Brown Stink Bugs

Brown Stink Bugs

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Euschistus spp., including several common brown-colored stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), are part of a complex of pentatomid bugs that severely damage innumerable commodities worldwide by flying into fields late in the season, and inflicting damage before they are detected. As with mirid bugs, synthetic stink bug pheromones are needed to track migrations, and to possibly suppress populations by trapping out immigrant females or directing them to trap crops for destruction by limited insecticide application. ICEL research on Euschistus pheromones has resulted in the first commercially available pheromone for monitoring stink bugs (methyl 2E,4Z-decadienoate). Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a trap that captures stink bugs (and various other insects) purely due to visual cues. Collaborative research with the UFL demonstrated that inclusion of methyl 2E,4Z-decadienoate lures in these traps increased the captures of E. servus ~10 fold versus unbaited traps-an efficiency that may significantly suppress populations of this pest in peach and pecan orchards. A trapping scheme is being developed to harvest predatory stink bugs in early spring for augmentative biological control programs using these traps (see below), and capture and destroy brown stink bugs later in the season using the same traps with the Euschistus pheromone. Ultimately it is envisioned that the pheromones of other phytophagous stink bugs will be included in the trapping program as new pheromones are identified (ongoing ICEL research) and commercialized.