Life history of Anastatus bifasciatus, a potential biological control agent of the brown marmorated stink bug in Europe

Abstract

Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) is the most widespread native egg parasitoid of the invasive agricultural pest Halyomorpha halys (Stål) in Europe and considered as promising candidate for augmentative biological control. In this context, the parasitoid’s reproductive parameters, longevity, phenology, and temperature requirements for development were studied. In addition, the potential of using stored frozen H. halys eggs for mass production was investigated. In northwestern Switzerland, A. bifasciatus was able to complete three overlapping generations between June and October, which covers the entire oviposition period of its host. After an average pre-oviposition period of 11.9 days the mean potential lifetime fecundity of A. bifasciatus females was 52 eggs over an average oviposition period of 46 days. The number of H. halys eggs killed by either oviposition or host feeding was nearly the same. Females provided only with honey water lived on average 97.5 days. Development from egg to adult was possible from 15 °C to 32 °C, the lowest developmental time (15.9 days) being at 30 °C. Halyomorpha halys eggs of all ages yielded parasitoid offspring, but offspring emergence decreased with increasing age. Eggs stored up to 24 months at −80 °C were still suitable for parasitoid development. The wealth of information obtained on the life history of A. bifasciatus should be highly relevant to develop a release strategy of this parasitoid against its host, H. halys.