Progress 08/01/11 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The primary audiences of the research activities under this project are Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic fruit growers and farmers affected by the impact caused by invasive insect pest species brown marmorated stink bug. Pest management advisors and providers are also to benefit from the results of this project. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Participation in the collaborative regional research and extension activities related to BMSB Graduate student training Biological control workshops Cooperation with insect pest monitoring industry, testing of new and experimental approaches for BMSB monitoring How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Due to emergency situation created by BMSB in many Pennsylvania fruit orchards, the finding of our research were immediately disseminated to our grower community either by direct presentation during growers meetings, extension publications or by utilization of newest communication methods including web updates and electronic newsletters. Relevant information related to BMSB management and monitoring options and possibilities was provided to farmers using traditional information sharing routes such as in season twilight IPM grower meetings and posted on the web during weekly IPM updates “Insect Bytes”. New PSU Tree Fruit Production Guide, currently under revision will also include all information related to changes in available BMSB pest management tools. Two insecticide active ingredients (four commercial products), previously not registered for use on fruit: dinotefuran (neonicotinoid, IRAC group 4A) and bifenthrin (pyrethroid, IRAC Group 3A) received again Section 18 Emergency Registration from EPA for use on fruit in Pennsylvania during the 2013 season. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Multi-faced activities were undertaken to develop sustainable, IPM friendly BMSB management program(s) and monitoring options. Laboratory and field evaluations of insecticides against BMSB adults and nymphs conducted during the 2012 season tested the effectiveness of multiple insecticide chemistries registered for use on fruit. The most effective insecticide products were then utilized as part of the least IPM disruptive BMSB management programs which, were tested in grower orchards with a special emphasis on assessing their impact on beneficial insects, other major fruit pests and secondary orchard pests. Evaluations of available native biological control agents were also conducted in various environments, to assess their possible impact on BMSB populations. Extensive BMSB monitoring program utilizing experimental and commercially available lures was implemented in fruit orchards located in various parts of Pennsylvania. Various monitoring trap designs were also evaluated for their efficacy in capturing BMSB adults and nymphs. Three different designs of light traps, deployed in the field and field surroundings were also tested to determine their usefulness as monitoring and possible BMSB management tool. The movement of BMSB adults and nymphs in multi-crop system was evaluated to determine possible food preferences or other factors affecting dispersal of BMSB. Active ingredients belonging mostly to two groups of products: pyrethroids and neonicotinoids provided the highest mortality of BMSB adults and nymphs. However, the unfortunate combination of low residual activity of insecticides against BMSB coupled with BMSB ability for unrestricted movement and continuous re-infestation of orchards created a very challenging situation for pest management. In consequence, only multiple, frequent applications of broad spectrum insecticides proved effective to manage the pressure from BMSB. However, the preferred products used for such treatments, exhibit highly negative effect on most beneficial organisms present in the orchard environment. As the result of this unbalanced needs for insecticide treatments to control BMSB, some isolated orchards already experiencing outbreaks of mites, wooly apple aphids or scale insects. Only generalist predators were observed feeding on eggs and various BMSB instars. No BMSB specific parasitoids were identified up to this point, although sentinel eggs were deployed in commercial orchards and surrounding vegetation. At this stage, it appears that no native beneficial insects are capable to control BMSB populations. During each of the 2012 and 2013 seasons over 150 BMSB monitoring traps were deployed in multiple Pennsylvania orchards and at the PSU Fruit Research and Extension Center. Commercially available BMSB monitoring lures from Ag-Bio Inc. (Westminster, CO) and Sterling International, Inc. ( Spokane, WA) were compared with experimental lures provided by USDA ARS in Kearnesville, WV. Studies of various combinations of BMSB lures and attractants deployed in multiple designs of traps resulted in identification of best lures and traps. The results of this research were immediately communicated to growers and farm consultants. Also, although in our testing of commercial light traps during some warm summer nights (temperatures above 68F) we collected up to a thousand of adults BMSB, this control methods still requires further development and more detailed understanding of mechanisms behind stink bug attraction to light sources. Despite very high pressure form BMSB during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, the injury levels were lower by more than 50 percent compared to injuries observed during the 2010 season. Continuous control of BMSB only with broad spectrum, non-selective insecticides could lead to a severe destruction of balanced orchard sustainable ecosystem created by intensive adoption of IPM practices by Pennsylvania fruit growers. There is immediate and very urgent need to develop and evaluate other methods and products that are effective against BMSB so softer, more selective methods can be utilized in the future. And although the non-pesticidal control (e.g., biological or cultural methods) is the ultimate goal for the BMSB management, the short term solutions unfortunately still seems to rely mostly on insecticides.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Krawczyk, G., N. Ellis, T. R. Enyeart, B. Lehman and L. A. Hull. 2013. Understanding biology and behavior of brown marmorated stink bug as a basis for development of management programs in fruit orchards. Pennsylvania Fruit News 93(1):28-34
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Krawczyk, G. 2013. Monitoring brown marmorated stink bug still a challenge. Fruit Times Newsletter, April 2013 feature article: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/tree-fruit/news/2013/monitoring-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-still-a-challenge
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Krawczyk, G. 2013. Monthly insect updates. The Fruit Times Newsletter, monthly issues from April to October. Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences. University Park, PA; http://extension.psu.edu/plants/tree-fruit/news
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Krawczyk, G. 2013. Growing Season Updates. Weekly Updated Insect Bytes. http://agsci.psu.edu/frec/growing-season-information
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera- Pentatomidae) is an exotic pest introduced into North America in mid 1990's. Since the 2010 BMSB established itself as the most devastating fruit pest in Pennsylvania and other Mid-Atlantic states. Feeding damage on fruit caused by BMSB can occur throughout almost entire growing season; it can result in misshapen fruit (early season injury) or fruit with necrotic tissue (corking) close to the skin surface occurring after feeding on mature fruit late in the season. Although the levels of damage caused by BMSB can differ significantly among various locations, during last two seasons in some stone or pome fruit orchards we observed more than 60 percent of injured fruit. Multi-faced activities were undertaken to develop sustainable, IPM friendly BMSB management program(s) and monitoring options. Laboratory and field evaluations of insecticides against BMSB adults and nymphs conducted during the 2012 season tested the effectiveness of multiple insecticide chemistries registered for use on fruit. The most effective insecticide products were then utilized as part of the least IPM disruptive BMSB management programs which, were tested in grower orchards with a special emphasis on assessing their impact on beneficial insects, other major fruit pests and secondary orchard pests. Evaluations of available native biological control agents were also conducted in various environments, to assess their possible impact on BMSB populations. Extensive BMSB monitoring program utilizing experimental and commercially available lures was implemented in fruit orchards located in various parts of Pennsylvania. Various monitoring trap designs were also evaluated for their efficacy in capturing BMSB adults and nymphs. Three different designs of light traps, deployed in the field and field surroundings were also tested to determine their usefulness as monitoring and possible BMSB management tool. The movement of BMSB adults and nymphs in multi-crop system was evaluated to determine possible food preferences or other factors affecting dispersal of BMSB. PARTICIPANTS: Greg Krawczyk, project PI: is one of the PSU leaders of brown marmorated stink bug research activities and a member of NE IPM BMSB Working group. His laboratory conducts pome and stone fruit related research and extension objectives, collaborates with other researchers, growers and ag-chem industry to develop program priorities, cooperates with industry researchers, contribute to data collection, collaborate with farmers and PSU county based extension educators to identify problems, provides presentations at research conferences and extension meetings. Ms. Deonna Soergel is a Master of Science graduate student also participating in the project. Dr. David Biddinger specializes in the biological control of fruit pests and provides systematics and insect identification expertise. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary audiences of the research activities under this project are domestic growers of pome and stone fruit and food processors. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Active ingredients belonging mostly to two groups of products: pyrethroids and neonicotinoids provided the highest mortality of BMSB adults and nymphs. However, the unfortunate combination of low residual activity of insecticides against BMSB coupled with BMSB ability for unrestricted movement and continuous re-infestation of orchards created a very challenging situation for pest management. In consequence, only multiple, frequent applications of broad spectrum insecticides proved effective to manage the pressure from BMSB. However, the preferred products used for such treatments, exhibit highly negative effect on most beneficial organisms present in the orchard environment. As the result of this unbalanced needs for insecticide treatments to control BMSB, some isolated orchards already experiencing outbreaks of mites, wooly apple aphids or scale insects. Only generalist predators were observed feeding on eggs and various BMSB instars. No BMSB specific parasitoids were identified up to this point, although sentinel eggs were deployed in commercial orchards and surrounding vegetation. At this stage, it appears that no native beneficial insects are capable to control BMSB populations. Also, although in our testing of commercial light traps during some warm summer nights (temperatures above 68F) we collected up to a thousand of adults BMSB, this control methods still requires further development and more detailed understanding of mechanisms behind stink bug attraction to light sources. Despite very high pressure form BMSB during the 2012 season, the injury levels were lower by more than 50 percent compared to injuries observed during the 2010 season. Continuous control of BMSB only with broad spectrum, non-selective insecticides could lead to a severe destruction of balanced orchard sustainable ecosystem created by intensive adoption of IPM practices by Pennsylvania fruit growers. There is immediate and very urgent need to develop and evaluate other methods and products that are effective against BMSB so softer, more selective methods can be utilized in the future. And although the non-pesticidal control (e.g., biological or cultural methods) is the ultimate goal for the BMSB management, the short term solutions unfortunately still seems to rely mostly on insecticides. Due to emergency situation created by BMSB in many Pennsylvania fruit orchards, the finding of our research were immediately disseminated to our grower community either by direct presentation during growers meetings, extension publications or by utilization of newest communication methods including web updates and electronic newsletters.
Publications
- Krawczyk, G., T. R. Enyeart, and L. A. Hull. 2012. Understanding biology and behavior of brown marmorated stink bug as a basis for development of management programs in fruit orchards. Pennsylvania Fruit News 92(1):22-27.
- Krawczyk, G. and L. A. Hull. 2012. Monthly insect updates. The Fruit Times Newsletter, monthly issues from April to October. Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences. University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu/fruit-times/news/2012.
- Krawczyk, G. and L. A. Hull. 2012. How can we control brown marmorated stink bug in eastern U.S. fruit orchards. Abstracts from the 86th Orchard Pest Management Conference. Portland, OR. Jan 11-13, 2012. p. 58.
- Krawczyk, G. 2012. Brown marmorated stink bug impact on IPM programs in Eastern U.S. apples. Proceedings of the 7th International Integrated Pest Management Symposium. Memphis, TN. March 27-29. p. 50.
- Krawczyk, G. and L. Hull. 2012. Growing Season Updates. http://agsci.psu.edu/frec/growing-season-information.
- Krawczyk, G. and L. Hull. 2012. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Management Spotlight. http://extension.psu.edu/fruit-times/news/2012/management-options-aga inst-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-in-pennsylvania-fruit-orchards-2012-p erspective.
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