First Insights on Early Host Plants and Dispersal Behavior of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Overwintering to Crop Colonization.

Lara Bosco,Luciana Tavella,Martina Nardelli

doi:10.3390/insects11120866

Abstract

Simple SummaryFollowing its first detection in North Italy in 2012, H. halys has become a serious threat in many crops, including hazelnut. Since favorite host plants and dispersal behavior of overwintered adults of H. halys before crop colonization are little known, research was carried out in four polyculture areas (from 14 to 50 ha) in north-western Italy in 2018, by using (i) pheromone-baited traps, (ii) visual inspection and beating sheet sampling, and (iii) immunomarking-capture technique. After overwintering, adults responded to pheromone; the host plants of the same species hosted higher numbers of H. halys when they were near a pheromone trap. Adults were capable of both short- and long-range dispersal from overwintering sites and/or early host plants to wild and crop plants. Their movement patterns depended on the ecosystem features, and plant host distribution and availability. This knowledge together with the interaction between pheromone and early host plants might contribute to the management of post-overwintering adults before crop colonization.Following its first detection in North Italy in 2012, H. halys has become a serious threat in many crops, including hazelnut. The present study aimed at investigating dispersal capacity and behavior in relation to host plants of overwintered adults of H. halys before the colonization of hazelnut crop. Research was carried out in four polyculture areas (from 14 to 50 ha) in north-western Italy in 2018, by using (i) pheromone-baited traps, (ii) visual inspection and beating sheet sampling, and (iii) immunomarking-capture technique. The relative abundance of H. halys was similar between and within the study areas, and the early attractiveness of lures to adults after overwintering was confirmed; the host plants near a pheromone trap (less than 5 m) hosted higher numbers of H. halys than the same plant species far away. Hybrid plane, European spindletree, walnut, oak, and European elder were the first plants on which adult bugs were observed to feed. By immunomarking-capture technique, H. halys showed both short- and long-range dispersal from overwintering sites and/or early host plants to wild and crop plants. Marked adults were found in all zones of each area, irrespective of the distance from the protein treatment. Therefore, H. halys movement patterns depend on the ecosystem features, and plant host distribution and availability. This knowledge together with the interaction between pheromone and early host plants might contribute to the management of post-overwintering adults.

Highlights

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest that in the last few decades has expanded its range, colonizing new areas, and poses a serious threat to many agricultural crops [1]
After its first detection in North Italy in 2012, H. halys has become the main pest in many crops, especially apple, nectarine, pear, and hazelnut [3,4], causing serious economic losses and nullifying the IPM strategies widely adopted in the area, due to the high numbers of treatments, usually with broad spectrum insecticides [5], required to manage this pest
H. halys is polyphagous with a broad host range that includes over 170 plants in a wide range of plant families, many of agricultural importance, including various fruit, vegetables, row crops, and ornamentals [1,6,7]

Summary

Introduction

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest that in the last few decades has expanded its range, colonizing new areas, and poses a serious threat to many agricultural crops [1]. After its first detection in North Italy in 2012, H. halys has become the main pest in many crops, especially apple, nectarine, pear, and hazelnut [3,4], causing serious economic losses and nullifying the IPM strategies widely adopted in the area, due to the high numbers of treatments, usually with broad spectrum insecticides [5], required to manage this pest. H. halys feeds and often disperses on a wide range of plants during the season, hosts vary in suitability and acceptability. Both adults and nymphs prefer to feed on plant reproductive structures, which are often required to complete development [1]. Multiple host plant species are needed for optimal

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Conclusion