I have attached a new map of Virginia showing the counties where we have encountered BMSBs in soybean fields. A difference from last year–many of these fields have heavy infestations on the edges. At this point, some of the growers have made edge treatments, one spray boom width, to see if this will stop the infestation. Our challenge now is to try to begin revisiting at least some of those fields to determine if this strategy has worked, and if or when infestations may recur. We now have some post treatment ratings on several insecticides and most are providing good knockdown. We were able to evaluate only a few of the products available, but may have more opportunities later in the season. To date, we are getting good control with Lannate, Vydate, Cobalt Advanced, Belay, Orthene 97, Endigo ZC, Baythroid XL, and Brigade. We will provide more details as we have time.
Additional information: va-bmsb-aug-25-2011-pdf

Thanks to the conscientious effort of our field scout, Ed Seymore, we have located several soybean fields in Orange County, Virginia (about 20 miles NE of Charlottesville) with large numbers of brown marmorated stink bugs. These high density areas are very much restricted to field edges next to woods, especially where there are groups of tree or heaven. On these field edges we could easily capture 10 to 20 adults and nymphs, or more, in a 15-sweep sample. The ratio of adults to nymphs was heavy on the nymph side, with evidence of old egg masses on the leaves. As best we could determine these infestations went only about 30 feet into the fields, then numbers dropped to 1 to 2, or less per 15 sweeps. There was evidence of feeding with flattened pods and discolored pods with damaged seed. There is no question that these infested areas will suffer from ‘stay green’ syndrome at the end of the season. We are not sure how widespread this problem is, but are doing what we can to locate other problem areas/fields. So far, we have no other reports. In one field, we were able to put in a couple of fairly primitive insecticide efficacy trials. I use the word primitive because we had to ‘fit’ plot plans into these narrow field edges with their curves and ups-and-downs (not much flat ground in that part of the state). We hope to take post treatment ratings soon and will post results, if we are successful.

There are more reports this week of soybean fields nearing or reaching thresholds for corn earworm, but the situation is sill spotty. We have checked a lot of fields and are finding essentially none. Other areas seem be trending towards just below, at, or just above thresholds. And there seem to be a few fields with well above threshold numbers. This fits the pattern for a year that I would describe as—normal or average. Moth catches are fairly low in number, steady, or even dropping in some locations. Many are reporting that they are finding higher populations of worms in flowering fields, which would be the double crop, later planted fields. The full season fields or those planted to Group 4 varieties are having less pressure, as those fields are more mature and less attractive to the invading moths. I still maintain that control should be good with high pyrethroid rates, even given the vial test tolerance results. But those fields with high numbers should be treated with non-pyrethroids. Stink bugs are certainly out there, but no major problems have been reported.