Life Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating The Ecological Relationships Among Beauveria Bassiana, Kudzu Bug And Kudzu, Kassie L. Hollabaugh

Masters Theses

When kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria, was identified in the United States in 2009 as an invasive species, populations began to establish, increase, and spread throughout the southeastern region at intense rates. Kudzu bug invades urban structures, causing unpleasant scenes for homeowners, and reduces crop yield, such as soybean. Kudzu bug caused about $2.8 million in soybean yield loss and treatment in Tennessee in 2020. Although initial spread was rapid throughout the southeastern U.S., spatial modeling has shown populations of kudzu bug are declining and reducing risk of crop damage to growers. These local and regional declines in populations appear …