DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TARGETING THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG, HALYOMORPHA HALYS IN PEPPERS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: SPECIAL GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0224911
• Grant No.: 2011-34103-30716
• Proposal No.: 2011-00532
• Project Start Date: Aug 15, 2011
• Project End Date: Aug 14, 2013
• Grant Year: 2011
• Program Code: [QQ.NE]- Integrated Pest Management - Northeast Region

Recipient Organization
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
3 RUTGERS PLZA
NEW BRUNSWICK,NJ 08901-8559

Performing Department
Entomology

Non Technical Summary
This is a research project requesting $180,000 in P.L 89-106 funding over the next three years to develop management strategies targeting the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in peppers. BMSB has spread throughout the east and portions of the Midwest and west. BMSB became a severe pest of tree fruit and vegetables in 2009 and 2010. Currently, no adequate pest management alternatives exist to prevent damage to peppers creating the potential for the illegal use of insecticides. This project proposes to develop BMSB monitoring methods, assess BMSB feeding injury in pepper, evaluate cultivar susceptibility differences to BMSB feeding, determine natural enemy species composition in different cultivars, and determines the toxicity and field efficacy of selected insecticides for BMSB control. Objectives 1 and 2 will be accomplished by sampling BMSB populations and determining damage levels caused by BMSB in unsprayed sweet bell peppers. Objectives 3 and 4 will be accomplished by sampling BMSB and natural enemy populations and determining damage levels caused by BMSB in a variety of unsprayed pepper cultivars. Objective 5 will be accomplished by spraying sweet bell peppers with different insecticides to determine efficacy in terms of BMSB toxicity and reductions in damage to fruit. We anticipate this project to safeguard human health and the environment by reducing illegal of insecticides, provide economic benefits by reducing the pepper damage caused by BMSB and promote IPM implementation by developing the tools that can be used by farmers to reduce damage caused by BMSB.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

50%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
211	1461	1130	33%
215	1461	1130	33%
216	1461	1130	34%

Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1461 - Peppers;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

brown marmorated stink bug

ipm

peppers

halyomorpha halys

Goals / Objectives
Objectives: For the reasons outlined above, we propose to accomplish the following research objectives: 1. Develop monitoring methods for brown marmorated stink bug in peppers, 2. Assess the extent and nature of feeding injury to pepper by adult and nymphal brown marmorated stink bug in peppers, 3. Evaluate susceptibility of different pepper cultivar types to brown marmorated stink bug feeding, 4. Determine species composition of parasitoids and predators and rate of egg parasitization and predation for the BMSB in different pepper cultivars, 5. Determine the toxicity and field efficacy of selected insecticides for BMSB control in peppers. Anticipated Impacts: We anticipate this project to have the following impacts: Safeguarding human health and the environment - The IPM tactics we propose to develop will be adopted by farmers in 23 states thereby potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of people through reductions in pesticide residues on harvested peppers. It would result in the cessation of illegal pesticide applications to control H. halys by farmers. Adoption of this program over large areas also has the potential to reduce the spread of this invasive insect to agricultural areas in other states not currently impacted by BMSB; Economic benefits - This project will result in economic benefits in the form of decreased monetary looses due to yield reductions caused by this insect. It will also result in increased time being available for marketing of the crop that would otherwise be spent managing this insect. Finally, this project will ultimately result in fewer costs in managing this pest due to reductions in pesticide use; Implementation of IPM - This project will document the development and evaluation of several IPM tactics including monitoring, resistant varieties and targeted use of pesticides. Information about the tactics will be discussed by each of the PI's at state and regional grower meetings and will result in information being made available at www.rce.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/. Placing this information on the web will allow distribution to growers throughout the US.

Project Methods
Obj 1: To evaluate monitoring methods, bell pepper plots will be established in DE, MD, NJ and VA by growing plants on black plastic mulch with no insecticides. BMSB will be monitored using blacklight trap counts, direct visual counts and pheromone trap counts. Trap counts will be correlated with the first presence of adults and nymphal BMSB in plots. Obj 2: This objective uses the same plot as obj 1 in NJ and MD. With the first appearance of BMSB, weekly damage ratings will be done by removing fruit from 20 sentinel plants. At harvest, 100 different plants will be strip harvested and evaluated for damage. In MD, a second plot will be established to accommodate manipulative studies. Obj 3: To evaluate the susceptibility of different pepper cultivar types, plots will be established using bell, banana and hot Chile peppers. Plots will be arranged in a Latin-square design. Direct visual and beat counts on five plants in the 2 center rows of each plot will be made semi-weekly until harvest. Multiple fruit harvests will record the number of marketable fruit, stink bug damaged fruit, and number of feeding sites. Obj 4: This objective uses the same plot as obj 3. Predation and parasitism of BMSB eggs in different pepper cultivars will be assessed using sentinel egg masses placed when BMSB is first observed in plots and repeated every other week. Each egg mass will be examined at 24hrs for predation and after 48hrs egg masses will be collected, examined for predation and held for parasitoid emergence. Naturally laid eggs will not be removed, but if found, will be marked and checked daily for a week. Obj 5: Small-plot field experiments will be conducted in sweet bell peppers using oxamyl, acephate, dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, pyriproxyfen, spirotetramat, cryolite, indoxacarb, methomyl, flonicamid, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, clothianidin, endosulfan, AzaDirect, Pyganic, Entrust, Surround, Azera, Trilogy and Neemix. Treatments plus an untreated control will be arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Marketable-sized fruit will be examined and the total number and weight of marketable fruit, number of stink bug damaged fruit and number of feeding sites per fruit will be recorded.

Progress 08/15/11 to 08/14/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences reached by this project include but are not limited topepper growers, extension personnel and agrichemical industry representives in the mid-Atlantic United States. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Scientific Meetings Kuhar T. November 2011. Impact on vegetables and insecticide efficacy research in the mid-Atlantic U.S.: Brown marmorated stink bug symposium at The 59th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV, November 13, 2011. Kamminga K., T. Kuhar, D. Herbert, H. Doughty, A. Wallingford, A. Wimer, J. Jenrette, C. Philips. November 2011. Results of insecticide bioassays on Halyomorpha halys. The 59th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV, November 15, 2011. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? In addition to the presentations listed below, the results of this work have been reported in various printed formats (state vegetable recommendations, fact sheets and handouts at meetings.Results are also available via a website maintained b y the University of Delaware. Kuhar, T. 2012. Managing brown marmorated stink bugs and more from the frontiers of entomology. Tri-County Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Meeting, Penn State Cooperative Extension, February 22, Shippensburg, PA Kuhar, T. 2012. Insecticide Efficacy Research on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on Vegetables in Virginia. 2012 Atlantic Coast Agriculture Convention and Trade Show and the New Jersey Agricultural Convention, January 18, Atlantic City, NJ Kuhar, T. 2012. Host plant visual sampling and insecticide efficacy research. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug IPM Working Group Meeting., June 12-13, Westminster, MD. Kuhar, T. 2012. Insect Management Update Including Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. February 24., Richmond Area Vegetable Growers Meeting. Kuhar, T. 2011. Update on stink bug biology and control in Virginia. Webinar for Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents, November 3, Blacksburg, VA Kuhar T. February 2011. Insect management update including brown marmorated stink bug. Richmond Area Vegetable Growers Meeting, February 9, 2011. Kuhar T. November 2011. Update on Insect Management Research in Virginia Vegetables. Mid-Atlantic Vegetable and Small Fruit Workers Conference, Newark, DE, Nov 9, 2011. Kuhar T. 2011. Update on insect control for vegetable crops and the new invasive stink bug. 2011 Eastern Shore AREC Fall Vegetable Field Day, Painter, VA, September 21, 2011. Kuhar T. 2011. Insect management update for vegetables. Appalachian Regional Horticulture Conference, Abingdon, VA, February 18, 2011. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1) Evaluations to identify organic and traditional insecticides with efficacy against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) showed several traditional insecticides to have good efficacy against BMSB. These included several pyrethroid (bifenthrin, cypermethrin and permethrin) and neonicotinoid (dinotefuran) insecticides. The organic materials tested were less efficacious. 2) Studies to determine the most appropriate sampling method for determining BMSB densities in bell peppers showed visual counts to be the best technique for sampling populations. Blacklight traps were useful for monitoring early to mid season adult movement. The beat sheet technique was the least accurate. All researchers drop the use of the beat sheet technique during year two of the study. 3) Studies to determine when BMSBs enter bell pepper fields and at what stage of fruit development damage appears showed that BMSB enters fields, depending on the state, during late July through August. Analysis showed that fruit less than 3 inches in diameter are not damaged by BMSB. 4) Studies to determine whether certain pepper varieties were naturally resistant to feeding damage caused by BMSB showed that depending on the state and time of year examined, significant differences in feeding damage between varieties were seen. Overall, however, no significant differences between varieties were seen. 5) Evaluations to examine the current level of parasitism impacting BMSB showed that low levels of parasitism occurred. Two hymenopteran species from different genera were responsible for the parasitism seen. Evaluations of egg predation showed that lady bugs, lacewing larvae, big eyed bugs and minute pirate bugs feed on BMSB eggs.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kuhar, T. P., K. L. Kamminga, J. Whalen, G. P. Dively, G. Brust, C. R.R. Hooks, G. Hamilton, and D. A. Herbert. 2012. The pest potential of brown marmorated stink bug on vegetable crops. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2012-0523-01-BR.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kamminga, K., T. Kuhar, A. Wimer and D. A. Herbert. 2012. Effects of the insect growth regulators novaluron and diflubenzuron on the brown marmorated stink bug. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2012-1212-01-RS.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kuhar T., G. P. Dively, J. Whalen, G. C. Hamilton, G. Brust, and K. Kamminga. 2012. P015: Pest threat of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug to vegetable crops in the U.S. p. 85 in 2012 Proceedings of the 7th International Integrated Pest Management Symposium: IPM on the World Stage, March 2729, Memphis, TN.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kuhar T., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, and J. Aigner. 2013. Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia  2012 Test 1. Arthropod Management Tests 2013, Vol. 38: in press.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kuhar T., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, and J. Aigner. 2013. Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia  2012 Test 2. Arthropod Management Tests 2013, Vol. 38: in press.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kuhar T., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, and J. Aigner. 2013. Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia  2012 Test 3. Arthropod Management Tests 2013, Vol. 38: in press.

Progress 08/15/11 to 08/14/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the first year of the project, all of the objectives were addressed. 1) Evaluations to identify organic and traditional insecticides with efficacy against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) were conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. Replicated plots consisting of bell peppers were treated with insecticides when BMSB entered fields. At harvest, pepper fruit was evaluated for feeding due to BMSB feeding. 2) Studies to determine the most appropriate sampling method for determining BMSB densities in bell peppers was conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. This was done in each state using a bell pepper plot consisting of nine rows with 30 plants per row. All researchers compared the use of weekly visual, beat sheet and blacklight trap counts to make this determination. This study will be repeated during year two of the project by researchers in DE, MD, NJ and VA. 3) Studies to determine when BMSB enter bell pepper fields and at what stage of fruit development damage occurs were conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. This was done in each state using a bell pepper plot consisting of nine rows with 30 plants per row. Each week 100 plants were sampled using visual counts. When fruit first appeared, all fruit from 100 plants were removed categorized as to size, evaluated for feeding damage and marketability. This was continued until all fruit were harvested (early September). This study will be repeated during year two of the project by researchers in DE, MD, NJ and VA. 4) Studies to determine whether certain pepper varieties were naturally resistant to feeding damage caused by BMSB was conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. Three varieties were evaluated: Paladin bell pepper, Sparky cherry pepper and Bounty banana peppers. Replicated single species plots consisting of four rows by 10 plants were sampled weekly to monitor BMSB populations using visual counts. When fruit began to ripen, ripe fruit were removed from the two interior rows of each plot, counted and then evaluated for damage. This was continued until all fruit were harvested (early September). This study will be repeated during year two of the project by researchers in DE, MD, NJ and VA. 5) To evaluate the current level of parasitism impacting BMSB in bell peppers fields, 2 day old sentinel egg masses were placed weekly in fields (see objective 2 for plot setup). After 48 hours, all egg masses removed and held in the laboratory until either all eggs hatched (BMSB or parasitoid) or until such time as no hatching occurred. The total number of eggs per egg mass, the total number of hatched eggs and whether stink bugs or a parasitoid emerged was recorded. This was conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. Additional egg masses were also placed in the field and evaluated for feeding by predators. Similar data was recorded. This was conducted by researchers in MD only. Preliminary results of these studies will be shared with stakeholder at meetings held in each of the participating states. PARTICIPANTS: Galen Dively, Emeritus Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland, [e-mail] Gerald Ghidiu, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Entomology, Rutgers University, [e-mail] George Hamilton, Extension Specialist in Pest Management, Rutgers University, [e-mail] Cerruti Hooks, Assistant Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland, [e-mail] Thomas Kuhar, Associate Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech, [e-mail] Joanne Whalen, Extension Specialist in IPM, University of Delaware. [e-mail] TARGET AUDIENCES: Vegetable growers and departments of agriculture in DE, MD, NJ and VA PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
1) Evaluations to identify organic and traditional insecticides with efficacy against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) showed several traditional insecticides to have good efficacy against BMSB. These included several pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides. The organic materials tested were less efficacious and will need further study. 2) Studies to determine the most appropriate sampling method for determining BMSB densities in bell peppers showed visual counts to be the best technique for sampling populations. Blacklight traps were useful for monitoring early to mid season adult movement. The beat sheet technique was the least accurate. All researchers will drop the use of the beat sheet technique during year two of the study. 3) Studies to determine when BMSBs enter bell pepper fields and at what stage of fruit development damage showed that BMSB enters field, depending on the state, during late July through August. Preliminary analysis suggests that fruit less than 3 inches in diameter are not damaged by BMSB. This finding will need to be verified during year two of the study. 4) Studies to determine whether certain pepper varieties were naturally resistant to feeding damage caused by BMSB showed that depending on the state and time of year examined, significant differences in feeding damage between varieties occurred. These results, however, were not consistent in terms of variety. 5) To evaluate the current level of parasitism impacting BMSB that low levels of parasitism occurred. Two hymenopteran species from different genera were responsible for the parasitism seen. Evaluations of egg predation showed that several predators including lady bugs, lacewing larvae and minute prate bugs feed on BMSB eggs.

Publications

• Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 4, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E40. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E40
• Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 1, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E37. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E37.
• Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 2, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E38. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E38.
• Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 3, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E39. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E39.
• Whalen, J. 2011. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Management in Bell Peppers, 2011. http://extension.udel.edu/ag/files/2012/06/2011BellPepperBMSBManageme ntReport.pdf
• Whalen, J. 2011. Evaluation of Pepper Cultivars for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Susceptibility, 2011. http://extension.udel.edu/ag/files/2012/06/2011PepperVarietyEvaluatio nBMSB.pdf