Trap-based economic injury levels and thresholds for euschistus servus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Florida peach orchards

Authors: PENCA, CORY - University Of Florida; HODGES, AMANDA - University Of Florida; LEPPLA, NORMAN - University Of Florida; Cottrell, Ted

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/24/2020
Publication Date: 4/2/2020
Citation: Penca, C., Hodges, A.C., Leppla, N.C., Cottrell, T.E. 2020. Trap-based economic injury levels and thresholds for euschistus servus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Florida peach orchards. Journal of Economic Entomology. 133 (3):1347-1355. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa044.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa044

Interpretive Summary: The brown stink bug is a serious pest of many row and orchards crops. Populations of the brown stink bug in Florida peach orchards were monitored during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons using yellow pheromone-baited pyramid traps. Peaches were evaluated at harvest for the presence of stink bug injury. A relationship between brown stink bug trap capture and fruit injury was used to estimate the injury level for varying scenarios of crop price, per-acre yield and control costs. Economic thresholds were then set based on observed brown stink bug population trends and expected rates of increase. The thresholds were lowest just after shuck split, reflecting a rapid increase in brown stink bug populations during this period. Brown stink bug trap capture trended downwards at the time of harvest. Therefore, increased brown stink bug management early in the Florida peach season provides the greatest overall benefit, while late season populations decline independent of management actions. The proposed economic injury level for Florida peaches produced by this study is 5.53 brown stink bugs per trap over a 2 wk trapping period, which was surpassed in only 16 of the 60 recorded trapping periods. This suggests that the current recommended spray frequency may not be economically justified.

Technical Abstract: Populations of the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), in Florida peach orchards were monitored during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons using yellow pheromone-baited pyramid traps. Peaches were evaluated at harvest for the presence of stink bug injury. A relationship between E. servus trap capture and fruit injury was used to estimate the economic injury level for varying scenarios of crop price, per-acre yield and control costs. Economic thresholds were then set based on observed E. servus population trends and expected rates of increase. Thresholds were lowest in the period immediately following shuck split, reflecting a rapid increase in E. servus populations during this period. Euschistus servus trap capture trended downwards at the time of harvest. Therefore, increased E. servus management early in the Florida peach season provides the greatest overall benefit, while late season populations decline independent of management actions. The proposed EIL for Florida peaches produced by this study is 5.53 E. servus per trap over a 14 day trapping period, which was surpassed in only 16 of the 60 recorded trapping periods. This suggests that the current recommended spray frequency may not be economically justified.