Landscape effects on spatial distribution and movement of brown marmorated stink bug in peach orchards

Project Overview

GNE12-038
Project Type: Graduate Student
Funds awarded in 2012: $14,179.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2014
Grant Recipient: Rutgers University
Region: Northeast
State: New Jersey
Graduate Student:
Noel Hahn
Email
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Email
Rutgers University
Faculty Advisor:
George Hamilton
Email
Rutgers University

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Fruits: peaches, general tree fruits

Practices

  • Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
  • Pest Management: field monitoring/scouting, integrated pest management, prevention, weather monitoring
  • Production Systems: agroecosystems

    Proposal abstract:

    Peaches are an economically important fruit crop in New Jersey, with 6,370 acres being grown in the state (NASS, 2007). New Jersey is the fourth largest peach growing state after California, Georgia, and South Carolina. Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halymorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive pest of multiple crops in the mid-Atlantic region that has caused significant reductions in crop yield. In addition to affecting a variety of crops, this pest has a range of additional susceptible host plants. Its spread threatens the marketability and productivity of peaches, and would greatly benefit from management using IPM. This requires a knowledge base that allows growers to make informed decisions regarding control. In New Jersey peach farms, growers depend on frequent insecticide applications to control brown marmorated stink bug. Knowledge of their movement into and around orchards and landscape factors that may influence its distribution and spread will allow for more localized insecticide treatments and a reduction in insecticide use.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    OBJECTIVES
    The overall objective of the project is to determine the spatial distribution and movement of brown marmorated stink bug within New Jersey peach orchards. This project will look at landscape factors associated with higher BMSB populations in orchards and potential edge effects of different types of landscape. GIS technology will be used to determine areas with high pest populations.

    Objective 1. Determine if BMSB are more prevalent in peach orchards in North Jersey or South Jersey, when they increase in population, and what landscape factors contribute to this.

    Objective 2. Determine where high BMSB populations are located within peach orchards, and what landscape factors contribute to this.

    Objective 3. Determine what landscape factors contribute to high levels of fruit damage by BMSB.

    Objective 4. Determine what locations/habitats near a peach orchard might contribute to BMSB immigration into orchards.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.