Seasonal movement of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in organic farming systems

A major obstacle preventing growers from efficiently managing the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is the lack of knowledge of its seasonal movements across the landscape.  Because H. halys utilize various crops and move throughout growing season, growers cannot predict which crops will be at risk at a given time.  In an effort to discover an annual pattern of H. halys movement, we conducted multiple-year spatial studies on three organic farms in West Virginia and New Jersey.  A total of 92-127 sample locations were laid out throughout each farm using a global positioning system and each sample location was visually surveyed for H. halys nymphs and adults from May through November.  Count data were paired with geocoordinates and used to perform Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices (SADIE) to characterize spatial distribution patterns of H. halys.  Overall, H. halys were found to be randomly distributed over the crop types throughout the growing season.  However H. halys was highly aggregated in late fall and early spring at overwintering sites.  Implications for H. halys management based on spatial and temporal movement are discussed in the presentation.