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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 #347597
Title: Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) responses to traps baited with pheromones in peach and apple orchards

Author
item AKOTSEN-MENSAH, CLEMENT - Rutgers University
item KASER, JOSEPH - Rutgers University
item Leskey, Tracy
item NIELSEN, ANNE - Rutgers University

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2018
Publication Date: 7/14/2018
Citation: Akotsen-Mensah, C., Kaser, J.M., Leskey, T.C., Nielsen, A.L. 2018. Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) responses to traps baited with pheromones in peach and apple orchards. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy200.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy200

Interpretive Summary: Commercial pheromone lures containing the pheromone and pheromone synergist for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in pyramid traps were deployed in apple and peach orchards. Fruit present in trees near baited traps had significantly higher injury than fruit in trees further away, due to the spill-over effect of the aggregation pheromone attracting bugs to a zone of aggregation surrounding the baited trap itself. Among commercial lures evaluated, there were significant differences in the level of attraction to them likely due to formulation differences. These factors, as well as the fruit crop itself, should be considered when deploying a trap-based system for management of this invasive species in commercial orchards.

Technical Abstract: Monitoring insect populations within a crop is a fundamental component of integrated pest management programs. In many cropping systems, monitoring is accomplished through baited traps. The aggregation pheromone and pheromone synergist have been identified for the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae). We compared the response of H. halys to commercial lures in peach and apple orchards. Two commercial pheromone formulations, PHEROCON© Trécé BMSB (low dose) (“Trécé”) and AgBio Inc. Stink Bug Xtra Combo (“Xtra Combo”), were compared with unbaited traps in peach orchards in 2015, and in peach and apple orchards in 2016. In both crops and years, H. halys responded more strongly to the Trécé lure and fruit from trees located near baited traps had correspondingly higher injury. In both years, peach fruit near Trécé baited traps had significantly higher feeding injury (52.2 ± 5.0%) than fruit near Xtra Combo-baited and unbaited traps (35.2 ± 4.5% and 22.2 ± 3.4%, respectively). Injury to apple fruit near baited traps in 2016 was significantly different from fruit near unbaited traps (Trécé: 93.0 ± 3.8%, Xtra Combo: 74.1 ± 5.1%, unbaited: 19.0% ± 2.7%). Using a field response index to measure the relative attraction of H. halys to each lure, we demonstrated an equal response to both lures in 2015 peach and a stronger response to Trécé in 2016 in both crops. We hypothesize that formulation differences, population pressure, and host plant species influences the response of H. halys populations and the resulting injury, and should be considered for trap-based decision management.