Where should wild hosts be monitored for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug?

Monitoring wild hosts for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is most effectively done in adjacent woodlots. This is because woodlots provide a favorable habitat for many of the wild hosts that the BMSB may utilize for reproduction and feeding. These areas often harbor a variety of plants that serve as potential hosts, supporting the pest's life cycle and population growth.

The presence of diverse plant species in woodlots can attract BMSB, as it can thrive on a wide range of host plants. By focusing monitoring efforts in these locations, pest management professionals can better detect early populations of BMSB and implement control measures before they migrate into agricultural fields where they could cause significant damage.

In contrast, while urban landscapes may provide some habitat for the BMSB, they are typically not as rich in the right kinds of wild hosts as woodlots. Waterlogged areas and arid environments are less likely to support the conditions preferred by BMSB, as they may lack the variety of plant life that provides suitable feeding and breeding opportunities. Monitoring in these areas would yield less relevant data for managing BMSB populations.