Spatiotemporal Distribution of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Across a Fruit and Tree Nut Agricultural Ecosystem

Abstract

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a mobile, polyphagous agricultural pest that feeds on a variety of plants. In orchard systems, seasonal monitoring of adults and nymphs in fruit and nut trees and noncrop host plants in surrounding habitat can be used to identify, in time and space, areas of high-density aggregations to develop targeted pest management strategies. We explored the spatiotemporal distribution of H. halys adults and nymphs and assessed whether seasonal distribution patterns varied according to habitat. From 2018 to 2021, pheromone-baited traps were placed in orchard and noncrop plants to first document the establishment of H. halys at this site and to describe seasonal development. In addition, stink bugs were monitored weekly during 2019–2020 across a grid of baited traps placed within the orchard ecosystem. Based on grid data, we used Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices (SADIE) to identify significant clusters of H. halys and visualized aggregations with interpolated maps. Overall, the distribution of H. halys adults and nymphs were similar; both aggregated primarily in peach and adjacent woodlands followed by pecan. Timing of aggregations was consistent across years and reached the highest levels in July and August. Moreover, we document that H. halys is an established pest within this orchard ecosystem, and that noncrop host plants likely play an important role in maintaining populations of H. halys. To manage H. halys in southeastern orchard systems, growers may need to account for host plants in habitats that surround fruiting trees.

Habitat and vertical stratification affect capture of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug

“…In the present study, trap capture was similar for H. halys adults in both woodland and pecan habitat, however, H. halys nymphs were oftentimes captured in higher numbers in woodlands compared to pecan. A separate study that took place at this site also found H. halys nymphs and adults were captured at the highest densities in peach and woodlands, followed by pecan (Grabarczyk et al 2022b). Like H. halys , C. hilaris has also been captured at high densities in both row crop and non-crop habitat in woodlands (Grabarczyk et al 2021b).…”

“…Like H. halys , C. hilaris has also been captured at high densities in both row crop and non-crop habitat in woodlands (Grabarczyk et al 2021b). Mixed prevalence for both woodland and crop habitats is exemplary of stink bugs species like C. hilaris and H. halys that feed and develop on a variety of non-crop hosts in woodlands or along woodland edges then later disperse into nearby host crops to continue their seasonal development in the agroecosystem (Tillman and Cottrell 2016, Grabarczyk et al 2022b).…”

“…At present, interplanting pecan with crepe myrtle is being examined as a banker crop system for aphid management and this system also provides parasitoids with pollen and nectar that could enhance stink bug control. In agroecosystems, wooded habitats in general are insecticide-free, and H. halys aggregates in areas consisting of non-crop host plants in these habitats (Grabarczyk et al 2022b). In the future, we will be conducting studies to determine if nectar provision in edges of woodland habitats will enhance parasitism of egg masses of H. halys and native stink bug species in adjacent crop habitats.…”

“…[Juglandaceae]) (Bakken et al 2015). These hosts, in addition to seedling pecan, are common in woodlands bordering agricultural crops in this region (Grabarczyk et al 2022b).…”

Seasonal density and natural mortality ofHalyomorpha halys(Stål) and indigenous stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in a field crop agroecosystem

“…With the invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), in the southeastern United States, stink bug pest populations in agroecosystems may consist of a combination of H. halys and indigenous species. Halyomorpha halys is a pest in orchards, vegetables, field crops, vineyards, and ornamentals (Leskey et al 2012, Rice et al 2014, Leskey and Nielsen 2018, Grabarczyk et al 2022). In the United States, both H. halys adults and nymphs cause feeding punctures in seeds that lead to the destruction of seeds and pods (Nielsen et al 2011, Owens et al 2013, Rice et al 2014).…”