Abstract
In this study we focus on the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), which has a strong dispersal capacity and has had a significant impact on several cropping systems, including peach (Prunus persica (L.)). Management of H. halys has relied on intensive insecticide use, and thus a better understanding of its dispersal behavior may assist in developing improved management strategies. In order to investigate H. halys movement and distribution patterns within a peach orchard we applied ecologically safe, food protein markers to the trees along the orchard border (chicken egg albumin in the form of liquid egg whites) and to the trees within the orchard interior (bovine casein in the form of cow’s milk). We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to assess whether collected H. halys were “marked” with either of the two protein markers, revealing where in the orchard the bugs had visited. From the density data we determined that H. halys is a perimeter-driven pest in peaches, with a significantly higher density of bugs collected along the orchard border. Interestingly, this trend is primarily driven by the distribution of male bugs. The protein marking data revealed that a small proportion of male H. halys move equally between the orchard border and interior, while a small proportion of females move predominately to the border after visiting the interior. The verification of a strong edge-effect, although potentially sex-specific, implies that H. halys displays a dispersal behavior that may also be exploited for management, which may help growers more efficiently and more effectively manage H. halys.
Highlights
As defined by an individual’s movement in space to promote gene flow (Benton & Bowler, 2012), is a behavior that is prevalent amongst organisms that impacts the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations
Mark-release-recapture techniques artificially enhance the population by releasing marked individuals and may skew assumptions on natural dispersal behavior
The objectives of this study were to use immunomarking to investigate whether H. halys is a perimeter driven pest with high densities of stink bugs observed along the border, and secondly whether it moves readily between the border and interior in peach orchards
Summary
As defined by an individual’s movement in space to promote gene flow (Benton & Bowler, 2012), is a behavior that is prevalent amongst organisms that impacts the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations. Jones et al (2006) developed an ELISA procedure using low cost and obtainable food proteins, such as chicken egg albumin (egg whites) and bovine casein (cow’s milk). This method allows for marking naturally occurring insects in the field using highly sensitive, inexpensive, and ecologically safe markers. It has since been used to study the natural dispersal and movement patterns of a variety of insects, including natural enemies (Horton, Jones & Unruh, 2009; Swezey et al, 2014) and herbivores (Sivakoff, Rosenheim & Hagler, 2012; Reisig, Roe & Dhammi, 2013; Swezey et al, 2013)
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