THE EFFECT OF ALTERNATIVE SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG (HETEROPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE) INSECTICIDE CONTROLS ON SOYBEAN PEST-MANAGEMENT, QUALITY ANDYIELD

Seven alternative insecticides to methyl parathion were assessed for s tink bug control and yield and quality losses in soybean field trials in Georgia, Louisiana and Florida during 1988 and 1989. Several pyreth roid insecticides including lambda-cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, tralomethr in and cypermethrin controlled the southern green soybean stink bug, N ezara viridula (L.). These insecticides had greater residual control t han methyl parathion, the standard for stink bug control, and acephate , another labeled soybean insecticide. The residual control of the pyr ethroids also prevented the buildup of green cloverworm, Plathypena sc abra (F.), velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, and b ean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster). Permethrin, another py rethroid insecticide, did not provide adequate stink bug control at th e rate tested. Yields and 100-seed weights in the alternative insectic ide plots were equal to or exceeded those in the standard treatments. Soybean quality (lower percentage of stink bug damaged kernels) was hi gher in plots treated with pyrethroids. Several alternative insecticid es for controlling stink bugs are available to replace methyl parathio n in soybean, should this product become unavailable to producers due to its patent expiration or denial of re-registration.