Hannah Fraser, Entomology Program Lead (Hort), OMAFRA
Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) adults have been steadily moving out of their overwintering sites since mid-April and have been captured in a pheromone trap located in one of our hot spots in Hamilton, ON, over the last couple of weeks. Adults have also been collected off garden plants in the same area, where some feeding injury has occurred. Include BMSB in scouting activities for early crop pests, particularly in peaches. Make sure to monitor border areas and check for BMSB on buckthorn, which seem to be an important season-long host in Ontario.
As of 2014, BMSB has been identified as established in the Hamilton / Burlington area, Windsor, London, St. Catharines and Newboro. Surveys conducted by OMAFRA, the University of Guelph and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2013-2014 have also trapped this pest on farms located in Beamsville, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, St. David’s, Waterdown, Smithville, Cedar Springs, Essex. In addition, there have been numerous homeowner finds in Brampton, Fort Erie, Grimsby, Oakville (photos only), Milton, Niagara Falls, Stoney Creek, Toronto, Vaughan, Cedar Springs, Welland (photos only), Delhi, Kincardine, Maidstone, Paris, Tecumseh, Ottawa and most recently in Kitchener. We will be continuing our survey work in southern Ontario over the next few years (2015-2017). The project “Sustainable Management and Survey for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Ontario ” which was submitted in response to the recent call under the OMAFRA – U of G Research Program has received funding. For more information, visit our website at www.ontario.ca/stinkbug and check for regular updates in Hort Matters.
Early detection is important to the long term success of management programs. We need to have a better understanding of where this pest is and how well it is established. There is a monitoring network for this pest; however, we have a better chance of finding pockets of small populations if more people are looking. Tracking the distribution and spread is essential. When BMSB is confirmed in a new location, this information can be added to distribution maps, providing growers in the area with an early warning system.
A sample or high quality pictures are required for identification. Pictures of BMSB and look-alikes can be found at www.ontario.ca/stinkbug. If you think you have found BMSB (particularly outside of the Hamilton area, where we have lots of data), contact the Agriculture Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or email ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca, and we will provide you with instructions on what to do with the sample. To preserve the specimen, and to prevent it from becoming crushed or dried out, place it in a small container and freeze to kill it, or place it in rubbing alcohol or vinegar.
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