Response of the Brown Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to the Aggregation Pheromone, Methyl (2E,42)-Decadienoate1
T. C. Leskey and H. W. Hogmire3
USDA—ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, West Virginia USA
J. Entomol. Sci. 42(4): 548-557 (October 2007) Abstract Field-based experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of the abundant brown stink bug, Eusch,stus servus (Say), to commercially available pheromone lures containing methyl (2E,42)-decadienoate deployed in association with yellow pyramid traps. Euschistus servus aggregated over a zone of at least 3.14 m 2 based on significantly greater numbers located on mullein plants located 1 m from baited traps compared with plants at 5 and 10 m. At this distance, —96% of all adults located on mullein plants were not subsequently captured by baited traps. However, the presence of mullein plants near baited traps did not significantly reduce baited trap captures. Even if mullein plants were not present, baited trap captures remained statistically identical. Based on all adults captured in baited traps and located on surrounding mullein plants, 50% of all individuals that entered plots were captured in traps.
Key Words stink bug, aggregation pheromone, monitoring, insect traps, apple, peach
Several stink bug species, including the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), are serious pests of stone fruit (Hogmire 1995) and are becoming increasingly im- portant pests of apple (Brown 2003, Pfeiffer 2005). The potential for stink bugs to become even more problematic could be influenced by additional cancellations or restrictions placed on broad spectrum insecticides based on the Food Quality Pro- tection Act. Economic damage caused by stink bugs in fruit orchards could increase as narrow-spectrum insecticides replace broad spectrum materials for control of key insect pests. To effectively manage stink bugs in a narrow-spectrum, reduced-spray environment, it is imperative that treatments be triggered by a monitoring system designed to detect increases in stink bug abundance or activity. Approaches evaluated to monitor stink bug activity in fruit orchards have included: (1) beating tray samples (Leskey and Hogmire 2005, Ohlendorf 1999); (2) sweep net samples (Leskey and Hogmire 2005); (3) examination of broadleaf weed hosts (Ohlendorf 1999); (4) direct observation of fruit injury (Ohlendorf 1999); and (5) trap- ping samples. Trap types evaluated in fruit orchards have included: (1) plastic jar traps deployed from branches in tree canopies (Leskey and Hogmire 2005); (2) tube traps constructed with wire mesh cone funnels at either end (Krupke et al. 2001, Ohlendorf 1999); and (3) yellow pyramid traps deployed on the ground between trees