Aug 26, 2015

Michigan brown marmorated stink bug report

In the eighth week of monitoring, 10 brown marmorated stink bug(BMSB) nymphs and zero adults were collected from three traps out of the 60 being monitored in the major fruit production regions and nearby urban areas this week. Two of the traps are located in Stevensville, Michigan, and the other trap is in Traverse City, Michigan. All three sites are urban locations in which BMSB have been reported being collected or captured before. Reports continue to come in from other residential areas as well.

As suggested last week, the area of influence for a single baited trap appears to be relatively small, so it is important when using them to monitor for this pest to place them near favored plant hosts and combine trapping with other sampling such as beat sampling or sweep-netting in orchard edges close to woodlots and riparian areas. Visual inspection of orchard edges for the presence of fruit injury, or for the insects themselves, is also recommended. It appears that for most of the state, numbers are still well below levels that would trigger specific control measures and current management programs aimed at summer insect pests would likely provide some protection against BMSB that may be present in orchards.

For more information about management of BMSB should populations reach levels that would require control, please refer to the Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E0154, “2015 Michigan Fruit Management Guide.” To learn more about how to monitor for BMSB, distinguish it from other similar-looking stink bugs and what plants it favors, visit MSU’s Brown Marmorated Stink Bug website.

The purpose of the MSU Extension BMSB monitoring network and weekly report is to provide early warning should population increases of BMSB occur in areas where susceptible crops are grown. Based on what is currently known about the biology of BMSB and its favored crop and non-crop habitats, commercial fruit and vegetable plantings have been selected that are adjacent to riparian habitats, woodlands, soybean fields, major transportation corridors or various combinations of these attributes. Traps are baited with a commercially available lure and have been set up in apples, stone fruits including peaches, plums, sweet and tart cherries, blueberries, grapes, strawberries and a variety of vegetable crops. Several urban locations where BMSB were reported last year are also being monitored.

— By Julianna Wilson, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Entomology