PATTERNS OF HOST USE BY BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG, HALYOMORPHA HALYS (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE), IN WOODY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS

Abstract

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), an invasive pest species native to Asia was introduced to North America in the 1990’s. It has caused significant losses to a wide range of agricultural crops. H. halys is a nuisance pest invading homes and structures where it overwinters. I explore host use of H. halys on 254 cultivars of woody ornamental plants grown at commercial nurseries in Maryland. Overall, 88 host and 43 non-host cultivars were identified. Angiosperms supported greater abundances of H. halys than gymnosperms. Asian cultivars housed fewer H. halys than non-Asian cultivars. This trend was strongest in Acer, Ulmus, and Pyrus. Plants native to the invaded realm appear at greater risk to invasive pests than plants in the invaders aboriginal realm. Identifying cultivars most used and least used by H. halys enables growers to sell refractory cultivars making landscapes less supportive to H. halys and more sustainable.