In the past decade the consperse stink bug, Euschistus conspersus Uhler, has emerged as an important pest of pome fruit production in north central Washington, with crop losses of greater than 10% attributed to this insect in many orchards. Fruit damage is caused primarily by the feeding of adult E. conspersus in late summer and early fall, often within a few days of harvest. Although some fruit packing facilities have rated stink bug damage as being a more serious problem than codling moth, relatively little is known about its ecology and behavior making the development of management programs difficult. We have developed information on host plants used by E. conspersus outside the orchard; however, the role that plants present within the orchard ground cover might play in supporting populations is unknown. We conducted a study to compare the development of E. conspersus from the egg stage to adult on the most common plants found in the cover crop of Washington orchards. This information is presented in conjunction with data documenting patterns of fruit damage within orchards. The significance of these findings in relation to grower practices such as insecticide and herbicide treatment regimes is discussed.
Species 1: Heteroptera Pentatomidae Euschistus conspersus (Consperse stink bug)
Keywords: weedy hosts, apple
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Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition