Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Responses to Traps Baited With Pheromones in Peach and Apple Orchards

Monitoring insect populations is a fundamental component of integrated pest management programs. In many cropping systems, monitoring is accomplished through captures in baited traps. The aggregation pheromone and pheromone synergist for the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are known. We compared the response of H. halys to commercial lures in peach and apple orchards. Two commercial pheromone formulations, PHEROCON Trécé BMSB ('Trécé') and AgBio Inc. Stink Bug Xtra Combo ('Xtra Combo'), were compared with unbaited traps in peach orchards in 2015 and 2016 and in an apple orchard in 2016. In both crops and years, more H. halys responded to the Trécé lure, and fruit from trees near baited traps had correspondingly higher injury. In both years, peach fruit near Trécé baited traps had significantly higher feeding injury (52.2 ± 5.0%) than fruit near Xtra Combo baited and unbaited traps (35.2 ± 4.5% and 22.2 ± 3.4%, respectively). Injury to apple fruit near baited traps in 2016 was significantly different from fruit near unbaited traps (Trécé: 93.0 ± 3.8%, Xtra Combo: 74.1 ± 5.1%, and unbaited: 19.0 ± 2.7%). A field response index, which quantifies attraction of H. halys to each lure, demonstrated an equal response to both lures in 2015 peach and a higher response to Trécé lure in 2016 in both crops, which suggests the lure is pulling bugs from a larger area. We conclude that formulation differences, population pressure, and host plant species influence H. halys populations' response and resulting injury, and should be considered for trap-based decision management.