Effect of Weeds on Rice Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Populations in Florida Rice Fields

The effect of weeds on rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.), populations was studied in Florida rice fields. Fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michaux, was the most common grassy weed found in weedy areas of rice fields, and significantly more rice stink bugs were found in these weedy areas vs nonweedy areas in the fields. Large numbers of rice stink bugs also were found in unmowed roadsides containing heading weeds, especially coast cockspur, Echinochloa walteri (Pursh) Heller. In contrast, few rice stink bugs were found in mowed roadsides which prevented weed heading around rice fields. Our study shows that weed control helps reduce rice stink bug populations in Florida rice.