Maximum lethal temperature and its potential use in predicting the distribution of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) in the US

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive insect from east Asia that has rapidly become a major agricultural and household pest throughout the mid-Atlantic U.S.  The extent to which this bug is capable of spreading in North America and elsewhere is currently difficult to determine because the temperature extremes at which these bugs can survive are unknown.

This project investigates the maximum lethal temperature of the BMSB and its potential use in predicting BMSB distribution.  Field-collected BMSB nymphs (ten bugs per rep) were placed in a Fisher Scientific Isotemp Incubator and exposed to elevated temperatures ranging from 35 to 45 ˚C for up to four hours or until all bugs died.  Brown marmorated stink bug nymphs were placed in the oven at five different temperature ranges (35-36, 37-38, 39-40, 41-42, and 43-45 ^oC).  Temperatures from 40-42 ^oC resulted in 40% mortality and temperatures greater than or equal to 43 ^oC (109 ^oF) produced 100% mortality in fewer than four hours. 

Certain areas of the United States typically experience temperatures that may be detrimental to BMSB.  The results of this experiment were used to create predictive maps of the  potential geographic distribution and the climatic limits of the BMSB.