D3433: Detection of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) using conventional and automatic trapping tools in specialty crops in North Florida

The brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB), Halymorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest that was first identified in the United States near Allentown, Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. Over the years the BMSB has become a major pest of fruit trees and vegetable crops causing millions of dollars in damage and control costs. The pest was recorded for the first time in June 2020 in Tallahassee in north Florida. Yellow color pyramid pheromones lure traps were used in Leon County, Florida to capture and identify this new pest in the panhandle and its potential natural enemies already available in north Florida. The preliminary data of site 1 (chestnuts and persimmons) of the traps for the Summer and Fall 2020 showed an average of 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 1.3, 1, 1, 1, 0.5, and 0.7 adults/trap collected on 22 June, 29 June, 6 July, 13 July, 20 July, 27 July, 3 August, 10 August, 24 August, 31 August, and 7 September, respectively. No adults were recorded on 8 June, 15 June, 17 August, and 24 August. Trap catches in site 2 (blueberries and grapes) for the Summer and Fall 2020 showed an average of 0.3, 0.3, 1,1,1,0.3, 0.3, and 0.4 adults/trap collected on 15 June, 6 July, 27 July, 3 August, 10 August, 17 August and 24 August, respectively. Recently we used automatic traps in Leon and Gadsden counties to see if the BMSB could be detected remotely. Results of these tools will be discussed.