The effect of cover crops on the abundance and survival of beneficial stink bugs

2015 Annual Report for GNE15-099

GNE15-099 (project overview)
Project Type: Graduate Student
Funds awarded in 2015: $11,916.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2016
Grant Recipient: University of Maryland
Region: Northeast
State: Maryland
Graduate Student:
Peter Coffey
Email
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Cerruti R. R. Hooks
Email
University of Maryland

The effect of cover crops on the abundance and survival of beneficial stink bugs

Summary

The proposed work for this project will not start until the spring of 2016, and as a result no funds have been used.

We have planted the cover crops for the 2016 field season at the proposed study site in Central Maryland. We have also planted an additional field at a research farm in Western Maryland. This addition of a replicate field will double the size of the study, and will provide information about the consistancy and applicability of our research over a broader region. 

Specimens collected in the 2014 and 2015 field season continue to be preserved and identified. Preliminary data has been presented at two community events and three academic conferences.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Samples collected during preliminary studies continue to be processed. This includes determining the fate of collected stink bug egg masses, preserving the egg masses, and mounting parasitoid wasps for identification. This data will be presented along with the data funded by this grant to look for consistant trends across different years with different growing conditions. 

Winter cover crops were planted at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center on September 24th, and at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center on September 23rd. 

Accomplishments/Milestones

 

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Preliminary results presented to:

Stakeholders and Growers:

 

P. L. Coffey. “Managing Pests with Cover Crops.” Central Maryland Research and Education Center Crops Research Twilight Farm Tour, Upper Marlboro, MD. 6 August 2015. (15 Minute Presentation, Attendance 60)

P. L. Coffey. “Managing Pests with Cover Crops.” Organic Field Day and Farm Tour, Upper Marlboro, MD. 13 August 2015. (15 Minute Presentation, Attendance 40)

Academic Audiences:

 

P. L. Coffey, G. Chen, C. R. R. Hooks. “Cover crops: Controlling pests at multiple trophic levels.” The 2015 Ecology Society of America Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. 14 August 2015. (Poster)

P. L. Coffey, G. Chen, C. R. R. Hooks. “Cover crops: Controlling pests at multiple trophic levels.” The National Meeting of the Entomology Society of America, Minneapolis, MN. 17 November 2015. (10 Minute Presentation, Attendance 75)

P. L. Coffey, C. R. R. Hooks. “Cover crops, tillage, and pests in eggplant fields.” Northeastern Plant, Pest and Soil Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 6 January 2016. (10 Minute Presentation, Attendance 30)

Collaborators:

Dr. Cerruti Hooks

crrhooks@umd.edu
Professor
University of Maryland
4112 Plant Sciences Building
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
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