True bugs: 12 species cause pecans to abort or kernel spot

摘要

According to the Texas Agricultural Statistics Service, pecans are grown and produced in over 200 of Texas' 254 counties. Obviously, this area of production covers a wide geographical area and a diverse range of ecological habitats and insect communities. For those insects that feed on pecan, I have recorded over 180 species which feed on the foliage, fruit, trunk, branches and roots and, of these, 12 species of true bugs or Hemipterans are known to feed on the developing pecan ahd pecan kernels. Feeding by these insects on the developing nut prior to shell hardening causes nuts to abort while, after shell hardening, feeding causes the characteristic black spots on the kernel which is generally referred to as "stink bug" damage. I feel that management of this complex of kernel feeders is one of the most challenging and most frustrating.