Source: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY submitted to NRP
BIOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND PEST STATUS OF THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG IN AGRONOMIC, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CROPS, AND URBAN AREAS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0223744
Grant No.
2010-37610-21845
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2010-03824
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2010
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2011
Grant Year
2010
Program Code
[NI]- Critical Issues
Recipient Organization
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
3 RUTGERS PLZA
NEW BRUNSWICK,NJ 08901-8559
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stal (BMSB), is a highly polyphagous stink bug of Asian origin. In its native range of China, Korea and Japan, it is considered an agricultural pest of soybeans, apples and other tree fruit and various ornamental crops. BMSB is also a nuisance pest in these countries due to its overwintering behavior of entering enclosed structures such as residences in large numbers each fall. BMSB was first observed in the US in Allentown, PA around 1996 but was initially misidentified as a native pentatomid species. Following correct identification in 2001, it has been found in several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States and in CA, FL, OH, OR, TN and MS. In several of these states, its presence in agriculture crops has been confirmed and has been observed causing late season damage to apples and pears in NJ, PA, and WV. Traditionally, management of stink bugs in soybeans, tree fruit and horticultural crops was accomplished through the use of targeted applications of organophosphate insects. However, these materials have been slowly phased out resulting in increased damage by stink bugs. The addition of BMSB with its high rates of reproduction and survival puts these crops at greater risk. In the laboratory, replacements for organophosphate insecticides exhibit high levels of toxicity to BMSB but have not tested under field conditions. In Asia, BMSB is attacked by several egg parasitoids and a tachnid fly. Little information is known however, about endemic natural enemies in the US. The use of microbial agents is another potential non-chemical control method but again no screening for possible candidates has been conducted. BSMB has become a severe residential nuisance pest wherever it occurs. Currently, there are no adequate pest management alternatives to prevent overwintering BMSB adults from entering residences in areas where they occur. The use of insecticides to control BMSB has proven effective in Japan; however, this usage is not currently labeled in the US and is not currently an option. A non-insecticidal management method is the potential use of mass trapping. If successful, residents in PA, NJ, MD, DE VA and elsewhere where BMSB occurs will directly benefit due to reductions in illegal pesticide use, a reductions in potential environmental problems, and reductions in entomophobia and exposure to pesticides by affected homeowners thereby improving their health and decreasing calls to county cooperative extension offices and other agencies. These issues make it imperative that research be conducted this year in order to begin development of management strategies. This importance is highlighted by PI's Leskey and Hamilton having received a NE IPM Center grant to form a BMSB working group charged with identifying current abilities and research needs. Therefore, we propose to 1) investigate the biology of BMSB on and the potential susceptibility of soybeans, apple, peach and pear to feeding by BMSB, 2) determine the current and projected distribution and pest status of BMSB on soybeans, tree fruit and peppers, and 3) develop and evaluate various BMSB management strategies.
Animal Health Component
75%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
75%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2112410113080%
2112410110220%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2410 - Cross-commodity research--multiple crops;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1102 - Mycology;
Goals / Objectives
Objectives - 1. Investigate the biology of BMSB on and the susceptibility of potential agronomic host plants: a) Determine the pest status of BMSB on soybean and selected vegetable crops in MD, b) Fruit injury dynamics in apple, peach and pear (both Asian and European) throughout the season in WV, 2. Determine the current/projected distribution and pest status of brown marmorated stink bug on agronomic, fruit and vegetable hosts: a) Model the current distribution of BMSB in the United States (NJ, b) Determine the distribution range of BMSB in soybean in MD and VA, c) Population monitoring in tree fruit and surrounding habitats in WV; 3. Management strategies for brown marmorated stink bug: a) Conduct trapping studies aimed at quantifying seasonal attraction to specific visual stimuli and known olfactory attractants, b) Define active space of a known attractant for BMSB, c) Characterize the impact of contact with insecticide residues on horizontal and vertical mobility of BMSB using EthoVision, d) Collect and preserve indigenous entomopathogenic fungi associated with BMSB populations within the mid-Atlantic region, develop a sensitive, rapid bioassay procedure for determining the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi collected to adult and late-instar BMSB and determine the efficacy of fungal isolates against BMSB using field collected BMSB from PA and NJ, e) Determine the incidence, identity, and levels of parasitism by resident North American natural enemies of BMSB in several host plant habitat types, f) Determine the incidence, identity and impact of resident BMSB natural enemies in MD, g) Delivery of BMSB pest status to agents, crop consultants, and growers in VA, h)Evaluate the use of mass trapping against brown marmorated stinkbug.
Project Methods
BMSB pest status on MD soybeans will be determine by infesting caged soybean plants with different densities & soybean growth stages & allowed to feed for 3 weeks. At harvest the number of aborted , mature & flat pods will be recorded. We will examine pepper's susceptibility to BMSB injury using sentinel pepper plots established at 6 farms in MD. Plots will be monitored for BMSB & harvested fruit will be evaluated for feeding injury. To determine fruit injury dynamics in WV, monitoring of 100 apple, peach & pear fruits in orchards for stink bug injury will be done. At harvest 1000 fruit from each orchard will be evaluated for stink bug injury. To model BMSB's US distribution a reporting website & 80 blacklight traps and data from other states will be used. To determine the distribution of BMSB in MD soybeans, field surveys will be done using sweep nets during August in randomly selected soybean fields. BMSB numbers, soybean maturity, injury symptoms & GPS coordinates will be recorded. Similar roadside surveys will be done in VA from mid-July to mid-September. Information will also be derived from phone calls/emails reported to the MD Extension Home Garden Center & Dept. of Ag. Population monitoring in tree fruit & surrounding habitats in WV apple, pear & peach orchards will be done from May - October via visual counts, limb beats, sweep netting & baited black pyramid traps placed in orchards & nearby habitats. Studies to quantify BMSB attraction will be done using clear, black, green, yellow, or white pheromone baited & unbaited pyramid traps deployed at the edge of an unsprayed tree fruit orchard from fruit set to harvest. BMSB movement to pheromone traps will be determined using plots established in an open field containing potted plants placed in 3 increasing diameter circular subplots around a baited or unbaited trap. BMSB numbers on plants & within traps will be determined & compared. In a second test, 2 adult male & female BMSB will be marked, released on each plant & subsequently located on each plant or in baited & unbaited traps 24 & 48 h later. We will evaluate insecticide residues on BMSB walking activity using glass Petri dishes treated with pesticides formulated with standard field rates. The mobility of 30 BMSB will be evaluated immediately after introduction, 1 and 2 h later. We will collect & preserve native fungi attacking BMSB in the mid-Atlantic region, develop a rapid bioassay for determining collected fungi virulence & determine the efficacy of fungal isolates on field collected BMSB. We will determine the incidence, identity, & levels of parasitism by resident natural enemies in DE, NJ, VA & WV by evaluating wild egg masses for parasitoids. Mass trapping of BMSB will be evaluated by in a pilot study of 12 homeowner properties with known problems using 3 treatments: pheromone baited traps, unbaited traps & a no trap control. Homeowners will also be given a tally sheet to record number of stink bugs found indoors during the following ensuing winter. We will deliver BMSB pest status information to agents, crop consultants, & growers in Virginia using the VA Ag Pest Advisory to subscribers via email.

Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Investigate the biology of BMSB on and the susceptibility of potential agronomic host plants: During the study period the pest status of BMSB on soybean and selected vegetable crops in MD was investigated. In vegetables, BMSB levels were monitored and determined that BMSB goes through two generations per year. It was first recorded on surrounding trees in mid May; it then colonized vegetable crops, mainly tomato, pepper, and cucurbit crops, followed by infestations on developing ears of field and sweet corn; and then colonized soybean fields in mid to late August. In double-crop Asgrow soybeans cage studies showed that BMSB impacted average seed weight at the R2 and R4 development stages and that feeding at R4 significantly affected yields compared to R2. The effects of the delayed growth along field edges due to BMSB feeding in two soybean fields that were heavily infested along the field margins: infested plants along the field edges had 57-68% less seed yield and 26-38% fewer mature pods than the interior of fields. Fruit injury was documented in apple, peach and pear (both Asian and European) during early and late season in MD and WV. Determine the current/projected distribution and pest status of BMSB on agronomic, fruit and vegetable hosts in the United States: The spread of BMSB through the US was followed via a website maintained as part of this project. This system documented BMSB detection/spread to 14 additional states in 2010 and 5 in 2011. Of these 12 were considered to be detections only. In MD and VA the distribution of BMSB in soybean was limited to all but 4 counties in MD and counties in the piedmont the piedmont region (e.g., Roanoke, Lynchburg, Bedford) and northern counties in Virginia. This information was distributed to growers via the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory on a weekly basis via email delivery. In WV tree fruit BMSB was found to be present in all fruit growing regions of the state. Management strategies for BMSB: Studies to quantify seasonal attraction to specific visual stimuli and known olfactory attractants showed that black pyramid traps baited with pheromone lures captured more BMSB than pyramid traps of other colors or other commercial traps. Studies assessing the impact of insecticide residues on horizontal/vertical BMSB mobility via 7-d assessments allowed numerous insecticides to be ranked based on topical and residual toxicity. Researchers isolated 7 potential fungi from field collected BMSB cadavers. Tests were also conducted to evaluate reference fungal strains against BMSB. Beuvaria bassiana isolates exhibited higher virulence levels than Metarhizium anisopliae isolates. GHA strains and an indigenous isolate were more pathogenic than a foreign Sunn Pest strain. Evaluations examining the incidence, identity, and levels of parasitism by native BMSB natural enemies indicated overall parasitism rates of 1.4% for individual eggs and 5% of egg masses had at least one egg parasitized. The use of mass trapping against BMSB in urban areas revealed that the pheromone used, the trap style utilized and the placement of traps needs to be refined. PARTICIPANTS: George C. Hamilton,Rutgers University, PI; Kim Hoelmer, USDA ARS Newark DE, Co-PI; Tracy Lesky, USDA ARS Kearneysville WV, Co-PI; Mark Brown, USDA ARS Kearneysville WV, Co-PI; Ames Herbert, Virginia Tech University, Co-PI; Galen P. Dively, University of Maryland, Co-PI; Bruce Parker, University of Vermont, Co-PI TARGET AUDIENCES: The principal audiences consist of commercial soybean, tree fruit and vegetable growers in Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia. Commercial growers were trained at numerous venues in each state. The results of program activities were presented in field meetings, twilight and other grower meetings, newsletters, Web downloads, and annual recommendations. Additional audiences included health officers, lawyers, not-for-profit organizations, pest management professionals, county extension agents, policy makers. The audiences were served via talks at state and regional meetings, face-to-face meetings with individuals and through the use of websites and an Iphone APP developed as part of the project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Researchers were able to determine the incidence and damage caused by BMSB in 2010/2011. This information is valuable to researchers, extension personnel, growers and the general public. Information about various management tactics including chemical and biological control methods were also evaluated. These evaluations led to changes in recommendations made to growers and the general public. Specific impacts include: 1. Identification of how widespread BMSB is in the United States, 2. The incidence of BMSB in vegetables and soybeans in Maryland and Virginia was determined, 3. Potential fungal strains for use against BMSB were identified, 4. The current pitfalls regarding the use of mass trapping in urban areas are known, 5. A Section 18 for dinotefuran was approved for tree fruit in seven states based in part on data generated from insecticide trials, 6. Pyramid traps or pyramidal style traps are now commercially available for BMSB and can be used with commercially available lures to monitor late-season populations. 7. An USDA-NIFA SCRI CAP project was funded to develop monitoring and management tools for BMSB in specialty crops. Title: Biology, ecology, and management of BMSB in orchard crops, small fruit, grapes, vegetables and ornamentals, 8. An informational website was routinely updated based on incidence information gathered during the project. This information also appears as part of an Iphone APP that was developed.

Publications

  • Gouli, V., S. Gouli, M. Skinner, G. Hamilton, J.S. Kim & B.L. Parker. 2011. Virulence of select entomopaghogenic fungi to the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Pest Management Science. DOI10.1002/ps.2310.
  • Leskey, T.C., S.E. Wright, B.D. Short, and A. Khrimian. 2012. Development of Behaviorally-Based Monitoring Tools for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Commercial Tree Fruit Orchards. J. Entomol. Sci.