Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) trap captures at orchard and non-orchard sites and the influence of uncultivated woody host plants in adjoining woodlots

Authors: HADDEN, WHITNEY - Syngenta Crop Protection; BREWSTER, CARLYLE - Clemson University; Leskey, Tracy; BERGH, J. CHRISTOPHER - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/27/2023
Publication Date: 10/24/2023
Citation: Hadden, W., Brewster, C.C., Leskey, T.C., Bergh, J. 2023. Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) trap captures at orchard and non-orchard sites and the influence of uncultivated woody host plants in adjoining woodlots. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(6):2076-2084. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad190.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad190

Interpretive Summary: The invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has remained a serious pest in fruit orchards for over a decade, but major differences in the size of populations present in particular orchards across the mid-Atlantic region exist for unknown reasons. Here, we conducted a three-year study at orchard and non-orchard sites in which we trapped for BMSB and characterized wild hosts in wooded borders. We found that the presence of orchards did not affect overall population size, but certain wild hosts had either positive or negative effects on populations. In particular, autumn olive and honeysuckle abundance was significantly related to larger BMSB populations. These results indicate that the composition of wild hosts and their abundance in unmanaged areas can have a large impact on the size of BMSB populations and risk of crop injury.

Technical Abstract: The invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) has threatened Mid-Atlantic tree fruit since 2010. To identify factors underlying observed differences in H. halys pest pressure among individual orchards within a geographically proximate area, a three-year study was conducted across 10 apple orchards and eight non-orchard sites bordered by unmanaged woodlots. At each site, three pheromone traps were monitored weekly for H. halys captures from late April to mid-October. Apple injury was assessed at harvest at orchard sites annually, and a survey of woody plants found in woodlots adjacent to all sites was conducted. There were no significant differences in captures between orchard and non-orchard site types, but captures were significantly different among individual orchard sites and among individual non-orchard sites. A significant positive relationship between the amount of stink bug injury on apple at harvest and late season captures was detected at orchard sites in 2018 and 2019. Among woodlots adjacent to all sites, a significant positive relationship between the proportion of Lonicera spp. and mid- and late-season nymphal captures was identified. Season-long nymphal captures were positively related to the proportion of Lonicera and Elaeagnus, and negatively with Sassafras. For adults, captures were negatively related to the proportion of Ailanthus and positively related to the proportion of Fraxinus in the early and mid-season, respectively. Our results indicate that orchard presence was not driving the relative abundance of localized H. halys populations and that differences in relative densities among sites point to other factors, such as abundance of specific uncultivated woody hosts in unmanaged areas.