Landscape-level spatial dynamics of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in organic farm systems

An obstacle to efficient management of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is the lack of knowledge of its seasonal movements at the landscape level.  H. halys is highly mobile and utilizes various commodites throughout the growing season, making it difficult to manage.  We hypothesized that H. halys displayed an annual spatial pattern.  We conducted a two-year spatial study on three organic farms in West Virginia and New Jersey.  A total of 92-127 Sample locations throughout each farm were plotted using a global positioning system and visually surveyed for H. halys nymphs and adults from May through November.  Count data were paired with geocoordinates to perform spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) to characterize spatial distribution patterns and spatial associations of H. halys with commodities.  Overall, H. halys was randomly distributed over the commodity types throughout the growing season.  However H. halys was highly aggregated from July to September.  Implications for H. halys management based on spatial and temporal movement are discussed in the presentation.