Join the Citizen Science Fall Invasion Effort to take the stink out of the brown marmorated stink bug
The Brown Marmorated Stinkbug: (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive species that made its way from Asia to North America and was first officially documented in Allentown, PA in 2001 by Rick Hoebecke, Cornell University insect taxonomist. He first confirmed Halyomorpha halys in 2001 from specimens collected in the mid-90’s from PA, and later from specimens collected in NYC in 2007. (it probably arrived several years earlier). The insect has spread across a number of Eastern US States, and its presence has now been documented in Oregon and California, as well. The species spread into the mid-Hudson Valley Region in 2008. The size and distribution of this pest in NY are increasing based on reports of sightings and field trapping since 2010.
Biological Control of BMSB In The News:
Stink Bug Killers: Scientists to Release Samurai Wasps
John Ferro , Poughkeepsie Journal Published 7:30 a.m. ET March 6, 2017
Tiny wasps set to wreak ‘Alien’-like havoc on stink bugs
USA Today Network John Ferro, Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal 6:05 p.m. ET March 7, 2017
Oregon hopes ‘Samurai wasp’ will battle invasive brown marmorated stink bug
Tracy Loew , Statesman Journal Published 2:27 p.m. ET March 22, 2017
The battle of the bugs: Wasps to combat upstate stink bugs
Sarah Taddeo, Democrat and Chronicle, Published 12:32 p.m. ET March 16, 2017
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) can be a nuisance outside the growing season as they congregate on and inside buildings looking for winter shelter. More significantly, they are now known to be aggressive pests of agricultural crops and caused significant damage to commercial fruit and vegetable plantings in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Agricultural damage in the Hudson Valley Region is variable from year to year, dependent of and of limited economic importance until 2012 when severe damage was documented in a few locations.
The ENY-Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Project began in 2010 to address the potential impact this invasive species could have on NYS commercial agricultural commodities while documenting its pest status in the urban environment. The Hudson Valley Region, along with Metropolitan NY and Long Island, are the leading edge of the population expansion. By monitoring several agricultural commodities in the region, collecting, verifying and documenting the population spread along the agricultural-urban interface, we hope to assist residents and agricultural producers alike in understanding this pest and mediating its impact.
2017 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Activity in Agriculture
The map below illustrates observed Brown Marmorated Stinkbug activity in commercial agricultural crops in NY during 2013 based on Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension monitoring efforts. Tetter traps (baited with Sterling MDT plus #10 lures), blacklight traps, field scouting and other monitoring techniques are being used to document presence and damage levels.
