Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) Prepared by Dr. Chris Maier, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Selected Headlines “Stink Bugs Taking Area Homes by Swarm” “Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Runs Amok” “Stink Bug Numbers Explode Along East Coast” “Move Over Bedbugs: Stink Bugs Have Landed” “Stink Bug Destroys Half of Pennsylvania’s Peach Crop” “Invasive Species Brown Marmormated Stink Bug Threatens U.S. Food Crops”

Origin: Eastern Asia Initial Detection: Pennsylvania in 2001, but probably present since 1996 Distribution in U.S.: 33 states, including most eastern states Hosts: More than 70 plants in U.S., and worldwide Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Stink Bugs: Pentatomidae Five-segmented antennae Forewings are hemelytra, with basal half thickened and the apex membranous Piercing-sucking mouthparts When disturbed, release foul-smelling substance from glands on the thorax Of the 55 species in Connecticut, 16 are predators and 39 are herbivores

Life Stages

2 345 ♂♀ Development

Biological Characteristics and Potential Problems One generation per year Feeding by adults concentrated in late May- early June and in August-September Highly mobile adults Potentially a serious pest of fruit, legume, nut, and vegetable crops Nuisance pest in dwellings as adults seek overwintering sites in September and October

Aggregations in September-October

Distribution in the United States

Distribution in Connecticut Towns

Damage

Crops Damaged Apple Asian pear Grape Hazelnut Nectarine Peach Pear Pecan Plum Raspberry Cucumber Eggplant Field corn Green pepper Okra Pole bean Soybean String bean Sunflower Sweet corn Tomato

Kinds of Fruit Damage  Aborted young fruit  Catfacing/deformation  External feeding scars  Internal brown coloration below feeding sites  Potential disease transmission

Apple Damage

Peach Injury

Corn Damage

Bean Damage

Tomato Injury

Pepper Damage

Soybean Injury

Nut Damage

Monitoring Methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate

Control  Insecticidal control Initial lab tests suggest that certain pyrethroids and neonicotinoids may have the most promise Disruptive to natural enemies, undermine IPM programs Repeated use fosters outbreaks of secondary pests In field, bugs knocked down by pyrethroids sometimes recovered (add endosulfan?) Very hazardous to bees  Biological control with parasitic wasps, 3 species from Asia (Trissolcus spp.) Impact native pentatomids?  Cultural control Diversionary or trap crop with highly preferred host plants Design a system minimal impact on pollinators Kim A. Hoelmer, USDA, Newark

BSBM at NE IPM Center BMSB Pest Alert Trapping Research Report George Hamilton Working Group (68 members) Leaders Tracy Leskey – USDA ARS George Hamilton – Rutgers Stink bug summits June 2010 November 2010

Possible Insecticides for Stink Bugs Bifenture, Brigade, Fanfare (best in lab tests, registered for pears) Danitol (other stink bugs on label; <2 applications/year) Taiga Z, Warrior II, λ-Cyhalothrin (good in lab tests) Actara (good in lab tests, registered for stink bugs on peach) ___________________________________________________ Aza-Direct, Azatin, and Neemix (frequent applications) Avaunt (not registered for stink bugs) Beleaf (not registered for stink bugs, but good on plant bugs) Proaxis Provado (suppression only) Surround (frequent applications) Thionex (mainly on stone fruits for catfacing insects)

What Next?