Evaluation of perimeter-based attract-and-kill strategies for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal), in orchard crops in the USA

Authors: Hepler, James; Morrison Iii, William; Cullum, John; SHORT, BRENT - Trece, Inc; Carper Jr, Garland; BEERS, ELIZABETH - Washington State University; Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Management of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in U.S. orchard crops relies on the frequent use of broad-spectrum insecticides that are disruptive to integrated pest management programs. In an effort to reduce overall insecticide inputs, attract-and-kill (AK) approaches have been developed in which H. halys are concentrated in orchard perimeter trees using pheromone lures and eliminated with highly targeted insecticide sprays on a weekly basis. While effective, the material and labor costs of these weekly applications is prohibitive. In this study, we test the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide netting (LLIN) as a low-input alternative killing agent in a modified AK strategy for reducing H. halys damage to tree fruit in the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwestern U.S. Several LLIN AK station configurations are evaluated, including a novel trap design, the 'poncho trap'. In the Mid-Atlantic, pheromone-baited LLIN fabric suspended directly on orchard perimeter trees or on posts near but not touching perimeter trees provided levels of H. halys control equivalent to grower standard practices. In the Pacific Northwest, the poncho trap captured threefold more H. halys than simple post-mounted trap designs deployed outside the orchard perimeter, likely due to its use of sewn integral LLIN fabric flaps that capitalize on H. halys climbing behavior. However, the poncho trap as tested is too large to be used within orchards. We therefore recommend that LLIN fabric panels suspended near but not touching orchard perimeter trees be modified to incorporate the poncho trap's integral flaps to increase efficacy. Additionally, our findings from both study regions demonstrate that effective AK management of H. halys requires the close proximity of the host plant, pheromone lure, and killing agent. These findings lay the groundwork for the development of ecologically and economically sustainable IPM programs for management of H. halys in U.S. orchard crops.

Technical Abstract: Management of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), using attract-and-kill (AK) strategies in orchard crops has resulted in reductions in pesticide inputs and the reestablishment of integrated pest management programs, but also increased labor inputs and damage in pheromone-baited AK trees. Here, we re-tool previously developed AK practices for H. halys management using long-lasting insecticide netting (LLIN) as a low-input, effective killing agent. Simple LLIN AK stations were evaluated for efficacy compared with grower standard practices when hung directly on orchard perimeter fruit trees, hung on posts near, but not touching perimeter trees, and placed outside the orchard perimeter in commercial Mid-Atlantic apple orchards from 2017–2019. Treatments in which LLIN stations were directly attached to or hung near perimeter trees were equivalent to grower standards in terms of H. halys injury. In commercial pear orchards in the Pacific Northwest in 2018–2020, efficacies of several LLIN station designs were evaluated as supplements to grower standard practices. A novel LLIN station design, referred to as the poncho trap, consistently caught nearly three-fold more H. halys compared to a simple post-deployed ‘ghost trap’ design when installed outside orchard perimeters. However, only LLIN stations mounted directly to perimeter trees provided statistically significant reductions in fruit damage. Our overall findings underscore the importance of positioning the pheromone lure, host plant (fruit tree), and LLIN in close proximity for successful AK H. halys management and that poncho trap LLIN fabric flaps could be integrated into near-mounted LLIN stations to increase overall efficacy.