Using harmonic radar to measure the retention capacity of trap crops for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in organic pepper plantings

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest that has established itself within the past decade in the United States. It is broadly polyphagous, feeding on over 100 species, including many vegetables. One method being developed to manage for BMSB takes advantage of trap crops as a cultural control strategy to prevent dispersal of the insect from woody margins to the cash crop. This study evaluated the ability of a combined sorghum and sunflower trap crop planted around the edges of a pepper cash crop to prevent dispersal of BMSB into the field. We doubly marked wild-caught BMSB with an electronic diode on reinforced copper wiring attached to the pronotum, and a dot of brightly colored paint, with the color determined by where it was released in the field to measure retention capacity of the trap crop. These  marked BMSB were released either in the trap crop or cash crop, and tracked them using a mobile harmonic radar unit over time evaluate if the trap crop either retained individuals released there or attracted other BMSB released in the cash crop. We expect our results to contribute to knowledge important for IPM programs for the brown marmorated stink bug in organic production.