Abstract
Simple SummaryThe management of invasive alien species is a very challenging task. For the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), classical biological control has been identified as the most suitable method to sustainably reduce its populations in the long-term. Among its natural enemies, two species were identified as the most promising candidates for biocontrol, Trissolcus japonicus and Trissolcus mitsukurii. Populations of these two species have recently been detected in Europe and to assess their distribution, a large-scale study was performed. Combining several monitoring methods, in four months (May–September 2019), a wide area covering northern Italy and parts of Switzerland was surveyed. The results showed that both species have spread into all types of habitats where H. halys is present and the parasitization of native species was rarely observed. Among native species, Anastatus bifasciatus was the predominant parasitoid of H. halys. This study supported the development of the first release program of Tr. japonicus in Europe.The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys is an invasive agricultural pest with a worldwide distribution. Classical biological control has been identified as the most promising method to reduce the populations of H. halys. Adventive populations of two candidates for releases, Trissolcus japonicus and Trissolcus mitsukurii, have recently been detected in Europe. To assess their distribution and abundance, a large-scale survey was performed. From May to September 2019, a wide area covering northern Italy and parts of Switzerland was surveyed, highlighting the expanding distribution of both Tr. japonicus and Tr. mitsukurii. Within four years after their first detection in Europe, both species have rapidly spread into all types of habitats where H. halys is present, showing a wide distribution and continuous expansion. Both exotic Trissolcus showed high levels of parasitism rate towards H. halys, while parasitization of non-target species was a rare event. The generalist Anastatus bifasciatus was the predominant native parasitoid of H. halys, while the emergence of native scelionids from H. halys eggs was rarely observed. The presence of the hyperparasitoid Acroclisoides sinicus was also recorded. This study provided fundamental data that supported the development of the first inoculative release program of Tr. japonicus in Europe.
Highlights
The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive species from Central Asia that nowadays is present in North and South America [1,2], Europe [3] and the Caucasus [4], causing severe damage on many agricultural crops [5]
The increased focus on unpredicted negative effects has contributed to the observed decline of classical biological control application and not without consequences: inaction or delay in the control of an invasive pest are associated with increased pesticide use, impacting society and ecosystem dynamics [12]
About 93.85% of the collected egg masses belonged to H. halys, while the rest belonged to several other Pentatomidae species, including Palomena prasina (L.), Rhaphigaster nebulosa (Poda), Piezodorus lituratus (F.), Dolycoris baccarum (L.) and Nezara viridula (L.)
Summary
The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive species from Central Asia that nowadays is present in North and South America [1,2], Europe [3] and the Caucasus [4], causing severe damage on many agricultural crops [5]. Due to the negative effects of frequent use of broad-spectrum insecticides (e.g., disruption of Integrated Pest Management, pesticide resistance), biological control has been identified as the most promising mid- and long-term solution [5]. Both the use of native natural enemies (inoculation and inundation biological control) and the more promising introduction of exotic H. halys egg parasitoids from Asia (classical biological control) are among the key management strategies for sustainable control of the invasive pest [6,7,8]. Experimental field trials involving sentinel egg masses showed a limited impact of the augmentative releases of An. bifasciatus [16], slightly higher in field studies with eggs laid in exclusion cages [17]
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