Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and kudzu bug (KB) in more counties but numbers still very low

We are still finding BMSB and KB in new places—7 new counties for BMSB (Sussex, Albemarle, Cumberland, New Kent, King George, Isle of Wight, and Surry), and KB in 3 new counties (Mathews, Mecklenburg, and Virginia Beach)—but numbers in all locations are way down compared with last year (see the maps below).  No fields are at threshold for either pest, but a couple of fields were identified in James City County that have some infested edges.  The full season crop is going to be safe from injury soon, when plants grow through the R6 stage.  As the season moves into late summer and early fall, double crop fields will provide one of the few good late season food sources for all stink bug species—so they will need to scouted until they are safe from injury.

Distribution of brown marmorated stink bug in soybean in Virginia counties as of Aug. 28, 2014 Distribution of kudzu bug in Virginia as of Aug. 26, 2014