Pentatomidae Research Articles

Distribution and genetic diversity of the invasive pest Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) in Belgium

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, is an invasive pest of economic importance. It has invaded North America and many European countries and is further expanding its range. In Belgium, it was first observed in 2011. Halyomorpha halys is known to cause severe damage in commercial fruit orchards and vegetable crops. A dramatic and unmitigated expansion of H. halys in its adventive range could lead to significant economic implications for agricultural production. In this study, occurrence data of H. halys since its first observation in Belgium was analysed together with molecular information to map the populations and evaluate the genetic diversity of this pest. The genetic diversity of H. halys in Belgium was compared to data from other invaded and native countries reported in previous studies to identify possible invasion routes. The analysis of 1176-bp of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I and II genes (COI and COII) led to the discovery of two novel COI-COII haplotype combinations currently unique to Belgium. The invasion of H. halys in Belgium is likely the result of multiple and ongoing introductions from its native region and from already invaded countries in Europe, particularly Italy. The expansion of the brown marmorated stink bug populations in Belgium is recent and ongoing. Presently, it appears to thrive best in northern Belgium.

Biological Characteristics and Thermal Requirements of Telenomus podisi and Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in Fresh and Cryopreserved Eggs of Euschistus heros and Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Brazil is one of the largest producers of pulses globally, and soybean ranks highly in terms of production. However, pests increase crop production costs and affect oilseed production and quality. Pests are primarily controlled by chemicals, leading to changes in insect pest populations. For example, secondary pests can become primary pests because of the selection of resistant insects and the elimination of natural enemies. Farmers have widely accepted biological control because of its high control efficacy and low environmental contamination risk. Two successful biological control programs in soybean used Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) to manage the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) to manage the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), when these pests were the most abundant in soybean-producing regions. To release parasitoids, rearing protocols must be developed in order to optimize production. This study evaluated the effect of temperature on the biological characteristics of T. podisi and T. basalis when fresh or frozen E. heros eggs were provided. Fifty fresh or previously frozen eggs were placed with parasitoids for 24 h in a climate chamber (25 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, and 14-h photophase). At the end of this period, the eggs were transferred to other chambers and maintained at different temperatures (19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, with a 14-h photoperiod). The number of emerging adults from eggs parasitized by T. basalis was lower than that from eggs parasitized by T. podisi. Differences in T. basalis and T. podisi parasitism were observed depending on whether the E. heros eggs were frozen or fresh, but neither development nor emergence were affected. The duration of egg–adult development and the longevity of the two parasitoids were inversely proportional to the temperature increase. The sex ratio of T. basalis and T. podisi progeny was not affected by different temperatures or by the use of frozen or fresh eggs. The estimated number of both parasitoids’ generations corresponded with temperature, reaching 14–15 generations/cycle of soybean for Rio Verde, GO, and 12–14 generations/cycle for Barreiras, BA. Given these characteristics, we conclude that a biological control program using T. podisi can benefit large areas of soybean production by controlling the eggs of phytophagous bugs in soybean crops.

The post-diapause vibrational behavior, motility, and survival of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) adults at different temperatures

Substrate-borne vibrational communication is common in pentatomids. Although several works exist on the vibrational communication of Halyomorpha halys, its vibrational behavior post diapause has not been investigated. In this study, we recorded H. halys overwintered adults using laser doppler vibrometers at three temperatures: 10 °C (inactivity), 18 °C (breaking of diapause), and 25 °C (peak of mating activity). The aim was to assess the effect of temperature on the signaling, motility, and survival of H. halys. The insects were sexed into different cages and recorded separately or joined with a cage of the opposite sex. We calculated the total time spent on signaling and walking per replica. The males predominantly emitted male signal 1 (MS1) throughout the four months of recordings. The females exclusively emitted female signal 2 (FS2) when joined with the opposite sex cage the first two months of recordings. Interestingly, they also started FS2 signaling when recorded separately, after two months. No signaling was recorded at 10 °C. At 25 °C, the signaling latency time before vibrational signaling was 24 h compared to 23 days at 18 °C. The short latency time at 25 °C correlated with a higher death rate in early stages of recording. Male walking activity was significantly higher in joined cages at 18 °C and 25 °C, suggesting the increased searching behavior near the opposite sex. Overwintered H. halys could adapt to different conditions whereas low temperatures maintain the diapause which is characterized by no signaling activity. Our results provide a foundation for bioclimatic modeling of climate change effects on H. halys and insights into the use of vibrational playbacks for mass trapping and monitoring as control techniques.

Landscape-scale spatiotemporal dynamics of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) populations: implications for spatially-based pest management.

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive and severe pest of specialty and row crops. A 2-year field study conducted in four Mid-Atlantic states in the USA characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of BMSB populations and its association with landscape elements in commercial agriculture settings. In each state, two 1 km2 sites included typical landscape elements (i.e., tree fruit orchards, annual field and vegetable crops, woodlands, and human-made structures). Twenty-seven georeferenced pheromone traps were deployed per site and the number of BMSB adults and nymphs captured was counted throughout the growing season. Findings from spatial analysis by distance indices, along with time-series maps of BMSB distribution, showed that BMSB exhibited significant spatial aggregation, and that its distribution was spatially consistent between years. Analyses with geographic information systems (GIS) revealed that BMSB 'hot spots' occurred in different landscape elements throughout each season. Most patches (i.e., clusters of significantly higher trap captures) were found near woodlands early in the season, near tree fruit orchards in summer, and on the border of annual field crops in autumn. Buffer analysis with GIS indicated that more BMSB adults were captured closer to woodlands compared with other landscape elements. Understanding the spatial and temporal movement and distribution of BMSB is critical to predicting their potential impact and ultimately devising strategies to mitigate this risk to vulnerable crops. The results of this study can be used to design streamlined, spatially-based areawide management of BMSB in heterogeneous and complex agricultural landscapes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Metabolic Response of Peach Fruit to Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys Stål.)'s Infestation.

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB; Halyomorpha halys Stål.) is a highly destructive and polyphagous invasive pest that poses a serious threat to more than a hundred reported host plants. In the current study, the metabolic response of peach fruit of two cultivars-'Maria Marta' and 'Redhaven'-to BMSB infestation was studied using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). In general, a strong phenolic response to BMSB infestation in peach flesh in the injury zone was observed, with flavanol content increasing by 2.4-fold, hydroxycinnamic acid content by 5.0-fold, flavonol content by 3.2-fold, flavanone content by 11.3-fold, and dihydrochalcones content by 3.2-fold compared with the undamaged tissue in the cultivar 'Maria Marta'. The phenolic response in the 'Redhaven' cultivar was even stronger. Consequently, the total phenolic content in the injured flesh also increased, 3.3-fold in 'Maria Marta' and 6.9-fold in 'Redhaven', compared with the uninjured flesh. Infestation with BMSB induced the synthesis of cyanidin-3-glucoside, which is not normally present in peach flesh. In comparison, the phenolic response was lower in peach peel, especially in the cultivar 'Maria Marta'. The study showed that both peach cultivars reacted to BMSB infestation with an increase in phenolic content in the peach flesh, but in a limited area of injury.

Lipoxygenases regulate digestive enzyme inhibitor activities in developing seeds of field-grown soybean against the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula).

Soybean (Glycine max ) is the world's most widely grown seed legume. One of the most important pests that decrease seed quality and reduce yield of soybean crops is the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula ). Insect damage triggers accumulation of defensive compounds such as protease inhibitors (PIs), isoflavonoids and reactive oxygen species, which are regulated by the lipoxygenase (LOX)-regulated jasmonic acid (JA) to stop insect feeding. This study identified and characterised the role of LOX isoforms in the modulation of chemical defences in seeds of field-grown soybean that decreased digestive enzyme activities of N. viridula after insect attack. Stink bugs attack increased LOX 1 and LOX 2 expression, and activities of LOX 1 and LOX 3 isoenzymes in developing soybean seeds. In addition, stink bug damage and methyl jasmonate application induced expression and activity of both cysteine PIs and trypsin PIs in developing soybean seeds, suggesting that herbivory induced JA in soybean seeds. High PI activity levels in attacked seeds decreased cysteine proteases and α-amylases activities in the gut of stink bugs that fed on field-grown soybean. We demonstrated that LOX isoforms of seeds are concomitantly induced with JA-regulated PIs by stink bugs attack, and these PIs inhibit the activity of insect digestive enzymes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the participation of LOX in modulating JA-regulated defences against stink bugs in seeds of field-grown soybean, and our results suggest that soybean PIs may inhibit α-amylase activity in the gut of N. viridula .

Biology, ecology, and management of redbanded stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract The redbanded stink bug (RBSB), Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive stink bug species and a polyphagous pest of cultivated crops and non-cultivated wild plants. The increase in soybean cultivation during the 1960s–1970s led to the spread of RBSB as an economic pest of soybean throughout South America, especially in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In the early 2000s, RBSB became an economic concern to US agriculture and is currently a key species in a stink bug complex that damages soybean in many mid-southern states. RBSB causes extensive damage to soybeans and other economically important leguminous crops by feeding on sap from stems, flowers, and foliage with a preference for pods and seeds, which causes flat pods, reduced seed weight, and germination. Infestation by RBSB may lead to more crop loss per capita than other stink bug species. RBSBs are less susceptible to commonly used agrochemicals than other stink bug species and have developed resistance to many commonly used insecticides. Several alternative control strategies based on a wide variety of methods have been reported in recent years. This review will discuss the distribution, biology, ecology, and various control strategies for integrated management of RBSB in the last 2 decades.

Assesment of rice yield quality in Kuban in connection with grain damage in the form of dark spots

The problem of rice damage by “black spotting” in the field during maturation is acute in all rice-growing countries. In the work, it was necessary to study the spread of shield bugs on rice crops in the Krasnodar region, the intensity of damage to rice crops in various areas according to the method of assessing damage to the rice crop, differentiation of varieties by tolerance to damage. Surveys of rice crops were carried out during various periods of the growing season in order to identify insect pests with piercing-sucking mouthparts in the Krasnoarmeysky, Abinsky, Slavyansky, Kalininsky districts of Krasnodar region and Prikubansky district of Krasnodar in 2020-2023 and a comparative assessment of the intensity of damage to rice grains in the form of dark spots by region is given. The highest intensity of grain damage was noted in Krasnoarmeysky district. Preliminary results on the tolerance of varieties to grain damage by stink bugs during the rice growing season were obtained and preliminary differentiation of varieties was carried out. The most tolerant varieties were Abinsky, Vector, and Strombus, and therefore these varieties are recommended to be grown in areas with the most intense damage to crops by stink bugs. Methodological methods have been developed for studying the “black spotting” of rice, which consist of selecting samples of rice varieties in industrial crops in areas of its cultivation, characterizing the content of damaged grains and assessing the influence of the intensity of damage on the physical properties of the yield.

Ecology, biology, and management of Conchuela stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Texas High Plains cotton

Abstract The Conchuela stink bug, Chlorochroa ligata Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a prevalent stink bug pest that commonly infests Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in Texas. It is found throughout a wide region, spanning from Texas to California, in the western United States. Feeding by Conchuela stink bugs on cotton plants leads to various negative impacts, including reduced lint yield and quality, decreased gin turnout, and declined lint value per unit area. Additionally, an infestation of Conchuela stink bugs can indirectly damage cotton by transmitting plant pathogens. Boll rot is among the most economically damaging diseases transmitted by stink bugs in cotton. In this article, we explore the geographic distribution, host range, biology, damage, and management strategies related to Conchuela stink bug in cotton.

Grower perceptions and adoption of IPM and non-Bt refuge in field corn: a survey in North and South Carolina

Abstract Production of field corn in the southeastern United States is often impacted by a number of insect pests. However, surveys to assess stakeholder perception of the relative importance of insect pests and adopted management decisions for these pests have not been extensively reported in the region. A survey was conducted in North and South Carolina to address deficiencies in our knowledge about how corn producers perceive insect pests, implement management and insect resistance strategies, and understand and implement integrated pest management (IPM). The survey indicated that stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were the most commonly managed insect pests in field corn. For transgenic corn expressing insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (Berliner), the rate of resistance management (i.e., planting of non-Bt corn refuge) implemented (59%) by growers was higher than previously reported. The majority of grower respondents identified ear development as the most critical corn growth stage for managing stink bugs (52%), with the most commonly reported management strategy being applications of insecticide at the economic threshold. Growers also reported understanding the concepts of IPM and implementing it in field corn. Assessing the adoption of preventative approaches, such as Bt corn and insecticide seed treatments, and strategies to manage insect resistance, in the case of Bt corn in particular, is critical for tailoring research and Extension efforts to protect the durability of these management tactics.

Analysis of Floral Scent Components of Roses Exhibiting an Unusual Odor: Identification of Stink Bug Pheromone Compounds in Roses

Analysis of Floral Scent Components of Roses Exhibiting an Unusual Odor: Identification of Stink Bug Pheromone Compounds in Roses

Evaluation of organic and synthetic foliar-applied insecticides for control of rice stink bug, 2022

Evaluation of organic and synthetic foliar-applied insecticides for control of rice stink bug, 2022

Beyond the Naked Eye: Computer Vision for Detecting Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and Its Punctures

Beyond the Naked Eye: Computer Vision for Detecting Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and Its Punctures

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug and yield in soybean III, 2022

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug and yield in soybean III, 2022

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug in soybean II, 2022

Efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on redbanded stink bug in soybean II, 2022

Evaluation of foliar insecticides for control of rice stink bug in Texas rice, 2023

Evaluation of foliar insecticides for control of rice stink bug in Texas rice, 2023

Influence of select insecticides on redbanded stink bug control in soybean, 2022

Influence of select insecticides on redbanded stink bug control in soybean, 2022

A Comprehensive Pest Monitoring System for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

A Comprehensive Pest Monitoring System for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Ovicidal activity of selected insecticides against the brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, and their toxicity to its egg parasitoid, Telenomus podisi, 2023

Ovicidal activity of selected insecticides against the brown stink bug, <i>Euschistus heros</i>, and their toxicity to its egg parasitoid, <i>Telenomus podisi</i>, 2023

Efficacy of foliar-applied insecticides and tank mixes on redbanded stink bug in soybean (Test 1), 2022

Efficacy of foliar-applied insecticides and tank mixes on redbanded stink bug in soybean (Test 1), 2022