The goal of this proposal is to develop a more effective and sensitive lure for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) that can eventually incorporated into an attract and kill control product. Semiochemicals, including pheromones, are commonly used to manipulate insect behaviors in IPM programs such as monitoring insect pest populations for timing of insecticide applications and control strategies such as attract-and-kill and mating disruption. BMSB was introduced before 1996 to the Mid-Atlantic region of the US and has now been found in a total of 43 states and into Canada. On Oct 8, 2012 CBSDC reported that "The U.S. Apple Association concluded that in 2010 alone, stink bugs caused $37 million in damages to apple farmers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. In western states, Oregon has has the most severe impacts from this pest. BMSB is difficult to detect in agricultural crops, especially early in infestation, which prevents growers from knowing whether intervention is necessary. Tools that are currently used to monitor BMSB are not very effective in detection of BMSB in the spring and it is not uncommon to discover nymphs and eggs in fields in the absence of adult capture. This renders adult BMSB monitoring for forecasting or evaluating insecticide applications inaccurate. Determining the role of host-plant volatiles and sex pheromones in BMSB biology will lead to identification of potent attractants. Identification of plant- and sex-attractants and development of an accurate and efficient monitoring system for BMSB will dramatically improve management by forecasting the need for spraying. In sum, current trapping systems may fail to detect the low densities of BMSB that occur early in infestation and that require immediate grower attention to prevent further damage. A pest-specific monitoring tool that allowed growers to detect even low densities of adult BMSB would be highly useful. Alpha Scents proposes to develop plant-based attractant for monitoring of BMSB migration into agricultural field. In addition, we will develop and conduct preliminary tests on killing stations for BMSB. We believe these added tools will enhance BMSB control efforts.
