2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): We will hold a two-day formal Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) working group meeting that will provide a forum for sharing the latest research results and field observations, and establish research, extension, and regulatory priorities. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): We will invite participants including stakeholders, government researchers, university researchers and extension personnel, regulatory officials, pest control operators, and private consultants to participate in the BMSB working group meeting. The meeting will include formal presentations and establishment of research, extension, and regulatory priorities for BMSB. Priorities will be provided to the Northeast IPM Center. 3.Progress Report: The third formal BMSB Working Group meeting was held at the Fruit Research & Extension Center, Penn State University, Biglerville, PA on June 20-21, 2011. Research and extension personnel from USDA-ARS, Rutgers University, Penn State University, Cornell University, North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Michigan State as well as commercial research industry professionals, commercial and organic growers, and USDA-APHIS and OPMP, EPA, EPA-IR-4, and Northeastern IPM Center attended the meeting. Participants delivered presentations discussing the impact of BMSB in Asia as well as research and Extension updates. Regulatory representatives discussed updates with regard to potential release of classical biological control candidates and insecticide. Over 80 people were in attendance, and BMSB Working Group membership has doubled since the first meeting held in June 2010. Members learned that BMSB has been officially detected in Ontario, Canada. During the early season in 2011, severe injury to early season stone fruit in parts of WV and MD as large populations moved in from natural overwintering sites in late May-early June. Damage in other crops had been light to date, but increasing populations were detected in a number of locations via black light trapping. BMSB did not respond to traps baited with methyl (2E, 4E, 6Z)-decatrienoate) early in the season. This same finding was reported in WV, MD, NJ, PA, and VA. Visual scouting was being used in a number of cropping systems. Many crops are being monitoring for BMSB activity and damage throughout the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and West Coast (particularly in Oregon). In addition, season-long sampling of wild hosts are being conducted in VA and MD. Several hosts including white ash, mulberry, tree of heaven, Paulownia, and kudzu seem to have persistent populations. Conventional and organic growers relayed their concerns regarding the difficulty of managing BMSB on their farms and the increased costs and labor associated with increased insecticide applications. Members participated in a wine tasting to determine if they could detect the presence of BMSB in both red and white wines. In addition to the serious agricultural threat posed by BMSB, homeowners and businesses continue to be plagued by this serious nuisance pest. One member described the process of removing over 26,000 stink bugs from his residence beginning on January 1, 2011.