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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #336648
Title: Temporal and directional patterns of nymphal Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) movement on the trunk of selected wild and fruit tree hosts in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Author
item ACEBES-DORIA, ANGELITA - Virginia Tech
item Leskey, Tracy
item BERGH, CHRISTOPHER - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2016
Publication Date: 1/12/2017
Citation: Acebes-Doria, A.L., Leskey, T.C., Bergh, C. 2017. Temporal and directional patterns of nymphal Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) movement on the trunk of selected wild and fruit tree hosts in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Environmental Entomology. 46(2):258-267.

Interpretive Summary: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest of Mid-Atlantic fruit orchards, many of which are adjacent to woodlands containing its wild hosts. We found that among wild host trees bordering orchards, 76.6% of which were recorded hosts of BMSB. Tree of heaven was most common and abundant overall. We also recorded BMSB nymphal movement on selected wild host trees, and apple and peach trees at the orchard-woodland interface which were monitored in 2014 and 2015 using passive traps to them walking both up and down tree trunks. In both years, more BMSB nymphs were captured while walking up than down, and captures varied significantly among the hosts. All nymphal stages were captured, but captures of second instars predominated. Captures were predominantly of younger and older nymphs, early and later in the season, respectively. Our results indicate that BMSB nymphs likely disperse from wild host trees and can invade neighboring orchards where they can cause damage similar to that inflicted by adult BMSBs.

Technical Abstract: Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive and polyphagous herbivore that has been problematic in Mid-Atlantic fruit orchards, many of which are adjacent to woodlands containing its wild hosts. Our tree census in woodlands bordering 15 Mid-Atlantic apple orchards revealed 47 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, 76.6% of which were recorded hosts of H. halys. Tree of heaven was most common and abundant overall. Halyomorpha halys nymphs have a substantial walking dispersal capacity and their fitness is enhanced by feeding on multiple hosts. Directional and temporal patterns of nymphal H. halys movement on selected wild hosts, and apple and peach trees at the orchard-woodland interface were monitored in 2014 and 2015 using passive traps to capture nymphs walking up and down tree trunks. Weekly captures from mid-May to late September or mid-October were compared among hosts across both seasons. Despite higher total nymphal captures in 2014 than 2015, the seasonal trends for both years were similar and indicated bivoltine H. halys populations. In both years, more nymphs were intercepted while walking up than down, and captures of upward- and downward-walking nymphs varied significantly among the hosts. All instars were captured, but captures of second instars predominated. Captures reflected seasonal changes in instar distribution and consisted predominantly of younger and older nymphs, early and later in the season, respectively. Results are discussed in relation to host and seasonal effects on the movement of nymphs at the orchard-woodland interface and the implications for H. halys management.