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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern

Project Title: Development of Management Strategies Targeting the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys in Peppers

Project Directors (PDs): George C. Hamilton [1] Galen Dively [2] Cerruti R.R. Hooks [3] Thomas Kuhar [4] Joanne Whalen [5] Gerald Ghidiu [6]

Lead State: NJ Lead Organization: Rutgers University

Research Funding: $135,727

Start Date: Aug-15-2011 End Date: Aug-15-2013

Pests Involved: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Site/Commodity: Peppers

Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has spread throughout the east and portions of the Midwest and west. BMSB became a severe pest of tree fruit and vegetables in 2009 and 2010. Currently, no adequate pest management alternatives exist to prevent damage to peppers creating the potential for the illegal use of insecticides. This project proposes to develop BMSB monitoring methods, assess BMSB feeding injury in pepper, evaluate cultivar susceptibility differences to BMSB feeding, determine natural enemy species composition in different cultivars, and determines the toxicity and field efficacy of selected insecticides for BMSB control. Objectives 1 and 2 will be accomplished by sampling BMSB populations and determining damage levels caused by BMSB in unsprayed sweet bell peppers. Objectives 3 and 4 will be accomplished by sampling BMSB and natural enemy populations and determining damage levels caused by BMSB in a variety of unsprayed pepper cultivars. Objective 5 will be accomplished by spraying sweet bell peppers with different insecticides to determine efficacy in terms of BMSB toxicity and reductions in damage to fruit. We anticipate this project to safeguard human health and the environment by reducing illegal of insecticides, provide economic benefits by reducing the pepper damage caused by BMSB and promote IPM implementation by developing the tools that can be used by farmers to reduce damage caused by BMSB. Objectives: 1. Develop monitoring methods for brown marmorated stink bug in peppers, 2. Assess the extent and nature of feeding injury to pepper by adult and nymphal brown marmorated stink bug in peppers, 3. Evaluate susceptibility of different pepper cultivar types to brown marmorated stink bug feeding, 4. Determine species composition of parasitoids and predators and rate of egg parasitization and predation for the BMSB in different pepper cultivars, 5. Determine the toxicity and field efficacy of selected insecticides for BMSB control in peppers. Anticipated Impacts We anticipate this project to have the following impacts: Safeguarding human health and the environment - The IPM tactics we propose to develop will be adopted by farmers in 23 states thereby potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of people through reductions in pesticide residues on harvested peppers. It would result in the cessation of illegal pesticide applications to control H. halys by farmers. Adoption of this program over large areas also has the potential to reduce the spread of this invasive insect to agricultural areas in other states not currently impacted by BMSB. Economic benefits - This project will result in economic benefits in the form of decreased monetary looses due to yield reductions caused by this insect. It will also result in increased time being available for marketing of the crop that would otherwise be spent managing this insect. Finally, this project will ultimately result in fewer costs in managing this pest due to reductions in pesticide use. Implementation of IPM - This project will document the development and evaluation of several IPM tactics including monitoring, resistant varieties and targeted use of pesticides. Information about the tactics will be discussed by each of the PI's at state and regional grower meetings and will result in information being made available at www.rce.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/. Placing this information on the web will allow distribution to growers throughout the US. Proposal

Interim Report: Dec-13-2012

Outcomes During the first year of the project, all of the objectives were addressed. 1)Evaluations to identify organic and traditional insecticides with efficacy against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) were conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. Replicated plots consisting of bell peppers were treated with insecticides when BMSBs entered fields. At harvest, pepper fruit was evaluated for feeding due to BMSB feeding. 2)Studies to determine the most appropriate sampling method for determining BMSB densities in bell peppers was conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. This was done in each state using a bell pepper plot consisting of nine rows with 30 plants per row. All researchers compared the use of weekly visual, beat sheet and blacklight trap counts to make this determination. This study will be repeated during year two of the project by researchers in DE, MD, NJ and VA. 3)Studies to determine when BMSBs enter bell pepper fields and at what stage of fruit development damage occurs were conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. This was done in each state using a bell pepper plot consisting of nine rows with 30 plants per row. Each week 100 plants were sampled using visual counts. When fruit first appeared, all fruit from 100 plants were removed categorized as to size, evaluated for feeding damage and marketability. This was continued until all fruit were harvested (early September). This study will be repeated during year two of the project by researchers in DE, MD, NJ and VA. 4)Studies to determine whether certain pepper varieties were naturally resistant to feeding damage caused by BMSBs was conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. Three varieties were evaluated: Paladin bell pepper, Sparky cherry pepper and Bounty banana peppers. Replicated single species plots consisting of four rows by 10 plants were sampled weekly to monitor BMSB populations using visual counts. When fruit began to ripen, ripe fruit were removed from the two interior rows of each plot, counted and then evaluated for damage. This was continued until all fruit were harvested (early September). This study will be repeated during year two of the project by researchers in DE, MD, NJ and VA. 5)To evaluate the current level of predation impacting BMSB in bell peppers fields 2 day old sentinel egg masses were placed weekly in fields (see objective 2 for plot setup). After 48 hours, all egg masses removed and held in the laboratory until either all eggs hatched (BMSB or parasitoid) or until such time as no hatching occurred. The total number of eggs per egg mass, the total number of hatched eggs and whether stink bugs or a parasitoid emerged was recorded. This was conducted by researchers in DE, MD, NJ, and VA. Additional egg masses were also placed in the field and evaluated for feeding by predators. Similar data was recorded. This was conducted by researchers in MD only. Preliminary results of these studies will be shared with stakeholder at meetings held in each of the participating states.

Impacts 1)Evaluations to identify organic and traditional insecticides with efficacy against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) showed several traditional insecticides to have good efficacy against BMSB. These included several pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides. The organic materials tested were less efficacious and will need further study. 2)Studies to determine the most appropriate sampling method for determining BMSB densities in bell peppers showed visual counts to be the best technique for sampling populations. Blacklight traps were useful for monitoring early to mid season adult movement. The beat sheet technique was the least accurate. All researchers will drop the use of the beat sheet technique during year two of the study. 3)Studies to determine when BMSBs enter bell pepper fields and at what stage of fruit development damage showed that BMSB enters field, depending on the state, during late July through August. Preliminary analysis suggests that fruit less than 3 inches in diameter are not damaged by BMSB. This finding will need to be verified during year two of the study. 4)Studies to determine whether certain pepper varieties were naturally resistant to feeding damage caused by BMSB showed that depending on the state and time of year examined, significant differences in feeding damage between varieties occurred. These results, however, were not consistent in terms of variety. 5)To evaluate the current level of parasitism impacting BMSB that low levels of parasitism occurred. Two hymenopteran species from different genera were responsible for the parasitism seen. Evaluations of egg predation showed that several predators including lady bugs, lacewing larvae and minute prate bugs feed on BMSB eggs. Publications Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 1, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E37. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E37. Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 2, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E38. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E38. Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 3, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E39. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E39. Kuhar, T.P., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, J. Aigner. 2012. Evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia experiment 4, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37: E40. Online publication. DOI: 10.4182/amt.2012.E40 Whalen, J. 2011. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Management in Bell Peppers, 2011. http://extension.udel.edu/ag/files/2012/06/2011BellPepperBMSBManagementReport.pdf Whalen, J. 2011. Evaluation of Pepper Cultivars for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Susceptibility, 2011. http://extension.udel.edu/ag/files/2012/06/2011PepperVarietyEvaluationBMSB.pdf Talks Presented Hamilton, G.C., G.P Dively, T.P. Kuhar and J. Whalon. 2012. Evaluation of fruit damage in different pepper varieties due to feeding by the brown marmorated stink bug. Entomological Society of America annual meeting. Knoxville, TN. Hooks, C.R.R. 2011. Natural Enemies of the Brown Marmorated Stink bug: a preliminary assessment of their impact in eggplant, pepper, corn, and soybean. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug OREI Planning Meeting, Beltsville, MD. Oct 18, 2011. Hooks, C.R.R., Southern Maryland Vegetable and Fruit Meeting. Natural Enemies of the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug: a preliminary assessment of their impact, Gambrills, MD, February 08, 2012. Hooks, C.R.R., Maryland Organic Food and farming Association (MOFFA) Winter Meeting. Natural Enemies of the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug: a preliminary assessment of their impact with side notes on other prospective management options. Annapolis, Maryland, February 18, 2012. Hooks, C.R.R., 36th Annual Eastern Shore Vegetable Meeting. Natural Enemies of the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug: a preliminary assessment of their impact with side notes on other prospective management options. Cambridge, Maryland, February 21, 2012. Hooks, C.R.R., Organic Grain, Forage, and Vegetable Workshop. Organic crop production and the brown marmorated stink bug. Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD, March 06, 2012 Kuhar, T., Kamminga, K., and Aigner, J. 2012. Efficacy of insecticides for control of brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) in vegetable crops. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, November 11-14, Knoxville, TN. Kamminga, K., and Kuhar, T. 2012. Understanding the seasonality of the brown marmorated stink bug in Virginia. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, November 11-14, Knoxville, TN. Kuhar T., G. P. Dively, J. Whalen, G. C. Hamilton, G. Brust, and K. Kamminga. 2012. P015 Pest threat of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug to vegetable crops in the U.S. p. 85 in 2012 Proceedings of the 7th International Integrated Pest Management Symposium: IPM on the World Stage, March 27-29, 2012, Memphis, TN. Kamminga, K., T. P. Kuhar, and D. A. Herbert. 2012. Seasonal biology of the brown marmorated stink bug in Virginia, 2011. Annual Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, March 16-19, Hartford, CT Kamminga, K. L., T. Kuhar, H. Doughty, A. Wallingford, A. Wimer, J. Jenrette and C. Philips. 2011. Results of Bioassays on Halyomorpha halys. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Reno, NV, Nov. 13-16.

Final Report:

Impacts 1) Evaluations to identify organic and traditional insecticides with efficacy against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) showed several traditional insecticides to have good efficacy against BMSB. These included several pyrethroid (bifenthrin, cypermethrin and permethrin) and neonicotinoid (dinotefuran) insecticides. The organic materials tested were less efficacious. 2) Studies to determine the most appropriate sampling method for determining BMSB densities in bell peppers showed visual counts to be the best technique for sampling populations. Blacklight traps were useful for monitoring early to mid season adult movement. The beat sheet technique was the least accurate. All researchers drop the use of the beat sheet technique during year two of the study. 3) Studies to determine when BMSBs enter bell pepper fields and at what stage of fruit development damage appears showed that BMSB enters fields, depending on the state, during late July through August. Analysis showed that fruit less than 3 inches in diameter are not damaged by BMSB. 4) Studies to determine whether certain pepper varieties were naturally resistant to feeding damage caused by BMSB showed that depending on the state and time of year examined, significant differences in feeding damage between varieties were seen. Overall, however, no significant differences between varieties were seen. 5) Evaluations to examine the current level of parasitism impacting BMSB showed that low levels of parasitism occurred. Two hymenopteran species from different genera were responsible for the parasitism seen. Evaluations of egg predation showed that lady bugs, lacewing larvae, big eyed bugs and minute pirate bugs feed on BMSB eggs.

Outcomes PRESENTATIONS Kuhar, T. 2012. Host plant visual sampling and insecticide efficacy research. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug IPM Working Group Meeting., June 12-13, Westminster, MD. Kuhar, T. 2012. Insect Management Update Including Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. February 24., Richmond Area Vegetable Growers Meeting. Kuhar, T. 2012. Managing brown marmorated stink bugs and more from the frontiers of entomology. Tri-County Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Meeting, Penn State Cooperative Extension, February 22, Shippensburg, PA Kuhar, T. 2012. Insecticide Efficacy Research on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on Vegetables in Virginia. 2012 Atlantic Coast Agriculture Convention and Trade Show and the New Jersey Agricultural Convention, January 18, Atlantic City, NJ Kuhar, T. 2011. Update on stink bug biology and control in Virginia. Webinar for Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents, November 3, Blacksburg, VA Kamminga K., T. Kuhar, D. Herbert, H. Doughty, A. Wallingford, A. Wimer, J. Jenrette, C. Philips. November 2011. Results of insecticide bioassays on Halyomorpha halys. The 59th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV, November 15, 2011. Kuhar T. November 2011. Impact on vegetables and insecticide efficacy research in the mid-Atlantic U.S.: Brown marmorated stink bug symposium at The 59th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV, November 13, 2011. Kuhar T. February 2011. Insect management update including brown marmorated stink bug. Richmond Area Vegetable Growers Meeting, February 9, 2011. Kuhar T. November 2011. Update on Insect Management Research in Virginia Vegetables. Mid-Atlantic Vegetable and Small Fruit Workers Conference, Newark, DE, Nov 9, 2011. Kuhar T. 2011. Update on insect control for vegetable crops and the new invasive stink bug. 2011 Eastern Shore AREC Fall Vegetable Field Day, Painter, VA, September 21, 2011. Kuhar T. 2011. Insect management update for vegetables. Appalachian Regional Horticulture Conference, Abingdon, VA, February 18, 2011. PUBLICATIONS Kuhar, T. P., K. L. Kamminga, J. Whalen, G. P. Dively, G. Brust, C. R.R. Hooks, G. Hamilton, and D. A. Herbert. 2012. The pest potential of brown marmorated stink bug on vegetable crops. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP- 2012-0523-01-BR. Kamminga, K., T. Kuhar, A. Wimer and D. A. Herbert. 2012. Effects of the insect growth regulators novaluron and diflubenzuron on the brown marmorated stink bug. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2012-1212-01-RS. Kuhar T., G. P. Dively, J. Whalen, G. C. Hamilton, G. Brust, and K. Kamminga. 2012. P015: Pest threat of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug to vegetable crops in the U.S. p. 85 in 2012 Proceedings of the 7th International Integrated Pest Management Symposium: IPM on the World Stage, March 2729, Memphis, TN. Kuhar T., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, and J. Aigner. 2013. Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia  2012 Test 1. Arthropod Management Tests 2013, Vol. 38: in press. Kuhar T., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, and J. Aigner. 2013. Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia  2012 Test 2. Arthropod Management Tests 2013, Vol. 38: in press. Kuhar T., H. Doughty, K. Kamminga, A. Wallingford, C. Philips, and J. Aigner. 2013. Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in Virginia  2012 Test 3. Arthropod Management Tests 2013, Vol. 38: in press.

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