Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus pugnaux) Rizky Rajabillah Purwoko Tropical Agriculture in Kasetsart University and Host University

in Sebelas Maret University Solo Indonesia Description The adult rice stink bug is 8 to 12 mm (5/16 to 1/2 inch) long, rice straw color, pale reddish antennae, slender body, and sharply pointed humeral (shoulder) spines that are directed forward and slightly outward. Eggs are placed in two parallel lines on plants. Egg masses consist of 20 to 40 eggs but have been reported to range from 1 0 to over 60. Eggs are cylindrical with a rounded bottom and are about 1/25 inch long and 1/32 inch in diameter. When first oviposited eggs are green, but as embryonic development begins and ends the eggs become red. Nymphs pass through 5 distinct instars. The first is about 1/25 inch with all parts black except the abdomen which is red with two or three black spots. The 2nd through the 5th show an increase in size and a gradual change to light brown with red markings. Adult Nymph

Distribution Common in North America east of the Rocky Mountains as far north as southern Minnesota and New York. Found in the northern Gulf Coast of Mexico and possibly in the West Indies.

Life Cycle Adults overwinter in accumulated leaf litter, clumps of grass, or in other sheltered places. In AR emergence from overwintering sites occurs in late April and early to mid May. A series of cultivated and wild host plants are used during the season and are critical to survival and population increases. Cultivated hosts are heading wheat, oats, rye, barley early in the season and grain sorghum (milo) and rice later in the season. Grasses (weeds/wild hosts) are essential to rice stink bug survival. The list of host plants is long but includes barnyardgrass, bearded sprangletop, dallisgrass (Paspalum sp.), vasey grass (Paspalum sp.), lovegrass (Eragrostissp.), ryegrass (Loliumsp.), crabgrass (Digitariasp.), broadleaf

signalgrass, Panicum spp., Johnson grass, and others. However, females do not place eggs in all cultivated and wild host plants. Longevity (life span) and fecundity (number of eggs) is influenced by the host plants of nymphs and adults. The number of generations each year is estimated to be 4. Eggs hatch in about 4 days and the nymphs remain clustered around the egg shells. The first instar ingests only water. The 2nd through the 5th instar nymphs feed primarily on seeds. Total time spend as a nymph is between 15 and 28 days. After becoming an adult, females start depositing eggs in about 3 to 4 days. Adult longevity has been observed to average about 50 days. Adults remain active in host plants until a host becomes senescent or cool weather arrives. Damage and Symptoms Adults and nymphs have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Entry of the stylets (mouthparts for feeding) is facilitated by a salivary secretion which hardens on contact with air and remains attached to the rice grain. It is called a feeding sheath. The feeding sheath is the only external evidence that feeding by rice stink bugs has occurred on a grain. Rice stink bugs can successfully feed on kernels from shortly after fertilization until the kernel is in the soft dough stage. The stage of kernel development when fed upon determines the amount and type of damage. Attack during the early stages stops any further development of the kernel (a yield loss). Attack during kernel fill stages removes a portion or all of the kernel

contents (also a yield loss); but pathogens are mediated (vectored) into the kernel by the rice stink bug. Infection by pathogens (bacteria or fungi) as well as enzymes produced by the rice stink bug cause discoloration of the kernel (a quality loss plus breakage loss). The rice industry and grain inspection services group all discolored kernels into a category called "pecky rice". Thus, rice stink bugs cause yield losses and quality losses. Habitat, Food Source(s), Damage Rice stink bug adults migrate from wild grasses to sorghum and rice when plants begins to develop kernels or develop in and around fields on wild host plants. Wild host plants include barnyard grass and sedge (Cyperus sp.). Rice stink bugs can be collected from grasses with developing seed heads, such as Johnsongrass and rice. Nymphal and adult feeding removes contents (endosperm) from developing seed (milk and soft dough stages) and results in an empty seed coat or shriveled kernels. Yellow to black spots develop at feeding sites on rice kernels injured later (dough stage) and are often associated with microorganisms. This type of damage is commonly called "pecky rice", and it has been correlated with reduced head yield and increased percent broken kernels in milled rice, a loss in quality or "grade." Scouting and Treatment Thresholds Rice fields should be scouted weekly or twice weekly beginning at 75% panicle emergence and continued for 4 weeks. Avoid scouting from mid-day through late afternoon. Useal5inchdiametersweep net to sample for rice stink bugs. At each sample site, make 1 0 consecutive 1800 sweeps to the front and sides while walking forward and swinging the net from side to side. Hold the net so that the lower half of the net is drawn through the foliage and panicles. Count the number of adults and large nymphs after each 1 0 sweep sample. Repeat samples at several random sites (6 or more). Avoid samples at field margins. Calculate the average number of rice stink bugs per 1 0 sweeps. Apply insecticide

if infestation is 5 or more rice stink bugs per 10 sweeps during the first two weeks after heading; or if 1 0 or more per 1 0 sweeps is found during the third and fourth week after heading. If the number of bugs is only slightly below the threshold level or if the field is very large, increase the number of samples to improve confidence in sample estimates. Samples taken during the morning hours of 8 to 1 1 a.m. will improve estimates of rice stink bugs.

References Anonymousa. 2012.Rice Stink Bug. Anonymousb. 2012.Rice Stink Bug. http://www.aragriculture.org/ insects/ Anonymousa. 2012.Rice Stink Bug.

rice/rice _stink_bug.htm.Accessed in 2012 22nd, September

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_livestock/crops/rice/Insects/Rice+St ink+Bug+Oebalus+pugnax.htm.Accessed in 2012 22nd, September Drees et al. 1996; Naresh and Smith 1982, 1984; Nilakhe 1976; Peairs and Davidson 1956; Swanson and Newsom 1962.