Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit
Project Number: 8010-22000-033-004-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Mar 1, 2018
End Date: Feb 28, 2023
Objective:
Brown marmorated stink bug attacks a wide range of crops and ornamentals, with management currently relying heavily on repeated insecticide applications that have no impact on pest populations in extensive non-crop reservoirs. Successful conclusion of research and quarantine testing of imported Asian biological control agents for management of this pest that was begun during an expiring 5-year SCRI project. Adventive populations of an Asian agent have also established in the U.S. Additional research on the behavior and ecology of the candidate biocontrol agent are needed to determine its impact and maximize its impact as a component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs.
Approach:
The planned role for the Newark laboratory will be to:
1) Maintain colonies of BMSB parasitoids obtained in Asia, and those which have established adventively.
2) Conduct behavioral studies of BMSB parasitoids in quarantine culture and under field conditions regarding their response to traps, lures and pheromones developed for the target pest (BMSB).
3) This research may be extended to key natural enemies of other invasive pests, such as spotted wing drosophila.
