BMSB Update: Stink Bug Feeding Continues on Late Variety Apple. Assess Fruit Injury.

Overview:

Trapping efforts throughout the Hudson Valley have documented the presence of brown marmorated, green and brown stink bug since Mid-June. All three species have been found feeding on fruit this season.

Their presence along border trees in early-mid August was observed causing feeding damage in Honeycrisp and other red colored varieties. BMSB began movement into orchards in earnest as nymph populations transitioned to adults to begin intensively feed, stocking up on sugars from sap needed to successfully overwinter.

In orchards throughout the Hudson Valley we’ve captured  ‘Threshold’ numbers of adult BMSB in Tedders Traps pheromone trap captures in mid-late August (@ 10/trap/week). Threshold for the use of a baited panel trap should be 2-3/trap. Populations above the adult threshold should then be managed prior to trap reset with an effective insecticide. Be aware of the need for short PHI materials ( Venerate XC (0d PHI), Leverage 360 (7d PHI) ,Baythroid XL (7d PHI)) Heavy rains exceeding 1″ require re-application at very short intervals.

Indications of stink bug presence can be observed in the presence of live SB in fruit clusters and in harvested bins with examples of fruit injury of varieties remaining on the trees as is shown in the photos below.

Control measures should be taken if this type of fruit injury is being observed. Very few insecticides are very effective against this insect complex with regards to residual efficacy. Those listed below are labeled for use against BMSB in NY and represent the best of university and USDA bioassay tested insecticides that will help to reduce the injury and increase mortality of the population. Consider using a non-ionic surfactant to increase penetration of the active ingredients. However, a tight schedule of no less than 7 days should be made if new fruit damage and stink bug adults continue.

Fruit Injury: Over the past 8 weeks we have been seeing a steady increase in populations of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in our pheromone baited Tedders traps placed along the woodland orchard edges. It’s no surprise that we also seeing an increase in feeding injury BMSB on red and yellow colored varieties, especially along the orchard perimeter.

Its very important to note that stink bug injury does not express itself immediately on the fruit. Apple recently fed upon by the SB complex will likely be harvested and stored without blemish, only to find the same fruit with very high levels of fruit damage after its removal from cold storage. Efforts should be made to manage this insect complex prior to harvest.

Management for this insect pest should continue until the last fruit is off the tree. Use of a 10 BMSB per baited BMSB Tedders trap threshold, followed by scouting along the orchard perimeter and use of a single adult stink bug as a threshold within 100′ of perimeter row, then followed by border row, alternate row and whole orchard applications if these thresholds are met should be strongly considered as movement of native and BMSB populations begin to migrate to and from orchards to feed, preparing for overwintering.