Project Number: 1926-22000-026-16
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Aug 31, 2015

Objective:
Biological control offers perhaps the most effective approach to long-term sustainable management of BMSB on organic farms. This project will initially identify key natural enemies and parasitism and predation rates of both native stink bugs and BMSB on organic farms throughout the study area. Other objectives will focus on enhancing the activity of natural enemies through habitat manipulation and conservation management practices specific to organic farming systems, including determining the impact of certified organic pesticides on BMSB natural enemies.

Approach:
The planned role for the Newark laboratory will be to: 1) provide BMSB eggs from its stock colony to project cooperators for their sentinel surveys in various organic crops; 2) identify stink bug parasitoids reared in field studies in various crops by other project participants; and 3) screen pest management compounds registered for organic production on BMSB parasitoids in culture at Newark.