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/Contribution from the Inst. of Food and Agric. Sci. Florida Exp. Stn., Univ.

 of Florida, and the North Florida Res. and Educ. Ctr., Quincy, FL 32351.

 Research Report NF 87-9.

a/Assistant Professor of Entomology, Univ. of Florida and Professor of

 Entomology, Auburn Univ. 36849-4201.


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 ? Central Science
 Bigeyed Bug Abundance and Dispersion Patterns of Geocons Scien

 (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in Soybean Fields'
 I SEP 23 1987
 J. E. Funderburk and T. P. Mack!-/

 ABSTRACT Universty of Florida

 Seasonal abundance and dispersion characteristics of adult and nymphal

Geocoris spp. (bigeyed bug) populations were determined for soybean fields

located in Alabama and Florida. Three fields were sampled in 1985 and two

fields were sampled in 1986. Populations were present in each field from

middle or late vegetative stages of crop growth until crop senescence.

Numbers increased through the growing season and were greatest on the last or

near the last sample dates. At least three complete and additional partial

generations were typical, with populations of different generations broadly

overlapping. Population dynamics were similar to previously reported data in

other states in the southern U.S., indicating a similar phenology for bigeyed

bugs in soybean fields throughout the region. Dispersion statistics of

variance/mean ratio and Taylor's power law were calculated for adult and

nymphal sample estimates. Populations of nymphs were always aggregated.

Adults usually were randomly distributed, but sometimes aggregated.