Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: July 30th Trap Site Data Update

In our observations of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) last week, we see a continuing increase of nymph movement to traps as they become larger, more mobile and attracted to the aggregation pheromone. This is quite apparent in five of our six sites in the mid and lower Hudson Valley.

We also observed our first F1 generation adult this week in our caged studies on BMSB development. Over the next week we are likely to begin seeing higher numbers of adults in our light traps as the adults disperse and begin mating and egg laying. The onset of 2nd generation egg laying and nymph development will likely begin by mid-August or earlier.

Again, we strongly recommend that growers purchase and utilize BMSB Tedders traps this season, especially as we move into the development of the 2nd generation in late July. Coupled with scouting, trap placement along your orchards, bordering deciduous woodlands using duel #10 and MDT pheromone blend, will provide an important component in monitoring for this invasive and damaging pest on your farm. Populations are quite variable throughout the Hudson Valley with orchard BMSB captures ranging from single weekly captures to over 30 per week to date. AgBio Link to purchase traps and lures

Data from the mid-Atlantic states (USDA-ARS WV) suggest the use of weekly trap captures above 40/week as a threshold for the beginning of BMSB management in locations where traps are used. Utilizing this threshold value, we are well below the numbers needed to begin management of BMSB in all but Milton-East traps.

If you are trapping along the orchard edge, and not seeing BMSB in the orchard BUT are seeing them in traps, we would recommend NOT SPRAYING. Trap captures should be used to initiate intensive monitoring of the crop, spraying only on first find of BMSB in the crop.

If you are finding adults in the trees, we would recommend management with border sprays at first adult edge find. Whole orchard applications should be made with the first nymph find as this event signifies an established population within the orchard.

Growers should consider spraying Alternate Row Middle (ARM) after the 1st of August if adults are scouted in the orchard, making whole orchard applications once nymphs are found. Continued scouting through to harvest is recommended.

During our late season tree fruit assessment in 2012* we found late season injury concentrated within the first 90′ of wooded edge, with teh 1st 30′ suffering 75-95% injury. This phenomenon is attributed at least in part, to the 1st and 2nd generation adults, which move to and from deciduous woodlands as they intensively feed on fruit during their acclimation to overwintering sites.

The list of the most effective insecticides for BMSB management is found using this link. NYS labeled insecticides effective for use against the BMSB are available in four major classes including pre-mix formulations. Bifenthrin received an emergency exemption use permit (Section 18) to control brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) on apples, peaches, and nectarines in Orange, Dutchess and Ulster Counties of NY. Products include Bifenthure and Brigade, showing the greatest degree of efficacy of the pyrethroid group.

Generally, stink bug are a dry weather insect pest, looking for water and nutrients in well irrigated agricultural systems after primary deciduous tree and weed hosts dry out. As we continue through the season we are likely to see increased movement of the pest to orchards, especially if we begin to experience drought conditions. The embedded image link to the EDDSMapS below will provide trapping data and levels of tree fruit damage by county as the season progresses.