Landscape-scale spatiotemporal dynamics of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) populations: implications for spatially-based pest management

Authors: PARK, YONG-LAK - West Virginia University; CHOI, KYUNGSAN - West Virginia University; Cullum, John; Hoelmer, Kim; Weber, Donald; Morrison, William - Rob; RICE, KEVIN - Virginia Tech; KRAWCZYK, GREG - Pennsylvania State University; FLEISCHER, SHELBY - Pennsylvania State University; HAMILTON, GEORGE - Rutgers University; LUDWICK, DALTON - Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station; NIELSEN, ANNE - Rutgers University; Kaser, Joseph; POLK, DEAN - Rutgers University; SHREWSBURY, PAULA - University Of Maryland; BERGH, J. CHRISTOPHER - Virginia Tech; KUHAR, THOMAS - Virginia Tech; Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2023
Publication Date: 2/6/2024
Citation: Park, Y., Choi, K., Cullum, J.P., Hoelmer, K.A., Weber, D.C., Morrison Iii, W.R., Rice, K.B., Krawczyk, G., Fleischer, S.J., Hamilton, G., Ludwick, D., Nielsen, A.L., Kaser, J.M., Polk, D., Shrewsbury, P.M., Bergh, J., Kuhar, T.P., Leskey, T.C. 2024. Landscape-scale spatiotemporal dynamics of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) populations: implications for spatially-based pest management. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7772.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7772

Interpretive Summary: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest of specialty and row crops at a landscape scale. Here, we evaluated BMSB population densities at a landscape scale using two large plots with nearly identical landscape features. These paired plots were set up in four states: West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. BMSB populations were monitored using pheromone-baited sticky traps at 27 sites within each plot season long in 2017 and in 2018. We found that BMSB hot spots were typically located near woodlands in the early spring, near fruit orchards in the summer, and near field crops in the fall. These results can be sued to develop landscape-level management tactics for this highly destructive invasive pest.

Technical Abstract: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive and severe agricultural pest of specialty and row crops in North America and Europe. A two-year field study conducted in four Mid-Atlantic states in the USA characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of BMSB populations and their association with landscape elements in commercial agriculture settings. In each state, two 1-km2 study sites at least 1 km apart were used, and each site included typical landscape elements (i.e. tree fruit orchards, annual field and vegetable crops, woodlands, and human-made structures). Twenty-seven georeferenced pheromone traps were deployed per site and the number of BMSB adults and nymphs captured was counted throughout the growing season. Findings from spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE), along with time-series maps of BMSB distribution, showed that BMSB exhibited significant spatial aggregation at each site, and that their distribution was spatially consistent between years. Analyses with geographic information systems (GIS) revealed that BMSB “hot spots” occurred in different landscape elements throughout the season. Most patches (i.e. clusters of signi'cantly higher trap captures) were found near woodlands early in the season, near tree fruit orchards in summer, and on the border of field crops in autumn. Buffer analysis with GIS indicated that more BMSB adults were captured closer to woodlands compared with other landscape elements. Understanding the spatial and temporal movement and distribution of BMSB is critical to predicting their potential impact and ultimately devising strategies to mitigate this risk to vulnerable crops. The results of this study can be used to design streamlined, spatially-based areawide management of BMSB in heterogeneous and complex agricultural landscapes.