Neotropical Entomology· 2026Q2
Proposed Economic Threshold for Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) in Maize Under an Early Intercrop Cultivation System
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A proposed economic threshold of 2 Diceraeus melacanthus stink bugs per square meter is identified for maize grown in an early intercrop system with soybeans, where higher densities (4/m²) caused significant yield reduction.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Diceraeus melacanthus stink bugs showed a preference for soybeans, especially during warmer periods, with higher activity on maize in the early morning.
- Maize plants exposed to 2 and 4 stink bugs/m² in field experiments exhibited the highest damage levels.
- Yield reduction was observed at a density of 4 stink bugs/m², while 2 stink bugs/m² resulted in an intermediate yield, potentially representing a tolerance/compensation turning point.
- A preliminary economic threshold of 2 stink bugs/m² is proposed for maize in this intercropping system.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract The Antecipe® system, in which maize is sown between soybean rows while soybean plants are still in the reproductive stage, reduces the production cycle of the soybean-maize crop system and, consequently, mitigate climatic risk for second-crop maize. However, the coexistence of both crops can intensify the ‘green bridge,’ favoring outbreaks of Diceraeus melacanthus . Thus, this study evaluated the host preference of D. melacanthus and the damage caused by different population densities to support management strategies in this system. The preference test was conducted in the greenhouse using cages (1.5 × 0.5 m) containing senescing soybean and maize at the VE stage, infested with ten adult D. melacanthus . Evaluations were carried out over three consecutive days at three times per day. The field experiment followed a completely randomized design with four stink bug densities (0, 1, 2, and 4 insects/m) in 6 × 4 m cages. When maize reached the VE stage, insects were introduced, and damage was assessed. Preference tests indicated a predominance of stink bugs on soybean, especially during the warmest periods of the day, whereas their activity on maize was higher in the early morning. In the field experiment, maize plants exposed to 2 and 4 stink bugs/m showed the highest damage levels, and yield reduction was observed at the density of 4 stink bugs/m; however, with 2 stink bugs/m, yield was statistically equal to both 1 and 4 stink bugs/m (intermediate yield), which could be a turning point from plant tolerance to plant compensation in the damage curve. Therefore, we propose that 2 stink bugs/m should be adopted as a more conservative (yet preliminary) economic threshold (ET) for maize cultivated in this system. Such ET must now be validated in farm conditions, under different climatic conditions (different regions), with different maize varieties.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Neotropical Entomology, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences