Rodale Institute Studies the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

©2011 Rodale Institute ©2012 Rodale Institute

Gladis Zinati Associate Research ScientistRodale Institute, Kutztown, PA

Gladis.Zinati@rodaleinstitute.org; Tel. (610) 683-1402Presented at the First OREI Meeting, RAREC, NJ

January 7, 2013

Update on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) at Rodale Institute

©2011 Rodale Institute

Presentation1. An overview of the farm

2. BMSB pressure, losses, management tactics, and weather data (2008-2012)

3. Scouting in November 2012a. Locate overwintering sites by BMSBsb. Record number of dead and live BMSBsc. Identify preferred material or fabric by BMSBs for

overwinteringd. Potential natural enemy

1. The gathered information will help us to:a. identify the sites where we will establish the trap crops

to monitor the BMSB population during the first year of the project

©2011 Rodale Institute

- Certified organic since 2002- There are 132 fields on 333 acres - The soil is shaley silt loam- Field crops, vegetables, apple orchards - Ornamental trees, landscape plants, and

pastures- A demonstration Garden

Overview of the farm

©2011 Rodale Institute

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Brown marmorated stink bug has become a nuisance pest to home oweners

©2011 Rodale Institute

Economic losses on apples

Photos: Chris Bergh –Virginia Tech

But it is a devastating pest for orchardists and many other commodity growers

©2011 Rodale Institute

2008-2010: a. Pumpkins planted west side of the orchard-

All covered with BMSB b. High pressure, Total crop lossc. No management tactic was applied

BMSB pressure, losses, and management tactics

Pumpkins

N

Apples

©2011 Rodale Institute

2008 Precipitation – above normal

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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2008

Normal2008 total = 49.98 inchesNormal total = 43.52 inchesDifference = + 6.46 inches

©2011 Rodale Institute

2009 Precipitation- above normal

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2009 total = 53.00 inchesNormal total = 43.52 inchesDifference = + 9.48 inches

©2011 Rodale Institute

2010 Precipitation – close to normal

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2010Normal

2010 total = 43.13 inches Normal total = 43.52 inchesDifference = - 0.39 inches

©2011 Rodale Institute

2008-2010 - Monthly Mean temperatures

2008-2010 Monthly Mean

Temperatures (oF) at Rodale Institute

76

15

562008

2009

2010

©2011 Rodale Institute

2008-2010 - Monthly Mean temperatures

2008-2010 Monthly Mean

Temperatures (oF) at Rodale Institute

76

15

562008

2009

2010

Minimum Temperature Threshold (MTT) for BMSB (56oF) shifted from mid May in 2008 to mid April in 2010. As a result of climate change, we could expect warmer temperatures earlier in the season and reach MTT earlier than expected.

©2011 Rodale Institute

2011:a. Winter Squash and pumpkins (15-20/fruit)b. Seen late summer early fallc. Medium damaged. No management tactic was appliede. Was the wettest year on record

BMSB pressure, losses, and management tactics

©2011 Rodale Institute

2011 Precipitation – the wettest year on record in PA in nearly 200 years

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Normal

2008 total = 69.31 inchesNormal total = 43.52 inchesDifference = + 25.79 inches

©2011 Rodale Institute

2011 Monthly Mean temperatures

2011- Monthly Mean temperatures

(oF) at Rodale Institute

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Jan

Feb Mar Apr

May Ju

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Sep Oct

NovDec

©2011 Rodale Institute

2012: a. An average year, not much snow or cold

b. Apples and Squash were affected

c. 30-40 nymphs - early July on summer squash flower and leaves

d. Sprayed Surround (Kaolin Clay) as a preventive measure for beetles

e. Low pressure of BMSB, Minor damage

f. No management tactic specific to BMSB was applied

BMSB pressure, losses, and management tactics

©2011 Rodale Institute

2012 Precipitation – below normal

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Normal

2009 total = 34.01 inchesNormal total = 43.52 inchesDifference = - 9.51 inches

©2011 Rodale Institute

2012- Monthly Mean Temperatures at Rodale Institute

76

15

56

Jan

Feb Mar Apr

May Ju

nJu

lAug

Sep Oct

NovDec

©2011 Rodale Institute

2008-2012 Monthly Mean

Temperatures (oF) at Rodale Institute

78

15

562008

2009

2010

2011

2012

©2011 Rodale Institute

Predictions!!!!!!!

Warm temperatures and low rainfall of 2012 could be factors in seeing an increase in BMSB population this coming year (2013), possibly!!!!

©2011 Rodale Institute

Presentation

1. An overview of the farm

2. BMSB pressure, losses, management tactics, and weather data (2008-2012)

3. Scouting in November 2012

a. Locate overwintering sites by BMSBs

b. Record number of dead and live BMSBs

c. Identify preferred material or fabric by BMSBs for overwintering

d. Potential natural enemy

©2011 Rodale Institute

3.a. Aerial map of Rodale Institute

Hay barn

Greenhouses

Carriage House

Apple orchard

Book Store

Barn

NRodale House

Main officeSiegfriedale S. House Garage

Sun room

Under Barn

Machiner

y Bldg.Garden Pavillion

Lab.

©2011 Rodale Institute

3.b. Scouting for BMSB at Rodale Institute –November 28-29, 2012

Structure/Bldg. # Dead BMSB # Live BMSBBook Store 4 18WEPP-Restrooms 0 0

Rodale Barn 0 0

Rodale House 17 21Garden Pavillion 0 10Greenhouses 37 0

Dryer Bldg. 0 0

Machinery Bldg./OPS 0 0

Hay Barn 0 0

Lab. 0 0

Sunroom/kitchen 0/1 0/0

Carriage House 9 1

Under Barn 1 0

Main Office 12 1

Siegfriedale House 18 1

Siegfriedale Garage 42 0

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©2011 Rodale Institute

Live and Dead BMSBs counts

Hay barn

Greenhouses

(37)

Carriage House

Apple orchard

Book Store (18)

Barn

NRodale House (21)

Main office (12)Siegfriedale S. House (18) Garage (42)

Sun room

Under Barn

Machiner

y Bldg.Garden Pavillion

(10)

Lab.

Numbers in red (live BMSB), numbers in pink (dead)

©2011 Rodale Institute

3a,b. Greenhouse –Rodale Institute

Dead BMSBs and other insects in the plastic heating tube

©2011 Rodale Institute

3.c. Material preferred for overwintering-Garden Pavillion, Rodale Institute

Dark color & Water-proof fabric

©2011 Rodale Institute

3.c. Material preferred by BMSB- Book Store, RI, BMSBs hiding in fabric

Aero Soft Grow Containers

©2011 Rodale Institute

Aero Soft Grow Containers

Made from recycled biodegradable inert plastic

©2011 Rodale Institute

Book Store- BMSB hiding in a book

©2011 Rodale Institute

3d. Spider Web can be a natural Enemy for BMSB, Siegfriedale Garage, Rodale Institute

West side of farm

Spider web Caught in a spider web

©2011 Rodale Institute

Presentation

1. An overview of the farm

2. BMSB pressure, losses, management tactics, and weather data (2008-2012)

3. Scouting in November 2012

a. Locate overwintering sites by BMSBs

b. Record number of dead and live BMSBs

c. Identify preferred material or fabric by BMSBs for overwintering

d. Potential natural enemy

1. The gathered information will help us to:

a. identify the sites where we will establish the trap crops to monitor the BMSB population during the first year of the project

©2011 Rodale Institute

4. Information collected in scouting helped us to

1. Identify the hot spots –locations of overwintering adults

2. Identify where BMSBs would disperse from and which fields could be impacted

3. Potential locations where we could set up sentinel and crop traps for monitoring

©2011 Rodale Institute

4.a. hot zone

Hay barn

Greenhouses

(37)

Carriage House

Apple orchard

Book Store (18)

Barn

NRodale House (21)

Main office (12)Siegfriedale S. House (18) Garage (42)

Sun room

Under Barn

Machinery Bldg.

Garden Pavillion

(10)

Lab.

Potential hot spots, East side of the farm and wooded area

Numbers in red (live BMSB), Numbers in pink (dead)

©2011 Rodale Institute

4.b.c. BMSB could disperse to these locations and traps needed for monitoring

Rodale house

Garden Pavillion

Book store

©2011 Rodale Institute

• In small garden situation, placing wooden boards under plants helped in collecting BMSBs since they crawl under to seek shelter and moisture

• Spraying Surround® could have minimized the spread of BMSBs and their population, but no proof

• Spider web could reduce BMSB adult population

• Designing material that mimic spider web that may reduce their flying ability and aid in trapping them.

Observations

©2011 Rodale Institute

Our future work …

Certainly monitoring and identifying organic management tactics that control this bug would lead to:

1. Making better and effective recommendations

to growers and home owners

2. Reduce crop losses

3. Ensure economic and environmental

sustainability

©2011 Rodale Institute

Linking RI website to eOrganic website

©2011 Rodale Institute

Acknowledge my team:

Jeff Moyer and Christine Zieglerthanks to Rita Seidel for providing weather info and Jake for helping us in collecting the bugs in the greenhouse!

Thank You Let us discuss!