Midwest Stink Bug Assistant

MINNEAPOLIS — A free IOS and Android app has been developed by the University of Minnesota Extension IPM Program, in partnership with the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center and Purdue University (Fig. 1). The app can be downloaded here, for both Apple and Android platforms.

The main focus of the app is to facilitate early detection and reporting of the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB; Halyomorpha halys), but it also helps users identify native stink bug species common to the Midwest region. This free app, Midwest Stink Bug Assistant, will allow farmers, crop consultants, and the general public to become comfortable distinguishing stink bugs from other bugs and identifying common stink bugs.

The app shows high-resolution, side-by-side comparisons of stink bug species to assist in identification. A key feature of this app allows users to easily report invasive stink bugs such as BMSB which is responsible for millions of dollars in crop losses in the Eastern and Pacific NW regions, and has a wide host range including: soybean, corn, sweet corn, apples, tomatoes, peppers and grapes.

BMSB was first detected in in Minnesota in 2010. During the past two years, the pest has been found in apple orchards and soybean fields. To date, however, the highest populations have been limited to the seven-country metro area, with some bugs collected as far north as Duluth and Alexandria.

If a suspected BMSB specimen is found, a photo can easily be uploaded by the user and a report generated through the app’s “Report Invasive” feature. Once your bug has been reported, a stink bug expert will be contacted to verify the identification; if approved, the new specimen record will be sent to the national database (EDDMapS) for monitoring the spread of this pest.

Figure 2. Sample pages for the Midwest Stink Bug Assistant.

Other useful features of this app (Fig. 2) include:

A stink bug “look alike” page that helps users distinguish stink bugs from non-stink bugs
New artwork designed to assist users in finding the distinguishing features of stink bugs
High-quality, high resolution images of common stink bug species in the Midwest
The option to review and report another new invasive, recently found in Minnesota, the Bagrada Bug!
Additional resources for specific crop impacts and BMSB management are included

Support for the app was provided by the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plant & Pest Center (MITPPC) with funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), and the MN Extension IPM Program. Artwork, photographs, and text were developed by Drs. Theresa Cira, and Bill Hutchison, both with the UMN Extension IPM Program (E-IPM funding via USDA-NIFA), and Department of Entomology. IT support was provided by Eileen Luke and staff, at Purdue University Extension.

For more information: Contact: Extension Entomologist, Bill Hutchison (hutch002@umn.edu)

— Bill Hutchison, Theresa Cira and Bob Koch, University of Minnesota Extension

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