Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a nuisance pest in structures and feeds on landscape ornamental trees and commercially grown fruits and vegetables. In California, its distribution continues to change. As brown marmorated stink bug spreads, IPM advisors are learning about the bug and preparing ways to monitor and manage it in urban areas and commercial agriculture.

Area IPM Advisor Jhalendra Rijal is working on brown marmorated stink bug detection and monitoring. Brown marmorated stink bug has been reported in Stanislaus County and it is only a matter of time before it becomes established in the cling peach growing areas of the northern San Joaquin Valley. Rijal monitored nine peach orchards, a preferred host, in Stanislaus and Merced counties. Twenty-four brown marmorated stink bugs were caught in one of the nine orchards; this is possibly the first high in number and consistent catch of brown marmorated stink bugs in any California agricultural crop.

Area IPM Advisor Andrew Sutherland is continuing his work on invasive species education by investigating the incidence of brown marmorated stink bug in urban San Jose. He educates pest management professionals and UC Master Gardeners about brown marmorated stink bug identification, prevention and exclusion practices that keep overwintering brown marmorated stink bugs out of structures.

Area IPM Advisor Emily Symmes managed trapping locations for brown marmorated stink bug, confirming reproducing populations in Butte County. She was responsible for the first brown marmorated stink bug found within a commercially produced crop (a kiwifruit vineyard). Symmes has used her information to update distribution maps for the UC Center for Invasive Species Research and StopBMSB.org. Symmes is part of a multi-year, multi-state, multi-institution collaboration funded by NIFA SCRI to monitor, evaluate natural enemies, determine monitoring practices and thresholds, evaluate insecticides, determine alternate management practices to pesticides, and extend this information to pest control advisers and growers.

Area IPM Advisor Lucia Varela’s goal is to develop a public awareness program and evaluate sampling methods for early interception of brown marmorated stink bug in North Coast grape and pear growing areas. Varela developed articles, a bilingual Pest Alert and a YouTube video. She trained local UC Master Gardeners as first detectors. Varela is conducting trapping and monitoring surveys on key host plants in high traffic areas surrounding pear orchards for early detection.

Area IPM Advisor Karey Windbiel-Rojas is concentrating her efforts to prevent brown marmorated stink bug as a nuisance pest in structures and as a pest in landscapes in Sacramento. She is engaged in outreach to homeowners and pest management professionals on how to manage brown marmorated stink bugs around structures and working on a webpage that allows the public to submit findings and see the distribution of brown marmorated stink bug reports in Yolo County.

IPM advisors ensure clientele have the latest information about distribution, early detection practices, and the latest management information.