Manipulating the behavior of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) using pheromonal stimuli in the field: Attraction, retention and active space

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest in the United States that has become established in the past decade, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region. In severe years, it can cause millions of dollars in damage in apple orchards.  Many IPM programs have been compromised due to the need for broad spectrum insecticide applications to keep BMSB populations in check. Our study evaluates the potential of an attract-and-kill system using BMSB and stink bugs’ aggregation pheromone in combination with a synergist for attracting and retaining BMSB in spatially precise locations, while minimizing damage to other nearby trees in apple orchards. We used harmonic radar to evaluate attraction to and retention of tagged individuals in baited apple trees. In order to evaluate the area of active space around baited trees, we assessed BMSB damage incurred in trees baited with 100mg or 1000mg of pheromone, both in combination with the synergist, as well as surrounding nearest neighbor trees to estimate the area of aggregated BMSB activity. Our results suggest that baited trees are able to significantly retain BMSB individuals as well as attract BMSB from nearby wild hosts or other parts of the orchard. BMSB are present in significantly higher numbers and damage is also aggregated on baited trees compared with unbaited trees.  This information will form the foundation for an attract-and-kill program as an alternative form of management for apple growers.