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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299606

Title: Synergy of aggregation pheromone with methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate in attraction of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys

Author
item Weber, Donald
item Leskey, Tracy
item CABRERA-WALSH, GUILLERMO - Foundation For The Study Of Invasive Species
item Khrimian, Ashot

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2014
Publication Date: 5/28/2014
Citation: Weber, D.C., Leskey, T.C., Cabrera-Walsh, G.J., Khrimian, A. 2014. Synergy of aggregation pheromone with methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate in attraction of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Journal of Economic Entomology. 107:1061-1068. DOI:10.1603/EC13502.

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest from Asia, now well established in the mid-Atlantic region and spread to most of the continental U.S. as well as parts of Canada and central Europe. BMSB is a pest of many crops including tree fruits, vegetables, field crops, and ornamentals, with significant economic damage recorded in the United States. It is a serious nuisance pest when overwintering aggregations occur in homes and businesses. A effective monitoring tool to assess the presence, abundance, and seasonal activity of is urgently needed to determine the need for and timing of management actions. In this study, we used pyramid-shaped traps to test the attractiveness of the recently-discovered male-produced aggregation pheromone of BMSB, in combination with the pheromone of another Asian bug, a substance known as MDT, which is also known to be attractive to BMSB. We found that the combination of the two lures was more effective than either lure alone during the entire growing season from April to October, and that purity of the pheromone was not important to captures. Therefore, the combination of BMSB pheromone with MDT offers an economical, season-long lure for use in traps to monitor and possibly suppress BMSB adults and nymphs (young). These findings will benefit growers of fruits, vegetables, and nursery crops, as well as businesses and homeowners affected by overwintering BMSB aggregations, with better monitoring and suppression of this widespread and abundant insect pest. In addition, for areas in which the bug is not yet present, detection of new infestations will be more effective.

Technical Abstract: The male-produced aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug ((BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)), recently identified as a mixture of (3S,6S,7R,10S)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol and (3S,6S,7R,10R)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol, offers new opportunities for management of this invasive pest. We found that traps containing both stereoisomers of brown marmorated stink bug ((BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)) aggregation pheromone, combined with methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate (MDT), attracted more adult and nymphal BMSB than either the aggregation pheromone or MDT alone. For sixty-seven 2-wk periods tested for adults and nymphs over two seasons and at two locations in Maryland and West Virginia, the combination provided either significantly higher captures (43 instances), or captures not significantly less than other treatments. There were no significant differences in the patterns of male and female captures. MDT alone was not attractive to adults during most of the growing season, but became increasing attractive to adults and especially nymphs in autumn. Adult and nymphal captures showed somewhat different patterns: adults were more attracted to the combined lure, than were nymphs, and second-instar nymphs were less attracted to pheromone alone, than later-stage nymphs. Mixed-isomer lures containing eight stereoisomers of 10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ols, including the two active stereoisomers, were as effective in combination with MDT as were lures loaded only with (3S,6S,7R,10S)- and (3R,6S,7R,10S)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol in the natural ratio of 3.5:1. These results provide a practical season-long attractant combination for monitoring and potential control of this polyphagous invasive pest of North America and Europe.