New Updates On Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Mark Seetin, director of regulatory and industry information for the U.S. Apple Association, recently participated in meetings of the USDA Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Research Advisory Group and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Stakeholders Advisory Panel. The meetings provided an opportunity for front-line researchers to share their latest findings from the national program to develop methods for controlling this expanding threat to fruit and vegetable production and to seek stakeholder input on research priorities. The SCRI research project has just completed the first of a five-year program, with much progress in better understanding this dangerous pest and developing better methods of control. However, because the Farm Bill expired on September 30, the project is guaranteed funding for the first three years only. Funding for the final two years depends on what the next Farm Bill contains for supporting the SCRI program.

Key findings discussed include:
• BMSB continued to spread and cause damage. This year, the BMSB was confirmed in two additional states and Ontario, Canada. Growers in New York’s Hudson Valley experienced significant damage from the BMSB for the first time and will coordinate with BMSB researchers from seven Mid-Atlantic states to apply for Section 18 emergency use labels for the insecticides dinotefuran and bifenthrin for use on apples in the 2013 growing season.
• A BMSB-specific pheromone was identified and will be available commercially in 2013. Research conducted at USDA’s Beltsville, MD, facility developed a synthetic pheromone specific to BMSB that has proven highly effective in field tests. Plans are underway to provide for commercial production of the pheromone in traps in 2013. The BMSB-specific pheromone will make monitoring traps much more effective in detecting BMSB movement into orchards, allowing for more timely treatment, and will enable the next stage of research on “attract and kill” methodology.
• Significant progress has been made on a biological control (predator) to BMSB. Work at USDA’s laboratory in West Virginia evaluating possible predators continues to yield positive results. A tiny wasp, Trissolcus halyomorphae, imported from China, has shown itself to be highly effective in attacking and controlling the BMSB in laboratory tests. Testing is currently underway to insure that the wasp specifically attacks the BMSB and does not attack beneficial insects. If testing confirms the BNSB host specificity, the wasp could be available for release within 12 to 18 months.