugs to move into a soybean field.”
According to the LSU AgCenter's website, overlapping generations, the high mobility of the stink bugs, and the range of the host-plant are important things to consider as we try to control their populations. For example, up to about 8 generations can occur in one season. If spraying insecticides for adults doesn't affect the eggs, more pesticide would have to be applied at a later date.
Another possible solution could be to eliminate other host plants that stink bugs use to increase their numbers. One instance, in 2004, showed that destroying other host-plants, like clover, along ditches and field margins gave some control. More questions in this area need to be addressed.
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