Diurnal and nocturnal activities of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in a Pennsylvania orchard

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, (BMSB) is an invasive pest in orchards and a variety of field crops across the United States.  While little is still known about BMSB biology and behavior, new studies are being conducted to better understand factors influencing future management programs.  BMSB adults and nymphs were used for behavioral field observations conducted in orchards located at the Pennsylvania State University Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville, PA.  Clear mesh sleeves were placed on tree limbs of various apple, peach, and nectarine cultivars.  The field observations ran from May until August 2011 and 2012.  During multiple time intervals over a 24-hour period, activities such as feeding, moving, and resting behaviors were recorded to better understand BMSB diurnal and nocturnal behavior. 

            In 2011, results indicated an overall difference between adult and nymphal behaviors, a difference between adult behavior at different times of day, and a difference between behavior among different fruit varieties.  Meanwhile, for nymphs alone, the impact of both time of day and fruit variety was not significant.  During the season 2012, there was not a difference between overall adult and nymphal behavior, however differences existed among adult behaviors at different times of day.  Fruit variety did not affect behavior of BMSB adults.  Similarly in nymphs, fruit variety was not a significant, but the time of day was significant.  Better understanding of BMSB behavior may be used for improvement of future management practices.