Cottonseed BugOxycarenus hyalinipennis

Image Credit: Dani Barchana, ForestryImages.org, #54496369

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Introduction

• Pest of cotton and other plants in the Malvaceae family

• Worldwide distribution, excluding most of North America

– Declared eradicated in Monroe County, FL, in 2014

• Risk of being introduced in the U.S. is very high

Image Credit: Julieta Brambila, USDA-APHIS

The United States is the lead producer of cotton. In 2017, the USDA reported that the USA’s cotton production was valued at over 7 billion dollars. The cottonseed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis) is an important pest of cotton and other crops such as kenaf, okra, and roselle that belong to the Malvaceae plant family (mallow family).

The cottonseed bug was intercepted 606 times at US ports between 1984 and 2013. In Florida, the cottonseed bug was detected in Monroe County in 2010 but was declared eradicated in 2014. Reintroduction is likely because the cottonseed bug is established in the Caribbean. If it were to establish in the United States, the cottonseed bug would cause significant damage to the commercial cotton industry.

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Hosts

Image credit – Wikimedia Commons

Cotton Okra Hibiscus

The cottonseed bug is a seed feeder of more than 35 reported host plants from the Malvaceae family, especially cotton (Gossypium spp.), hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) and okra (Abelmoschus spp). The preferred reproductive host appears to be cotton. It has been reported that O. hyalinipennis could also feed on 10 hosts outside of Malvaceae including apple, corn, avocado, pear, cowpea, grape, and milkweed. Approximately 70% of reported host plants occur within the United States. Seeds must be present for the cottonseed bug to reproduce.

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Distribution

No sampling

Sampled but not found

Declared eradicated

The cottonseed bug is native to southern Europe and North Africa. It has invaded parts of Asia, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

In 2010, the cottonseed bug was detected on cotton in a residential area on Stock Island in Monroe County (in the Florida Keys). It was immediately targeted for eradication in March 2010 and was declared eradicated from Florida in early 2014. It has also been sampled in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and Colorado, but it has not been detected.

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Potential Distribution

Risk Potential

High

Low

The risk map is based on host availability and climate suitability. Parts of Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and North Carolina are at risk of having this pest become established and damaging available crops. It is important to note that while this map is based on climate and host availability, it does not consider the cash value of the crop to those states, which is why the USDA feels the insect merits the “high risk” category.

It has been determined by USDA that this bug is a high-risk pest due to the suitability of the climate in cotton-producing states of the United States. This bug potentially can complete up to seven generations a year in all cotton producing states.

The presence of the pest in the Caribbean Islands increases the potential for future introductions and potential establishment of the exotic organism in the continental U.S. Florida is particularly vulnerable as 24 Lygaeid (family of seed bugs) species have already been introduced from the West Indies.

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Life Cycle

Eggs: 4 to 10 days3 to 7 generations in

Florida

Adults feed on newly opened bolls and lay eggs

5 nymphal stages: 14 days

Adults are generally 3.8 mm to 4.3 mm in length. They are brown to black in color depending on the continental origin of the populations. Caribbean populations are brown while African populations are black. The wings are translucent white. The abdomen of male is rounded while female abdomen is truncate (shortened). The second antennal segment is yellowish near the base. Adults aggregate near the bolls and begin to feed as soon as the bolls open.

Cotton is planted from February to June in the U.S. depending on the weather. Bolls open from July to September. If the cotton seed bug were to become established in the U.S., adult cottonseed bugs would begin to feed as bolls open. They mate within 1-3 days after boll emergence and each female lays about 25 to 40 eggs on the lint near the seed of the opened boll. Breeding can take place only when ripe or almost ripe seeds are available which is estimated to be July to late November in the U.S.

The eggs are laid singly or in groups close to the seed. At optimum temperatures of 35°C (95°F), the incubation of the eggs takes place in 4 days. Egg development could take up to 10 days at suboptimal temperatures. Eggs are yellow/pink oval shapes.

Soon after hatching, the nymphs start searching for food and begin to feed on the

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seeds. They go through five nymphal instars in about 14 days. Nymphs have a brownish head and thorax (top sections) with a more orange abdomen (bottom section).

The life cycle can be completed in about three weeks, throughout the period of crop ripening. It is estimated that three to seven generations could occur in a year in the USA.

At the end of the season when suitable cotton seeds are no longer available, the bugs leave the cotton field and find a suitable place (tree trunks, underside of the leaves, crevices etc.) to hibernate. They cluster together during diapause until seeds are available again in warmer months (estimated to be June-July in North America).

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Damage

• No external symptoms of damage in cotton

– Damage is seen in processing

– Crushed cottonseed bugs stain lint

• On fruit, look for a pungent smell and greasy secretions

Image Credit: Doug Restom Gaskill, USDA APHIS

There are no external symptoms of damage in cotton, though smaller or desiccated seed-pods and seeds may be indicative of an infestation. Feeding of adults and nymphs can cause reductions in seed weight up to 15% and seed germination up to 88%. The oil quality of the seed is also decreased due to the feeding. Despite damage from the feeding, the main source of damage from the cottonseed bug is from staining the harvested cotton during processing. The crushed insects will stain the lint pink, which reduced the value of the product. Stored cotton (with seeds) also can be attacked by the cottonseed bug.

On ripening fruit, the cottonseed bug causes a greasy secretion and pungent smell from the area of feeding.

The cottonseed bug is reported to congregate on the walls of the buildings and emit foul odor. They also seem to be attracted to lights at night.

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Monitoring

• Surveys must be conducted in high risk areas

• Focused during seeding

• Visual inspection is key

• Cotton bolls

– Tiny black and brown bugs present

Image Credit: top - Doug Restom Gaskill, USDA APHIS and bottom -Karolynne Griffiths, FDACS-DPI

Regular surveys should be conducted in high risk areas, such as fields near ports of entry. Areas with high cotton production and wild cotton stands should be surveyed when the hosts are seeding. Surveys of cotton fields when the host plant is not seeding is unlikely to be productive because the adults are dormant during this period. However, wild cotton in Florida produces cotton bolls throughout the year so it should be surveyed whenever open bolls are present.

Careful inspection of the newly matured bolls and dry seeds should be conducted to locate the bugs. High density infestations can be obvious. The bolls that are infested look like they have tiny black or brown bugs running through the cotton.

The Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant industry CAPS team inspects for cottonseed bugs using the following technique:Open bolls into a Ziploc bag and spray them gently with a little bit of 70% alcohol (isopropyl is ok) from an atomizer (a perfume atomizer purchased at the local dollar store works nicely). Close the bag quickly. The bugs will become very active very quickly when they are irritated by the smell of the alcohol, and you will know right away if there is an infestation. Since this is a quarantine pest in the U.S., do not open the bag, instead freeze the sample and then pick out the bugs.

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When cotton is not seeding, adults may move to an alternative host (such as dates, figs, avocado and persimmon). It is possible that general surveys could pick up cottonseed bugs during this period, however, since the potential hibernation sites in North America are unknown, it is probably not time-effective to search specifically for cotton seed bugs when no cotton seeds are present.

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Reporting a Pest in Florida

UF/IFAS Faculty

• Local county extension office

– https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/find-your-local-office/

• Insect ID Lab- Lyle Buss

– http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/insectid/

• UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center- Dr. Carrie Harmon

– https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/plant-diagnostic-center/

The UF/IFAS faculty is responsible for reporting diseases, insects, weeds, nematodes,

or any other invasive species to the Florida Department Agriculture and Consumer

Services, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS, DPI). Reporting this information is

essential to protect Florida agriculture, communities and natural areas.

Local county extension agents can assist in identifying plant pest or assist in

submitting a pest sample to the correct department or agency for identification.

Attached is a link to find the closest extension agent near you.

If you need an insect identified, Dr. Lyle Buss at is the director of the Insect ID Lab at

the University of Florida. The link attached will direct you to the insect ID Lab for

further instructions for contact, questions, and submission forms.

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If a diseased plant needs identification, the link to the UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic

Center run by Dr. Carrie Harmon is attached to assist in reporting and identifying the

correct pest.

The diagnosticians and identifiers in each area will also provide management

strategies for the pest identified to help eliminate the damage caused on the plants.

If an invasive pest is found, they will send it FDACS, DPI for further testing.

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ReportingDistance Diagnostic and Identification System

• Digital Diagnostic Collaboration

– Extension agents

– Laboratories

– Clinics

– Specialists

• https://ddis.ifas.ufl.edu/

The DDIS system connects the UF/IFAS faculty mentioned before to provide quick and accurate identification throughout Florida. This reporting collaboration tool enhances screening, early detection, monitoring, pest mapping, and rapid communication

to protect agriculture. The site provides training, media of pest, equipment, and

diagnostic labs in Florida.

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ReportingFDACS: Division of Plant Industry

• FDACS, DPI Responsibility

oAnnouncing detection or establishment of new invasive species.

oReporting is a legal obligation under Florida Statute 581.091.

• Submission Form– http://forms.freshfromflorida.com/08400.pdf

– https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Pests-and-Diseases/How-to-Submit-a-Sample-for-Identification

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Division of Plant Industry is a regulatory agency that detects, intercepts, and controls Florida’s native and commercially grown plants. Announcing the establishment of new invasive species can affect Florida’s agricultural producers and trade of agricultural products.

FDACS, DPI provides online submission forms to fill out and send into the agency for proper identification. Additionally, DPI provides useful videos of how to properly handle the specimens before shipping them for identification

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FDACS, DPI Contact• Dr. Leroy Whilby, Bureau Chief-Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology

– 352-395-4661

– Leroy.whilby@fdacs.gov

• Dr. Paul Skelley, Assistant Chief-Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology

– 352-395-4678

– Paul.skelley@fdacs.gov

• Division of Plant Industry Hotline

• 1-888-397-1517

• DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov

The DPI contacts provided will assist in determining the next steps if the pest found is of regulatory concern. Additionally, FDACS, DPI has a hotline with both a phone number and email for questions and concerns.

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AuthorsShweta Sharma, Ph.D.

– Former Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Sarah Tafel

– Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Amanda Hodges, Ph.D.

– Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

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Editors

Shannon McAmis, M.S.

– Doctor of Plant Medicine Student, University of Florida

Sage Thompson, M.S.

– Doctor of Plant Medicine Student, University of Florida

Stephanie Stocks, M.S.

– Former Assistant-In, Extension Scientist, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

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ReviewersSusan Halbert, Ph.D

– Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry

Andrew Derksen, M.S.– Pest Survey Scientist, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,

Division of Plant Industry

Leroy Whilby, DPM – Bureau Chief - Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, Division of Plant

Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Oulimathe Paraiso, PhD– Biological Scientist IV, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,

Division of Plant Industry

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Collaborating Agencies

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)

• Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program (CAPS)

• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

• National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN)

• Sentinel Plant Network (SPN)

• Protect U.S.

• University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS)

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References• Akin. S., G. Lorenz, and G. Studebaker. 2010. Identification of cotton seed bug-A potentially invasive pest to

Arkansas. University of Arkansas cooperative extension printing services. Accessed on March 14, 2014.

– http://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-7076.pdf

• Derksen, A. I., K. M. Griffiths and L. A. Whilby. 2011. 2010 Florida CAPS Oxycarenus Survey Interim Report. Florida Division of Plant Industry. Accessed on March 17, 2014.

– http://freshfromflorida.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf_2010_caps_oxycarenus_interim_report_2010-12-14.pdf

• FDACS. 2010. New Cotton Pest Identified in Florida Keys. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Press Release, April 23, 2010. Accessed on 03/13/2014

– http://southeastfarmpress.com/cotton/new-cotton-pest-found-florida-keys

• Halbert, S. E., and Dobbs, T. 2010. Cotton Seed Bug, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa): a serious pest of cotton that has become established in the Caribbean Basin. FDACS-Pest Alert DACS-P-01726, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. Accessed on 03/12/2014

– http://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/23900/486249/oxycarenus-hyalinipennis.pdf

• Hill, D.S. 1975. Agricultural Insect Pests of the Tropics and their Control. Cambridge University Press . 249 pp.

• Holtz, T. 2006. Qualitative analysis of potential consequences associated with the introduction of the cottonseed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis) into the United States. USDA-APHIS Publication.

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References• Molet, T. and L.D. Jackson. 2011. CPHST Pest Datasheet for Oxycarenus

hyalinipennis. USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST. Accessed on March 14, 2014. (https://caps.ceris.purdue.edu/webfm_send/939)

• National Cotton Council of America. Accessed on April 1, 2014. (https://www.cotton.org/edu/faq/)

• Smith, T.R. and J. Brambila. 2008. A major pest of cotton, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Hemiptera: Oxycarenidae), in the Bahamas. Florida Entomologist 91(3): 479 – 482.

• Slater, J. A., and R. M. Baranowski. 1994. The occurrence of Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa) (Hemiptera, Lygaeidae) in the West Indies and new Lygaeidae records for the Turks and Caicos Islands of Providenciales and North Caicos. Florida Entomologist 77: 495-497

• USDA. 2012. Pest Alert Cotton Seed Bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis) Program Aid No. 2059, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. Accessed on April 16, 2020

– http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/cotton_seed_bug_alert.pdf

• USDA–APHIS. 2010. Cotton seed bug New Pest response Guidelines, Oxycarenus

hyalinipennis. USDA–APHIS–PPQ–Emergency and Domestic Programs–Emergency

Management, Riverdale, Maryland. Accessed on March 13, 2014.

– http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/emergency/downloads/nprg-cotton_seed_bug.pdf

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