NOT E Influence of Trap Color on Collection ot . the Recently - Introduced

Large numbers of the exotic bean plataspid, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae). were first collected from several northeast Georgia counties beginning in October 2009 (Suiter and Ames 2009, Statewide Pest Alert). How this insect arrived in the United States and where it came from is still not known. The native range of M. cnbraria is reported to be throughout Asia and the Indian Subcontinent (Hosokawa et at 2007 t Proc. R. Soc. B. 274: 1979 -1984; Srinivasaperumal et aI. 1992, Proc.lndian Natn. Sci. Acad. 6: 333 340; Hua 2000, List of Chinese Insects. Vol. 1, Zhong-shan Univ. Press. Guangzhou. 251 pp.). It is similar to other PJataspidae in having a somewhat unusual symbiotic relationship with its gut bacteria. Before laying eggs, females deposit particles containing the symbiont which are then eaten by newly .. hatched nymphs under natural conditions. Nymphs experimentally deprived of access to the symbiont exhibited slower growth, smaller body sizes, and higher mortaUty. Thus, presence of the obligate symbiont was predictive of the insect's status as a pest (Hosokawa at al. 2007). Preliminary testing of M. cribraria in Georgia showed that all individuals evaluated contained the symbiont (Jenkins et a1. 2010, J. Entomol. Sci. 45: 62 63). The plant hosts of the Plataspidae are predominantly legumes (i.e., bean family) (Schaefer and Panizzi 2000, Heteroptera of Economic Importance. CRC Press. Boca Raton. FL. 828 pp.). such as kudzu (Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.), lablab bean (Lablab purpureus L.)t and soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Although the occurrence of a new insect feeding on kudzu was welcomed in Georgia, the possibility of an insect damaging any portion of the $12.5 billion U.S. soybean crop is not. Reports from China suggest M. cribraria can cause serious damage to soybean production (Zhixing et at 1996. Plant Protect. 3: 7 9; Guangnan et at 2006, Acta Agro. Sinica. 32: 491 496.). In addition to soybeans, other legume crops have been negatively affected by this pest such as iablab beans (Thippeswamy and Rajagopal1998, Karnataka J. Ag, Sci. 11: 941 946) and Phaseo/us beans (Easton and Pun 1997, Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 99: 574 .. 582). Furthermore, many important forest plant species in the bean family (I.e .• redbud, black locust) can be found in the southeastern U.S., and how they might be impacted by this pest remains unknown.