Seasonal Abundance, Host Suitability, and Feeding Injury of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug,Halyomorpha halys(Heteroptera: Penatomidae), in Selected Vegetables

Abstract

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug,Halyomorpha halys(Stål) (Heteroptera: Penatomidae), is a major pest of agricultural crops in the Mid-Atlantic States. Here we report the seasonal abundance, host preference, and injury potential ofH. halyson tomato, bell pepper, green bean, sweet corn, eggplant, and okra in a small-scale, diversified vegetable farm setting. Life-stage densities, feeding injury, and crop phenology were monitored throughout the growing season in each crop. Populations consisted of both overwintered adults and F1 progeny and encompassed almost two generations over the growing season.H. halyspreferred host plants with reproductive structures for feeding and was more abundant and capable to reproduce on vegetable crops that had extended periods of fruiting. Sweet corn, okra, and bell pepper had significant higher abundances of adults and nymphs compared with green bean, eggplant, and tomato. Results showed significant differences in the reproductive suitability of the host plants, as evident by the relative proportion of nymphal stages to adults. Eggplant, okra, and bell pepper were the most suitable host plants for reproduction and development, as evident by higher proportions of nymphs, with abundance trends indicating progressive development to adult eclosion. Crop loss potential due toH. halysfeeding injury varied significantly among vegetable host plants. Sweet corn, okra, bell pepper, and tomato were very susceptible and experienced the highest injury rate per stink bug. The implications of these findings with respect to sampling and management ofH. halysin vegetable production are discussed.

Severe damage to vegetables by the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), in Hungary

“…The clear dominance and high abundance of BMSB nymphs (and exuviae) present and the severe feeding damage recorded in the two crops confirm the results of previous studies (e.g. 25, 29,31,32) that bean and pepper are major hosts of BMSB.…”

“…28,29,30,31,32,33). Beans (in particular Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), the plants being in the focus of our survey, have been shown to be attractive hosts of the stink bug species (23,25,29,30,31,32,33). Symptoms of damage differ according to the plant species affected, and these have been described and illustrated by Kuhar et al (29) and Rice et al (25).…”

“…Several vegetables have already been identified as being at a risk of heavy infestation by the pest, but the significance of BMSB in this group of crops seems to have been studied less so far (e.g. 28,29,30,31,32,33). Beans (in particular Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), the plants being in the focus of our survey, have been shown to be attractive hosts of the stink bug species (23,25,29,30,31,32,33).…”

Impact of the Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in North America and Europe: History, Biology, Ecology, and Management

“…An electivity analysis identified that BMSB is more commonly found on non-Asian host plants than on Asian host plants in the United States (90). Regardless of host plant, BMSB females oviposit more frequently on crops with long fruiting periods, including some fruiting vegetables (163). BMSB also feeds on small fruit and grapes (131,154), sweet corn (29), and soybeans (114,119).…”

Plant Stimuli and Their Impact on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Dispersal and Host Selection

“…Four replicated sets of four experimental 3 × 3 m plots were established within two rows (1.5 m row spacing) of agricultural plastic mulch with four 0.75 × 1 m sub-plots planted with one of four known host plant species (Figure 1). Three host plants bell peppers, sweet corn, and soybean were chosen to represent known, highly attractive host plants with varying phenological stages and the fourth host, Swiss chard, was chosen as a nonfruiting host (Nielsen et al, 2011;Zobel et al, 2016). In 2013, the 3 × 3 m plots were separated by 3 m of bare ground and unplanted plastic mulch which was expanded in 2014 to 5 m. Within the center of each plot, a hole was dug so that a 3.78 l round plastic pot could be placed flush with the surface of the ground, allowing for the deployment of a potted sentinel host plant within each of the 16 plots.…”