Abstract
Geospatial analyses were used to investigate the spatial distribution of populations of Halyomorpha halys, an important invasive agricultural pest in mid-Atlantic peach orchards. This spatial analysis will improve efficiency by allowing growers and farm managers to predict insect arrangement and target management strategies. Data on the presence of H. halys were collected from five peach orchards at four farms in New Jersey from 2012–2014 located in different land-use contexts. A point pattern analysis, using Ripley’s K function, was used to describe clustering of H. halys. In addition, the clustering of damage indicative of H. halys feeding was described. With low populations early in the growing season, H. halys did not exhibit signs of clustering in the orchards at most distances. At sites with low populations throughout the season, clustering was not apparent. However, later in the season, high infestation levels led to more evident clustering of H. halys. Damage, although present throughout the entire orchard, was found at low levels. When looking at trees with greater than 10% fruit damage, damage was shown to cluster in orchards. The Moran’s I statistic showed that spatial autocorrelation of H. halys was present within the orchards on the August sample dates, in relation to both populations density and levels of damage. Kriging the abundance of H. halys and the severity of damage to peaches revealed that the estimations of these are generally found in the same region of the orchards. This information on the clustering of H. halys populations will be useful to help predict presence of insects for use in management or scouting programs.
Highlights
The spatial arrangement of insect populations in an area could influence actions taken by pest managers, and must be understood
We looked at how clustering of H. halys populations in peach orchards changed over time, and in several different landscape contexts
Percent fruit damage was high throughout the orchard, especially towards the southern edge (Fig 11h). This is the first study to document the distribution of H. halys in peach orchards
Summary
The spatial arrangement of insect populations in an area could influence actions taken by pest managers, and must be understood. Insect populations can exhibit either a homogeneous (uniform), random, or clustered arrangement in space [2] These patterns are affected by the spatial scale of investigation. Populations of insects might exhibit different distribution patterns in landscapes depending on their context, so spatial heterogeneity is an important factor to take into account when making management choices. These patterns can change throughout the year, as there can be different environmental factors that cause the individuals to move around, such as resource availability or proximity to other fruiting crops. Our specific objectives were to determine the time of season at which clustering of H. halys will most likely occur, and if populations are spatially autocorrelated in the orchard
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