Can the Dispersal Behavior of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Inform the Use of Insecticide-Treated Netting to Mitigate Homeowner Issues From its Fall Invasion?

Abstract

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a serious agricultural pest and can be a significant nuisance when it invades human dwellings during its fall dispersal to overwintering sites. Methods informed by behavioral data to exclude or reduce its entry into buildings are needed. The temporal and spatial distribution of adults on an invaded building was assessed over multiple years, revealing its seasonal dispersal pattern and that its numbers varied by wall aspect. Moreover, its density was higher in recessed doorways than on associated walls, raising questions about its behavioral response to dark, contrasting surfaces. This response was evaluated using black, framed panels of deltamethrin-incorporated netting, non-treated netting, and an open frame with no netting, deployed in pairs on the wall of a private residence. More dispersing adults landed on panels of non-treated netting than on open panels, but there was no difference between panels with treated and non-treated netting. Adults remained on treated panels for less time than on non-treated panels, and most walked rather than flew from both. Adult male and female H. halys collected during the dispersal period were exposed to panels of treated and non-treated netting in a laboratory, using durations derived from field recordings. Exposures to treated panels intoxicated but did not kill them over a 7-d assessment period. The deployment of insecticide-treated netting, guided by the behavior of adult H. halys alighting on buildings, is discussed in relation to potential options to mitigate homeowner issues from this serious annual problem.

Presence of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on home exteriors during the autumn dispersal period: Results generated by citizen scientists

“…Volunteers were asked to record total daily counts of adult H. halys on the exterior walls, by wall aspect, during the peak autumnal dispersal period. This was defined as occurring between 15 September and 15 October, based on annual counts of H. halys on the exterior walls of a building in Winchester, Virginia (39°6′46.343″N, 78°17′2.572″W), showing that an average of 88.3% of all H. halys observed on exterior walls were recorded between 15 September and 15 October (Bergh & Quinn, ). Counts were requested between 14.00 h and 18.00 h to standardize the sampling interval, based on data showing that peak daily counts on walls occurred during this timeframe (Bergh & Quinn, ).…”

“…This was defined as occurring between 15 September and 15 October, based on annual counts of H. halys on the exterior walls of a building in Winchester, Virginia (39°6′46.343″N, 78°17′2.572″W), showing that an average of 88.3% of all H. halys observed on exterior walls were recorded between 15 September and 15 October (Bergh & Quinn, ). Counts were requested between 14.00 h and 18.00 h to standardize the sampling interval, based on data showing that peak daily counts on walls occurred during this timeframe (Bergh & Quinn, ). The elevation of each home was established based on the physical address provided using http://veloroutes.org, a route planning and geo‐analysis tool.…”

“…stacking on top of each other in a confined space), usually on a preferred host plant adjacent to overwintering structures. Around the autumn equinox, adults are likely triggered by photoperiod, and to a lesser extent temperature, to seek out an overwintering shelter from mid‐September to mid‐October (Nielsen et al ., ; Bergh & Quinn, ). During step (ii), adults likely use a suite of macro‐environmental cues to orient to an overwintering site (Goldner, ).…”

“…Halyomorpha halys can fly > 5 km within 24 h (Lee & Leskey, ; Wiman et al ., ), and therefore can disperse long distances to reach potential overwintering sites. Their autumn dispersal to overwintering sites occurs between mid‐September and late October in the Mid‐Atlantic region, with peak dispersal from around 21 September until the first half of October (Bergh & Quinn, ). During this period, vast numbers of adults can alight on, enter and settle within buildings, creating a serious nuisance for homeowners and businesses in the autumn.…”

“…During step (ii), adults likely use a suite of macro‐environmental cues to orient to an overwintering site (Goldner, ). For example, Bergh and Quinn () showed that dispersing H. halys adults alighted more frequently on framed black panels deployed on a wall of an invaded residence than on frames without a black panel. In addition, the density of adults was higher in shaded, recessed doorways than on the associated walls, suggesting an effect of darker, contrasting surfaces and perhaps reflected radiation on their closer range selection of an overwintering site after arrival at a macrosite.…”