Dispersal Capacity and Behavior of Nymphal Stages

Authors: DooHyung Lee Anne L Nielsen Tracy C Leskey

Publish Date: 2014/06/18

Volume: 27, Issue: 5, Pages: 639-651

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Abstract

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys Stål Hemiptera Pentatomidae is a highly polyphagous and mobile pest causing crop damage aggregated at the perimeters of crop fields Understanding the dispersal biology of H halys is critical for the development of reliable monitoring and management strategies In this study dispersal ecology of H halys nymphs was studied under laboratory and field conditions In the laboratory horizontal and vertical walking capacity was quantified for mobile nymphal stages ie 2nd through 5th instars and compared with adults There was a significant difference in the horizontal distance moved by H halys among the life stages tested Third instars exhibited significantly greater walking distances compared with adults horizontal walking distances by other nymphal stages were not significantly different from adults A similar pattern was observed from vertical climbing tests of H halys Third and 4th instars climbed significantly greater distances compared with 2nd instars and adults while distances climbed by 5th instars were intermediate In the field the walking distance of 3rd and 5th instar nymphs on mowed grass was quantified based on direct observation of individuals for 30 min Under these conditions 5th instars moved nearly twofold greater distances compared with 3rd instars but surface temperature affected both nymphal stages similarly Shorter bouts of movement were common at surface temperatures below 25 °C whereas individuals showed longer walking distances above 25 °C In markreleaserecapture studies 4th and 5th instars were released and recaptured in traps baited with attractive pheromonalbased stimuli to estimate dispersal rates under field conditions When insects were released 5 m from traps both instars were first recaptured within 2 h after release with the recapture rates of 54 and 69  for 4th and 5th instars over 24 h respectively When insects were released 20 m from traps 4th and 5th instars were first recaptured in less than 5 h with the recapture rates of 27 and 51  respectively The results of this study indicate that H halys nymphs have strong dispersal capacity with which populations can easily move among host plants and other attractive stimuli at farmscape levelsWe thank Cameron Scorza John Cullum and Samuel Nathan Brandt for excellent technical support We thank Clarissa Mathews and Haroun Hallack for allowing us to conduct markreleaserecapture studies at Redbud Farm in Inwood WV This work was supported in part by USDANIFA OREI 20125130020097 award Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture

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