IPM-CPR for peaches: incorporating behaviorally-based methods to manage Halyomorpha halys and key pests in peach

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has emerged as a key pest in mid-Atlantic peach production. Current management of H. halys has disrupted IPM programs by relying exclusively on frequent, repeated, season-long insecticide applications. We developed a behaviorally-based tactic termed IPM-CPR (Crop Perimeter Restructuring) that utilizes border sprays for H. halys, groundcover management for Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae) and mating disruption for Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

IPM-CPR reduced insecticide usage by 25-61%. Generally there was less, and at times significantly less, catfacing injury (attributable to H. halys) in peaches in the IPM-CPR blocks relative to the standard, and minimal differences in injury due to G. molesta or L. lineolaris. These results suggest that perimeter applications of insecticides exploit the border-arrestment behavior of H. halys by controlling them at the orchard edge, reducing damage throughout the block.

IPM-CPR significantly reduces the area managed by growers for control of H. halys, while simultaneously managing key pests at levels equal to current grower standard practices. This approach brings IPM tactics back into the orchard system after disruption by the invasive H. halys and potentially supports beneficial insects.