Halyomorpha halys (Stål), an introduced
stink bug pest, was evaluated against a range of technical grade
insecticides. Field populations of H. halys were collected from an organic Paulownia tomentosa grove in Allentown,
PA during the summer and fall of 2005. Toxicity
to field collected individuals was compared to individuals reared in the
laboratory for seven generations. Field
collected males and females and laboratory reared fifth instars and 7-10 day
old males and females were evaluated in a glass-vial bioassay. Mortality values obtained were used to
determine LC50 values for phosmet, carbaryl, fenpropathrin, b-cyfluthrin,
cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, acetamiprid, dinotefuran
and azadrachtin. This study provides the
first look at insecticide toxicity to H.
halys since its introduction into the United
States and establishes baseline mortality
data. Halyomorpha halys is already a large nuisance to homeowners in the
North East and is emerging as a pest of a wide range of fruit and vegetable
crops. Data from this study will be used
to develop control methods for established IPM programs and pest control
operators and can be used for future studies on resistance mechanisms in H. halys and other pentatomids. Results will be discussed.