Delayed maturity associated with southern green stink bug (Heteroptera : Pentatomidae) injury at various soybean phenological stages

Delayed maturity in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., occurred in response t o infestation by southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), in 4 yr of field studies. Maturity delays Followed stink bug infestation that occurre d only during the pod set and filling stages (R3-R5.5), and infestations at R3-4 and R5 resulted in delayed maturity more consistently than did infest ation at R5.5. Infestation levels of six stink bugs per 0.3 m of row for 7- 14 d generally were required to delay soybean maturity. The greatest impact on seed yield and quality parameters followed stink bug infestations that occurred during R3-R5.5, which corresponded closely with the periods of inf estation that resulted in delayed maturity. If both delayed maturity and yi eld reduction are considered, the pod elongation through late pod filling s tages were most critical for protecting soybeans from southern green stink bugs.