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The relationship between phytophagous insects and plants is a central aspect of food webs and ecosystem functioning. The introduction of new species into an environment can have significant impacts on the food web of a native ecosystem. In many cases, there is a lack of knowledge on the biology and feeding behavior of invasive species prior their introduction and in the invaded regions. Gut content analyses of insects have provided valuable information on the host spectrum of insects. However, current approaches are time‐consuming and costly. Here, we describe a new molecular gut content analysis (GCA) approach using the Oxford Nanopore (ONT) Flongle sequencing platform to characterize the plant DNA present in the gut of the highly polyphagous insect species Halyomorpha halys. We demonstrate that this technique efficiently amplifies and correctly identifies plant DNA in a mock community. We performed a feeding experiment to determine the sensitivity of this approach and to assess how long the plant DNA can be detected. All plants used in the feeding experiment were correctly identified and detected after 56 days. Surprisingly, we also detected various plant genera that were not included in the feeding experiment and thus were likely ingested months before the experiment. Our study suggests that the GCA using the ONT Flongle sequencing platform represents a rapid and cost‐efficient diagnosis of the dietary preferences, host range, and the diversity of consumed plant species of pest insects with high precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Kiwifruit cultivation since the 1980s has historically played a fundamental financial role, especially for the income of rural areas of Greece, which now is one of the top exporters globally. The incursion of non-indigenous pest species is becoming an issue for the cultivation of kiwi that cannot be easily addressed because the use of chemical insecticides, on the one hand, must be limited, and on the other, they are not always effective against non-target insects. The invasion of the Halyomorpha halys pest into some Greek areas recently exhibited these challenges, as it significantly affects kiwifruit production, although there is no targeted way of combating it. In this study, we tried to limit the Halyomorpha halys population by using a commercial entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Beauveria bassiana in kiwifruit cultivation; we also studied the biostimulant effect of this strain on plant growth. The entomopathogenic fungus ultimately dually reveals benefits for kiwifruit cultivation: as a bioinsecticide and as a biostimulant. The use of the EPF formulations may bring solutions to deal with some newly introduced entomological pests of kiwi in Greece, with a side benefit of its use being the biostimulant effect. In this study, the bioinsecticidal action of a commercial formulation with Beauveria bassiana was evaluated on the new sucking pest in Greece: Halyomorpha halys, of the kiwifruit. Additionally, the biostimulant potential of the same formulation was studied on kiwi growth. The application was performed in three different ways in a commercial field of kiwi crop A. deliciosa "Hayward" field in Arta, Greece: (i) trunk spray, (ii) root injection, and (iii) trunk inoculation. During the 2 years seasons of the experiment, weekly measurements of the H. halys population were determined. The insect is sucking plants nutrients; therefore, the total chlorophyll content in the leaves of the treatments was recorded weekly. In addition, the percentage of infested kiwifruits was estimated at the end of the experiment. Moreover, to study the biostimulant potential of the formulation, growth measurements on stems and leaves were performed during the experiment. Finally, at the kiwi harvest point, the fruit biomass, dimensions, and weight were obtained, and the leaves' proline content was evaluated. The results encourage us to further study this EPF formulation as the bioinsecticidal effect was noted by the reduction in H. halys population, and biostimulant action was perceived by the higher plant biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The relationship between phytophagous insects and plants is a central aspect of food webs and ecosystem functioning. The introduction of new species into an environment can have significant impacts on the food web of a native ecosystem. In many cases, there is a lack of knowledge on the biology and feeding behavior of invasive species prior their introduction and in the invaded regions. Gut content analyses of insects have provided valuable information on the host spectrum of insects. However, current approaches are time‐consuming and costly. Here, we describe a new molecular gut content analysis (GCA) approach using the Oxford Nanopore (ONT) Flongle sequencing platform to characterize the plant DNA present in the gut of the highly polyphagous insect species Halyomorpha halys. We demonstrate that this technique efficiently amplifies and correctly identifies plant DNA in a mock community. We performed a feeding experiment to determine the sensitivity of this approach and to assess how long the plant DNA can be detected. All plants used in the feeding experiment were correctly identified and detected after 56 days. Surprisingly, we also detected various plant genera that were not included in the feeding experiment and thus were likely ingested months before the experiment. Our study suggests that the GCA using the ONT Flongle sequencing platform represents a rapid and cost‐efficient diagnosis of the dietary preferences, host range, and the diversity of consumed plant species of pest insects with high precision.

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is one of the main insect pest species causing economic damage to several agricultural commodities worldwide and one of the worst threats to tree fruit crops in northern Italy, especially in the Emilia-Romagna region. Previous efforts in implementing H. halys surveillance at the regional level were mainly focused on studying the H. halys phenology, but they were not designed to provide a public service. In this paper, we propose a data-driven approach to support the application of Integrated Pest Management strategies against H. halys. The proposal is based on the experience of a three-year project in which a network of monitoring traps has been deployed throughout the whole Emilia-Romagna region and a data platform has been implemented to enable the real-time tracking of H. halys occurrence and distribution, integrating these information with multiple data sources, and analytical capabilities through a public website. Besides the real-time pest surveillance, the data platform allowed us to increase our understanding about H. halys seasonal invasion dynamics and the main factors contributing to its spread. The results will help individual growers in protecting their crops and the whole region in promoting more efficient usage of insecticides and more sustainable and healthy agricultural productions.

In its native range, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a main egg parasitoid of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera; Pentatomidae). Adventive populations of this parasitoid have been spreading in Europe and North America, allowing active distribution efforts in these areas to utilize it against H. halys in agriculture. We tested exposure of adults and parasitized egg masses to residues of a range of insecticides an adjuvant that the wasp could encounter in perennial horticultural crops, and how exposure might affect key behaviors. The insecticides included Burkholderia rinojensis, Methoxyfenozide, Sulfoxaflor, and Spinosad, and the adjuvant NuFilm®P. The lethal effects were investigated after exposure for 1, 6, and 24 hours to residues applied to Munger cells using a Potter spray tower to determine mortality levels. Sulfoxaflor and Spinosad resulted in 73% and 100% mortality after 24 hours at field rates, while Methoxyfenozide caused 19% mortality at the same rate. Little mortality occurred with Burkholderia rinojensis and NuFilm®P at recommended rates after 24 hours. Regarding sublethal effects, Spinosad, Sulfoxaflor, and Burkholderia rinojensis negatively impacted reproduction. Sulfoxaflor caused a lower angular velocity in parasitoids exposed to H. halys traces. Spinosad, Methoxyfenozide, and NuFilm®P induced a significantly lower overall circadian activity. Our results showed that precision timing of insecticide sprays to pests is necessary, especially for biocontrol programs that involve the release of parasitoids such as T. japonicus. Our results also illustrate how sensor data acquisition and behavioral analysis software can be utilized to detect important sublethal effects such as circadian disruption in minute parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastric caecum and the pylorus of Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) was examined morphologically and histologically with stereomicroscopic, light microscopic, and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techiques in this study. H. halys is a polyphagous species that feeds mainly on plants of the Rosaceae and Fabaceae families and agricultural areas and can cause massive damages on them. Three distinct areas comprise H. halys's digestive tract. The pylorus is the first section of the hindgut, and the gastric caecum of H. halys is seen at the posterior end of the second region known as the midgut. In comparison to other insect species in the order Hemiptera and other insect groups, it can be easily stated that their structure is generally close to many species belonging to this order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research has been conducted to determine the effect of three different carbon dioxide (CO2) applications on the egg hatch ratio and hatching times of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). In the study, doses of 600 and 670 ppm of CO2 were applied to newly laid eggs, and the hatching ratios of eggs left in this environment for 24 hours were compared statistically. According to the results of the study, at the highest dose of 670 ppm, yellowing and then darkening were observed in the eggs, and at doses of 600 ppm, more yellowing color change was observed. It was determined that 234 eggs out of 261 eggs were opened in the control applications, 218 eggs out of 261 eggs opened in the 600 ppm dose application, and 188 eggs out of 260 eggs opened in the 670 ppm application. In terms of egg--hatching times, a statistically significant difference was found between the control (400 ppm), 600 ppm and 670 ppm group (p<0.05). In the 670 ppm group of applications, it was determined that the egg-hatching times of the bugs were significantly lower than the egg--hatching times of the bugs in the control and 600 ppm groups (p <0.05). As a result of the chi-square test performed for the application of 600 ppm according to egg hatching, the difference between the 600 ppm application and the control was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 4.224, p<0.05). This result showed that the use of 600 ppm reduced egg-hatching compared to the control at a statistical significance level of 5%. As a result of the chi-square test performed for the application of 670 ppm according to egg hatching, the difference between 670 ppm and control was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 26.174, p<0.05). This result showed that the use of 670 ppm reduced egg-hatching compared to the control at a statistical significance level of 5 %. The difference between 600 ppm and 670 ppm was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). It was also determined that the use of 670 ppm reduced egg-hatching compared to the use of 600 ppm at a statistical significance level of 5 %, and the chi-square value between these two applications was calculated as χ2 = 9.975. As a result, it was determined that CO2 applications affected the egg-hatching time and hatching ratios of the bugs. These results are important in terms of pest reproduction predictions during global warming periods and improving the use of elevated CO2 applications in bug control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a widespread and very harmful species to many different plant species and can cause lead to great economic damage. The excretory system of H. halys is composed of four Malpighian tubules. Each Malpighian tubule is divided to region according to the external structures: proximal and distal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halyomorpha halys is a harmful invasive species of heteropteran insects. We identified the ecological and geographical distribution boundaries of the species by analyzing the occurrences of H. halys in its native range (East Asia) and its invasive range (North America and Europe) and subsequently comparing these occurrences with maps of environmental factors. The limits of its ecological tolerance towards the primary limiting environmental factors affecting its distribution have been refined. The longer history of the invasion of this species in North America, the features of the spatial distribution of environmental factors, and the location of the initial penetration allowed H. halys to occupy its potential ecological niche more fully in North America compared to Europe. A comparative ecogeographical analysis of the current distribution of H. halys in North America has enabled an assessment of the species' near-term prospects for distribution in Europe. The spread of the invader into Europe under contemporary climatic conditions may occur in an eastern direction—through the territory of Ukraine, the southern regions of Belarus, and the southwestern part of the Russian Federation. The boundaries of this advancement are primarily linked with the ability of H. halys to adapt to harsh overwintering conditions. Within large cities acting as heat islands, the formation of self-sustaining populations of H. halys up to 55° N latitude cannot be ruled out. However, significant territories in Eastern Europe are characterized by pessimal values for H. halys across multiple environmental factors simultaneously. This might contain the further spread of the species in Europe, hinder its naturalization, and reduce the occurrence of H. halys in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), is a highly polyphagous invasive pest worldwide. It is also known to be a nuisance pest as it enters artificial structures, including human habitats, to overwinter and releases very unpleasant odours when disturbed. Overwintering populations can be trapped and killed collectively by targeting the aggregation behaviour of BMSB adults. However, efficient traps for catching overwinter population have not been yet developed and validated. A novel and effective trapping method would be to design shelter traps in the field that entice and mass-trap overwintering BMSB as they initiate to display their typical aggregation behavior and seek shelter in the traps. Methods In this study conducted in Northwestern China, we designed different BMSB overwintering shelter traps made of different materials (i.e., wood or corflute) and lock types (with/without lock, pyrometric or strip door lock) and tested their efficacy at two different sites and three different locations within sites. We also tested the efficacy of the traps with or without the presence of the BMSB aggregation pheromone. Results Although trapped BMSB numbers were generally low across all traps tested, the black corflute trap was found to attract the highest average number of BMSB males and females, followed by the wooden-made trap, the bee-hive box and finally the wooden-made locked trap, which attracted the lowest numbers of BMSB. The trapping efficacy was found to not be affected by experimental sites or locations nor by the presence of the BMSB aggregation pheromone lure. Conclusions Our results showed that traps made of black corflute with slit doors were generally preferred by overwintering BMSB. This preliminary proof-of-concept study provides valuable information for further improvement of novel overwintering traps that could be used to mass trap BMSB overwintering populations.

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an economically important pest of fruit and vegetable crops. It is also a nuisance pest overwintering in large numbers in man-made structures. In its native range, natural biological control plays a key role in regulating this pest. The egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus is a dominant natural enemy showing high parasitism rates on H. halys eggs. Adventive populations of T. japonicus have been reported from North America and several European countries with successful establishment within the new distribution areas of H. halys. The object of this study was to monitor H. halys egg masses to assess the distribution and establishment of T. japonicus. In Germany, T. japonicus was first reported in 2020 at three sites in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Since then, additional locations have been confirmed in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Thus, T. japonicus has been able to successfully overwinter, reproduce, and spread within H. halys' distribution range in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Here, the current status of presence and establishment of T. japonicus in Germany is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unintentional introduction of natural enemies has increased in recent years due to a massive rise in global trade and tourism. One such natural enemy is the Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus, a promising agent for classical biological control of Halyomorpha halys. In Europe, adventive T. japonicus populations have been detected in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Host specificity testing demonstrated that its fundamental host range is fairly broad; however, it is unclear whether spatial or temporal refuges reduce parasitism of non-target species in the field. To address this, the realized host range of T. japonicus was assessed over three years by exposing sentinel egg masses of H. halys and 18 non-target species and collecting naturally laid egg masses in Switzerland and Italy. In total, 15 of 18 non-target species were successfully parasitized by T. japonicus in the field, confirming its broad fundamental host range. However, most non-target species were less parasitized by T. japonicus than H. halys, profiting from either partial temporal or spatial refuges from parasitism. Species with an unusual life cycle and the same ecological niche as H. halys, such as Pentatoma rufipes, which was the most parasitized non-target species in both countries, potentially face an increased risk of parasitism. In contrast, beneficial non-target effects may occur for the invasive pest, Nezara viridula, which suffered high non-reproductive mortality induced by T. japonicus. In both cases, life table studies will be needed to determine the impact of non-target parasitism and the potential consequences at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most present pests in the last 5-6 years in various sectors (agricultural, horticultural, forestry) is definitely the Halyomorpha halys insect from the Pentatomidae family. The insect is somewhat established in Romania, 8 years have passed since its first reporting. Mainly, it is considered a species that lives near houses and the active life of people and feeds on leaves, inflorescences and fruits from urban spaces, that's why we thought of analyzing the wintering places with more interest. In this sense, we analyzed 5 spaces (marginal strips) along the Green Forest in the city of Timisoara in order to establish number of hibernating adults, both at the end of autumn-beginning of winter (November) and at the end of winter-beginning of spring (March), then in April to see if they are still present. The analyzed substrate consisted of foliage on an area of 1m2 with leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs with deciduous leaves. From the findings, we realized that the population of hibernating individuals in the samples from the spring of 2024 had limits from 2 to 5 compared to 6 to 12 in autumn of the year 2023, in all 5 places subject to observation. As such, we can assume that this, being polyphagous, has left its wintering places and headed for other places to ensure its polyphagous feeding and implicitly the damage of various crops. It is worth it, therefore, taken into consideration in the future and the possibility of easily invading vegetable sources of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from plants is associated with biotic and abiotic stress and depends on the plant species, organs, and developmental stage. Insects use VOCs to locate their host plants and their behavior is heavily influenced by the chemical profile of each at its current phenological stage. The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a highly polyphagous pest that causes significant damage to tree, vegetable, and ornamental crops worldwide. The volatile profiles of five hosts of H. halys were compared for common substances to provide insight into this insect's extreme polyphagy. Headspace collection of volatile substances was performed for five hosts of H. halys by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their VOC profiles were compared. The results show that, although the volatile profiles of the host plants differ substantially, 13 out of the 68 identified compounds were shared. These results suggest that host recognition by H. halys is likely driven by a combination of attractive and possibly repellent compounds that work synergistically which is the first step toward decoding this pest's polyphagous nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Penta-tomidae), is a highly polyphagous and invasive insect pest with more than 300 plant species as hosts, including a wide range of economic crops. To date, several egg parasitoid species are reported to attack BMSB. In this study, two species of Trissolcus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and one Anastatus (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) were recovered from field exposed BMSB sentinel eggs in Beijing, China. The wasps’ small size of only 1.5 mm and 4 mm in length make them difficult to identify morphologically and required taxonomist for identification of specific species. In addition, these parasitoids have morphology sibling species and have been misidentified several times in China. To overcome these problems, a molecular method with species-specific primers designed for the COI gene has been developed to identify Trissolcus, Anastatus and their host samples from field collected samples. After successful morphological confirmation with experts, DNA extractions were carried out from these samples. PCR amplification using published primers for T. japonicus, A. japonicus and BMSB specimens confirmed the species. As for T. cultratus, species specific primers TCYF and TCYR were developed which produce 340-bp PCR products length while no positive amplifications found in other wasps and host. Sensitivity analysis of markers revealed that TCYF and TCYR primers could detect as low a DNA template concentration as 0.00025 ng/μL. This indicates that PCR with these primers specifically and sensitively differentiates T. cultratus specimens from other similar wasp species. All the primers tested in this study could discriminate between parasitized and non-parasitized BMSB eggs. This molecular identification method shows promise for conveniently identifying Trissolcus and Anastatus species in host-parasitoid associations and accurately evaluating parasitism rates in the field.

In this study, the bioinsecticidal action of a commercial formulation with Beauveria bassiana was evaluated on the new sucking pest in Greece: Halyomorpha halys, of the kiwifruit. Additionally, the biostimulant potential of the same formulation was studied on kiwi growth. The application was performed in three different ways in a commercial field of kiwi crop A. deliciosa “Hayward” field in Arta, Greece: (i) trunk spray, (ii) root injection, and (iii) trunk inoculation. During the 2 years seasons of the experiment, weekly measurements of the H. halys population were determined. The insect is sucking plants nutrients; therefore, the total chlorophyll content in the leaves of the treatments was recorded weekly. In addition, the percentage of infested kiwifruits was estimated at the end of the experiment. Moreover, to study the biostimulant potential of the formulation, growth measurements on stems and leaves were performed during the experiment. Finally, at the kiwi harvest point, the fruit biomass, dimensions, and weight were obtained, and the leaves’ proline content was evaluated. The results encourage us to further study this EPF formulation as the bioinsecticidal effect was noted by the reduction in H. halys population, and biostimulant action was perceived by the higher plant biomass.

Die invasive Marmorierte Baumwanze, Halyomorpha halys, verursacht weltweit wirtschaftliche Schäden in Obst- und Gemüsekulturen. Darüber hinaus ist sie ein Lästling, der gerne in großer Anzahl in menschlichen Behausungen überwintert. In den Ursprungsgebieten Ostasiens wird diese Schadwanze durch natürliche Gegenspieler reguliert. Die Schlupfwespe Trissolcus japonicus ist durch sehr hohe Parasitierungsraten der Eigelege ein dominanter Antagonist von H. halys. Adventive Populationen von T. japonicus wurden bereits in Nordamerika und mehreren Ländern Europas nachgewiesen, wo sie sich im Ausbreitungsgebiet von H. halys erfolgreich etabliert haben. In dieser Studie werden die Ergebnisse eines Monitorings von H. halys-Eigelegen zur Ausbreitung und Etablierung der Schlupfwespe dargestellt. In Deutschland erfolgte der Erstfund von T. japonicus im Jahr 2020 an drei Standorten in Baden-Württemberg. Seither haben sich weitere Fundorte innerhalb Baden-Württembergs sowie in Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Bayern und Nordrhein-Westfalen ergeben. T. japonicus kann nachweislich erfolgreich unter den klimatischen Bedingungen in Baden-Württemberg überwintern, sich fortpflanzen und innerhalb des Verbreitungsgebietes von H. halys ausbreiten. Der aktuelle Status von T. japonicus wird dargestellt.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) has brought about agricultural harm throughout the Eastern Black Sea coastline since 2017. It continues to come to a threat because there are no adequate studies on managing this pest. One of the major rein strategies of insecticides is acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) inhibition. Therefore, this study aims to investigate an alternative way to struggle H. halys by inhibiting ACHE. The ACHE was purified from H. halys using edrophonium-Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography and characterized by examining some kinetic properties. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis and natural polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, the inhibitory effects of tacrine and edrophonium chloride, and water extracts of olive leaf, walnut leaf and alder leaf on this ACHE were investigated. The acetylcholinesterase was purified 403-fold with an 83.3% yield. H. halys ACHE was found to have six subunits and a molecular weight of approximately 350 kDa. The ACHE's Km, Vmax, and kcat values were assigned to be 0.02 ± 0.006 mM, 3,333.3 ± 481 EU.mg protein− 1, and 1070.2 ± 184 min− 1, respectively. All inhibitors highly inhibited of activity of h.halys ACHE. Especially, the fact that the water extracts of these plants are effective in ACHE inhibition is significant due to being environmentally amicable pesticides that may be benefited in the struggle with the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) (Stal, 1855) is an invasive, highly polyphagous, severe agricultural pest, that reduces the availability, quality, and value of hazelnut production. The most important method against H. halys is the use of resistant hazelnut varieties. The purpose of our work is to investigate the potential of hazelnut resistance to H. halys. Research objects are Georgian commercial varieties Berdznula (Corylus avellana) and Tita (Corylus pontica) in the condition of West Georgia. Hazelnut fruit shell thickness, qualitative and quantitative lignin contents and H. halys stylet length were determined by microscopic and biochemical methods, also H. halys and nut phenologies, and the degree of nut damage were evaluated according to the number of healthy kernels. It was demonstrated that overwintered insects and individuals of all ages of the first- and second-generation damage hazelnut fruit before the shell ripens, which is synchronized with the early stages of hazelnut fruit development. H. halys cannot damage the fruit after lignification of the pericarp. Lignin content and damage intensity are inversely proportional to each other according to Pearson's correlation. Hazelnut resistance depends on the synchronous development of H. halys and hazelnut phenopases, and also on the time and quantity of lignin biosynthesis in hazelnut pericarp. According to the above-mentioned resistance markers, Berdznula is more resistant than Tita. Research results contribute to maintaining a healthy environment, sustainable crop production, and food security.

Adventive populations of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), an egg parasitoid of the invasive agricultural pest, brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), have been detected in the United States since 2014. Given its importance as an H. halys biocontrol agent, efforts to redistribute T. japonicus began within some US states. Our surveillance for T. japonicus in northwestern Virginia in 2016–2017 yielded annual detections only in 1 county. Thus, to promote its broader establishment, releases of H. halys egg masses parasitized by T. japonicus from Virginia occurred in 2018 (2 releases) and 2020 (1 release) at 9 sites throughout Virginia's tree fruit production regions. Monitoring of T. japonicus and H. halys , using yellow sticky cards deployed in H. halys host trees and pheromone-baited sticky traps, respectively, was conducted from 2018 to 2022. Annual captures of H. halys adults and nymphs appeared to reflect adequate populations to support T. japonicus establishment across most or all sites. Prerelease monitoring yielded a single T. japonicus at 1 site. By 2022, T. japonicus was detected at or near 7 of the remaining 8 release sites, with first detections varying between 1 and 2 yr from the releases in 2018 and 2020. Captures at most sites were very low, but establishment at several locations was indicated by detections in 2–4 seasons. In 2022, T. japonicus surveillance at 11 additional sites in northwestern Virginia yielded detections at all locations, including those at which it had not been detected in 2016–2017, providing evidence for its range expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive Halyomorpha halys is a serious pest for several fruit trees, causing millions of dollars of crop damage every year across the world's major fruit-growing regions. Once established in an orchard, H. halys quickly becomes the predominant stink bug species and is a major season-long pest. Annual increases in the population size of H. halys have resulted in increased pest pressure and a growing risk of severe crop damage. Reliable monitoring is indispensable for H. halys control and management, providing comprehensive information on the seasonality of pest population dynamics, abundance, and interaction with the environment, and is essential for the successful implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to prevent crop damage. Our study followed the seasonal population dynamics of H. halys in three apple orchards in the Goriška region of western Slovenia over the period 2019–2021. Pherocon® Dual Panel Adhesive Traps (Trece Inc.) and pyramidal Rescue® Stink Bug Traps, both baited with Trécé lures (two-component H. halys aggregation pheromone + pheromone synergist), were used to monitor H. halys adults and nymphs weekly from late March to the end of November. Captures taken with both types of trap clearly describe the seasonal dynamics of H. halys, with the first occurrence of overwintering adults in April and May, and with two peak occurrences in adults, in the middle of summer and in the beginning of autumn, corresponding to the appearance of two generations per year in the study area. The growing trap captures observed during the 3-year monitoring period suggest that H. halys was only recently introduced to the area and that natural enemies have not yet been fully recruited. Pyramid traps captured significantly more adults and nymphs than clear sticky traps and provided accurate monitoring of H. halys life stages throughout the season. Regardless of the lower trap catches of adults and juveniles, clear sticky traps clearly displayed H. halys seasonal dynamics pattern. Therefore, their use is recommended as an early detection tool in areas where pests are not yet present, or in areas with small H. halys populations. Halyomorpha halys adult trap captures were higher in Šempeter orchards, within areas of great landscape diversity and a large share of urban land. The seasonal dynamics of H. halys over the 3-year period were closely related to weather conditions, with temperature and relative humidity as the major factors affecting population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research has shown that the invasive species Halyomorpha halys, found in the conditions of the Republic of Moldova in 2019, has already settled in a new area, inhabits both cultivated and ornamental plants and is able to rapidly increase the population density. The fertility of one female is 240 eggs, of which the percentage of sterility ranges from 0,4 to 3, depending on the generation. It was noted that overwintered adults in the spring-summer period show the maximum sexual activity, their fecundity is 65,7%, in the first generation the fecundity of adults was 24,3%, in the second generation-10,1%. It was established that the period of weak sexual activity of the stink bug (the period of fruit ripening) is a period of its mass harmfulness. Research was carried out within the project of the State Program 20.80009.5107.27 "Elaboration of the alternative methods based on environmentally friendly means and procedures for harmful arthropods control in different agricultural crops", financed by the National Agency for Research and Development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Halyomorpha halys is an alien stink bug species native to south-eastern Asia, and is now widely distributed and very invasive worldwide. Management of this pest by chemical insecticides is not very effective because of the high mobility of the pest species and its innate ability to develop resistance to most of the synthetic insecticides applied. For this reason, classical biological control has been considered, with attention focused on co-evolved egg parasitoids, which oviposit and complete their larval development within a single egg of the host. The detection and collection of the egg parasitoid species is often conducted by exposing newly oviposited egg-masses of the stink bug pest in the field for a few days as sentinels, which can then be parasitized by the egg parasitoids. In newly invaded areas, limiting factors in the use of sentinel eggs include the short amount of time that they are a suitable substrate for the oviposition of the egg parasitoid and the risk of the unintentional release of additional pests from unparasitized eggs. A valid potential alternative is to use sterile sentinel eggs of the pest species. This study focused on the evaluation of the performance of three types of sterile sentinel eggs for the oviposition and the larval development of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a phytophagous invasive pest native to south-eastern Asia, and it is now distributed worldwide. This species is considered to be one of the most damaging insect pests in North America and in Europe. In agriculture, the predominant approach to managing BMSB is based on the use of insecticides, specifically pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. Unfortunately, the biology of the species and its facility to develop mechanisms of resistance to available pesticides has induced farmers and scientists to develop different, least-toxic, and more effective strategies of control. In a territorial area-wide approach, the use of a classical biological control program in combination with other least-toxic strategies has been given prominent consideration. Following exploratory surveys in the native range, attention has focused on Trissolcus japonicus, a small scelionid egg parasitoid wasp that is able to oviposit and complete its larval development in a single egg of H. halys. A common method for detecting egg parasitoids in the native range involves the placement of so-called 'sentinel' egg masses of the pest in the environment for a short period, which are then returned to the laboratory to determine if any of them are parasitized. Outside of the area of origin, the use of fertile sentinel eggs of the alien species may lead to the further release of the pest species; an alternative is to use sterile sentinel eggs to record the presence of new indigenous egg parasitoids or to detect the dispersal of alien species (in this case, T. japonicus) released in a new environment to control the target insect pest species. This study evaluated the performance of three types of sterile sentinel eggs as a suitable substrate for the oviposition and larval development of the egg parasitoid T. japonicus in a context of combining classical biological control with a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Predicting how much of a host or prey population may be attacked by their natural enemies is fundamental to several subfields of applied ecology, particularly biological control of pest organisms. Hosts or prey can occupy refuges that prevent them from being killed by natural enemies, but habitat or ecological refuges are challenging or impossible to predict in a laboratory setting—which is often where efficacy and specificity testing of candidate biological control agents is done. Here we explore how intraspecific variation in continuous traits of individuals or groups that confer some protection from natural enemy attack—even after the natural enemy has encountered the prey—could provide partial refuges. The size of these trait‐based refuges (i.e., the proportion of prey that survive natural enemy encounters due to protective traits) should depend on the relationship between trait values and host/prey susceptibility to natural enemy attack and on how common different trait values are within a host/prey population. These can be readily estimated in laboratory testing of natural enemy impact on target or nontarget prey or hosts as long as sufficient host material is available. We provide a general framework for how intraspecific variation in protective host traits could be integrated into biological control research, specifically with reference to nontarget testing as part of classical biological control programs. As a case study, we exposed different host clutch sizes of target (pest) and nontarget (native species) stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) species to a well‐studied exotic biocontrol agent, the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). We predicted that the smallest and largest clutches would occupy trait‐based refuges from parasitism. Although we observed several behavioral and reproductive responses to variation in host egg mass size by T. japonicus, they did not translate to increases in host survival large enough to change the conclusions of nontarget testing. We encourage researchers to investigate intraspecific variation in a wider variety of protective host and prey traits and their consequences for refuge size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California currently produces about a quarter of the worlds pistachios. Pistachio nuts are susceptible to feeding by stink bugs and leaffooted bugs; therefore, the invasive presence of the highly polyphagous brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a concern to California pistachio growers. We aimed to assess the potential of H. halys to cause yield loss and nut damage to pistachios, which had not yet been assessed in the field. Over two years, terminal branch ends with pistachio clusters were enclosed in organdy cages from spring to fall and exposed to either H. halys, the native stink bug Chinavia hilaris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), or leaffooted bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), for 4-7-day feeding periods at different times of the season. We found that H. halys adults cause more epicarp lesions (external damage) when recorded at harvest time than the native species. They did not, however, cause more kernel necrosis (internal damage) than the two native species tested, which is a more relevant damage criterion for commercial production. There were no differences among insect species for any other recorded damage criteria. We conclude that H. halys could cause similar damage as the native species but note that H. halys population densities in California are still low and future damage levels will be dependent on this pests population density.

Simple Summary: Controlling the brown marmorated stink bug without chemical insecticides is challenging. The sterile insect technique, based on use of irradiated sterile males to reduce fertility of wild females, is a valid method in area-wide pest management. This work complements previous investigations that were carried out by treating newly emerged males at lower irradiation doses. In this study, high irradiation doses (32 and 40 Gy) were applied, using a linear accelerator, to a colony of wild overwintering adults collected in large numbers in the field during the aggregation phase before the winter diapause. A sterility level of 95% was reached with a minimum 32 Gy X-ray irradiation dose and without significant impacts on other physiological parameters, such as fecundity and longevity. The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a pentatomid bug of Eastern Asian origin that became an economically relevant pest in the Eurasian and American continents. Management of this species is limited to use of chemical insecticides: an inefficient method due to the strong adaptability of the target pest. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is potentially a valid tactic in the search for nontoxic alternatives. In this work, we investigated the suitability of mass-trapped overwintering males, collected during the aggregation phase before the winter diapause, for their release as competitive sterile males in an SIT programme. Differently from previous studies, irradiation was applied with a linear accelerator device that produced high-energy photons. Following a similar scientific protocol with newly emerged irradiated males, the effects of X-ray irradiation on physiological parameters (longevity, fecundity and fertility) were assessed. In addition, behavioural bioassays were carried out in no-choice conditions to evaluate if irradiation interferes with mating processes. The results are very encouraging; the effects of the irradiation at 32 Gy did not differ from the controls in the longevity or fecundity of the exposed overwintering adults. The hatching rate of the eggs laid by the fertile females that had mated with the irradiated males was less than 5%. The results of behavioural bioassays showed that the irradiation did not cause a significant impact on the quality of the sterile males. More research is warranted to evaluate the mating competitiveness of sterile males in semi-field and field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The ability to rapidly adapt to new environmental conditions is very important for the wide-scale invasion of pests or intentional introduction of beneficial insects. Diapause (i.e., a seasonal dormant state) formed in autumn in response to short days is a vital adaptation ensuring that the active development and reproduction of an insect population coincide with the favorable warm periods of the year. We conducted a laboratory study aimed to compare the induction of diapause in two invasive Caucasian populations of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys, which recently invaded two neighboring regions with subtropical (Sukhum, Abkhazia) and temperate (Abinsk, Russia) climates. Under the constant temperature of 25 °C and day lengths of 15.0 h and 15.5 h, the population from Abinsk showed a slower nymphal development and a stronger tendency to enter diapause than those from Sukhum. This finding agreed with the difference between the local dynamics of the autumnal temperature decrease. Similar interpopulation differences are known in other insects but our finding is distinguished by a very short adaptation time: the brown marmorated stink bug was first recorded in Sukhum in 2015 and in Abinsk in 2018. Thus, the differences between the compared populations evolved very quickly—during only several years. The ability to rapidly adapt to new environmental conditions is a crucial prerequisite for the wide-scale invasion of pests or intentional introduction of beneficial insects. A photoperiodically induced facultative winter diapause is an important adaptation ensuring synchronization of insect development and reproduction with the local seasonal dynamics of environmental factors. We conducted a laboratory study aimed to compare photoperiodic responses of two invasive Caucasian populations of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), which recently invaded neighboring regions with subtropical (Sukhum, Abkhazia) and temperate (Abinsk, Russia) climates. Under the temperature of 25 °C and the near-critical photoperiods of L:D = 15:9 h and 15.5:8.5 h, the population from Abinsk showed a slower pre-adult development and a stronger tendency to enter winter adult (reproductive) diapause compared to the population from Sukhum. This finding agreed with the difference between the local dynamics of the autumnal temperature decrease. Similar adaptive interpopulation differences in the patterns of diapause-inducing responses are known in other insect species but our finding is distinguished by a very short adaptation time: H. halys was first recorded in Sukhum in 2015 and in Abinsk in 2018. Thus, the differences between the compared populations might have evolved over a relatively short span of several years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microsporidian, Nosema maddoxi Becnel, Solter, Hajek, Huang, Sanscrainte & Estep, infects brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), populations in North America and Asia and causes decreased fitness in infected insects. This host overwinters as adults, often in aggregations in sheltered locations, and variable levels of mortality occur over the winter. We investigated pathogen prevalence in H. halys adults before, during, and after overwintering. Population level studies resulted in detection of N. maddoxi in H. halys in 6 new US states, but no difference in levels of infection by N. maddoxi in autumn versus the following spring. Halyomorpha halys that self-aggregated for overwintering in shelters deployed in the field were maintained under simulated winter conditions (4°C) for 5 months during the 2021–2022 winter and early spring, resulting in 34.6 ± 4.8% mortality. Over the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 winters, 13.4 ± 3.5% of surviving H. halys in shelters were infected with N. maddoxi , while N. maddoxi infections were found in 33.4 ± 10.8% of moribund and dead H. halys that accumulated in shelters. A second pathogen, Colletotrichum fioriniae Marcelino & Gouli, not previously reported from H. halys , was found among 46.7 ± 7.8% of the H. halys that died while overwintering, but levels of infection decreased after overwintering. These 2 pathogens occurred as co-infections in 11.1 ± 5.9% of the fungal-infected insects that died while overwintering. Increasing levels of N. maddoxi infection caused epizootics among H. halys reared in greenhouse cages after overwintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Candidate biological control agents of invasive insect pests are increasingly being found in new geographic regions as a result of unintentional introductions. However, testing the degree of genetic differentiation among adventive and native-range populations of these agents is rarely done. We used reduced-representation sequencing of genomic DNA to investigate the relationships among laboratory lines of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid and biological control agent of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae). We compared sequences from multiple adventive populations in North America (Canada, USA) and Europe (Switzerland) with populations sourced from part of its native range in China. We found considerably more genetic variation among lines sourced from adventive populations than among those within native populations. In the Pacific Northwest of North America (British Columbia, Canada and Washington State, USA), we found preliminary evidence of three distinct genetic clusters, two of which were highly dissimilar from all other lines we genotyped. In contrast, we found that other adventive lines with close geographic proximity (two from Ontario, Canada, three from Switzerland) had limited genetic variation. These findings provide a basis for testing biological differences among lines that will inform their use as biological control agents, and provide evidence to support a hypothesis of several independent introductions of T. japonicus in western North America from different source areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), is an invasive species that has become a key agricultural pest in its invaded range. Commercial traps available for BMSB monitoring rely on male produced aggregation pheromones as lure, with two possible shortcomings: trap spillover and low detection precision. In this study, we assessed if vibrational signals can increase the attractiveness of pheromone traps by testing the optimized vibration-based lure (Female Song 2, FS2) associated with a specifically designed trap (i.e., the vibrotrap). We evaluated the efficacy of this bimodal trap (i.e., pheromones + vibrations) on females, males and nymphs in controlled conditions (greenhouse) and in the field, in two sites at the margin of two commercial vineyards. In the field, bimodal vibrotraps were compared to three unimodal (i.e., only pheromone) trap types. Both experiments showed that the vibrotrap is highly attractive for BMSB, and the optimized FS2 signal significantly improved its effectiveness. Even though FS2 was selected to target males, the number of trapped females increased as well. Overall, the presented findings show a feasible improvement to future commercial BMSB traps through the synergic use of semiophysicals and semiochemicals. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of vibrotraps for both early detection and mass trapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The genus Trissolcus includes a number of egg parasitoids that are known to contribute to the control of Halyomorpha halys. The number of progenies, particularly females, is important for the efficient mass rearing of species used in augmentative biological control programs. Cold storage is an important technique for extending the shelf life of natural enemies used in such programs. Methods: We assessed how fecundity, sex ratio, lifespan, and the number of hosts parasitized within 24 h were affected by host density for T. japonicus and T. cultratus when offered fresh H. halys eggs and how these parameters were affected if adult parasitoids were first placed in cold storage (11°C in the dark) for 19 weeks before being used for propagation. Results: The fecundity were 110.2 and 84.2 offspring emerged at 25°C, for parasitoids not placed in cold storage; among the offspring that emerged, 82.6% and 85.6% were female for T. japonicus and T. cultratus, respectively. If first placed in cold storage, T. japonicus and T. cultratus produced 35.1 and 24.6 offspring per female, respectively, although cold storage significantly extended the shelf life. The survival rates of parasitoids that were placed in cold storage were 90.3% and 81.3% for females, and 3.2% and 0.9% for males of T. japonicus and T. cultratus, respectively. The number of hosts parasitized within 24 h was not shown to be density dependent, but it was significantly lower after cold storage. Discussion: This information can be used to estimate the likely production for augmented rearing colonies for use in biological control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female egg parasitoids must optimize their ability to find a suitable host for reproduction in a limited foraging time. Odorant cues associated with the plant–host complex play an essential role in guiding females toward the host. However, parasitoid response is not always identical within the same genotype, and it could be influenced by the environment. This phenotypic plasticity affects parasitoid behavior and morphology and is directly linked to rearing conditions. Yet, how plasticity influences olfactory responses of egg parasitoids toward plant–host odors is largely unexplored. Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is an effective biocontrol agent of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Laboratory no-choice and choice tests showed T. japonicus potential to develop in eggs of non-target Pentatomidae. In Y-tube olfactometer we evaluated the olfactory responses of T. japonicus reared on different hosts toward plant–host derived volatiles associated with H. halys and two other stink bug species. Parasitoids reared on the main host H. halys positively responded only to odors from V. faba–H. halys complex. When reared on alternative hosts, T. japonicus was smaller and did not exhibit attraction to any stimuli, although egg load was only partially affected. Host-induced phenotypic plasticity should be considered when evaluating parasitoids for classical biological control.

Simple Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive insect pest native to Asia that was accidently introduced into North America and Europe. The male-produced aggregation pheromone of H. halys has great application potential in population monitoring and control of this pest. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to identify the candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of the male-specific sesquiterpene aggregation pheromone of H. halys. We identified a novel gene, designated as HhTPS1, which is related to the synthesis of the precursor molecule of the aggregation pheromone. Moreover, potential P450 reductase and transcription factors related to the aggregation pheromone biosynthesis pathway were detected. In addition, two olfactory-related genes, chemosensory protein 5 (HhCSP5) and olfactory receptor 85b (HhOr85b), were also identified, which are assumed to be involved in the olfactory recognition of this pheromone. Our results lay a solid foundation for further elucidating the biosynthesis of this aggregation pheromone and its behavioral regulation of H. halys. The aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is produced by adult males, and plays an important role in the behavioral regulation of H. halys. However, information on the molecular mechanisms underlying this pheromone's biosynthesis is limited. In this study, HhTPS1, a key candidate synthase gene in the aggregation pheromone biosynthesis pathway of H. halys, was identified. Then, through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, the candidate P450 enzyme genes in the biosynthetic downstream of this pheromone and the related candidate transcription factor in this pathway were also identified. In addition, two olfactory-related genes, HhCSP5 and HhOr85b, involved in the recognition of the aggregation pheromone of H. halys, were detected. We further identified the key amino acid sites of HhTPS1 and HhCSP5 that interact with substrates by using molecular docking analysis. This study provides basic information for further investigations into the biosynthesis pathways and recognition mechanisms of aggregation pheromones in H. halys. It also provides key candidate genes for bioengineering bioactive aggregation pheromones necessary for the development of technologies for the monitoring and control of H. halys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Artvin Çoruh Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Artvin Coruh University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Larvae of C. carnea readily prey on first instars of N. viridula and H. halys. • Third instars of C. carnea can prey effectively on second instars of either pentatomid. • Arena complexity influenced predation numbers, whereas tested temperatures did not. • Augmentative releases of C. carnea can help suppress pentatomids in greenhouses. Larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are generalist predators feeding on a range of pests in agroecosystems. Little is known about the suitability of stink bugs as prey for lacewing larvae. In the present laboratory study, the predatory efficacy of C. carnea on two economically important stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) , was evaluated at three constant temperatures (16, 21, and 26 °C) in different arenas (10-cm diameter dishes with bean pod slices or caged small bean plants). We found that second and third instars of C. carnea readily prey on the first instars of both stink bug species. However, only third instars of C. carnea could successfully kill and feed on second instars of either pentatomid. The complexity of the arena, as well as the life stage of the prey and predator influenced the predation efficacy of C. carnea on stink bug nymphs, whereas temperature did not. The observed predation rates on the early instars of both stink bugs suggest that augmentative releases of C. carnea larvae may have some potential in greenhouse crops, particularly against N. viridula infestations, whereas in open field crops their natural populations may also contribute to pest suppression within the broader predator guild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trissolcus japonicus is being released for control of the invasive Halyomorpha halys. • Even low concentration of pesticide can alter exotic parasitoid foraging behaviour. • Neonicotinoid negatively affects the parasitoid walking kinetics on host traces. • Exposition to neonicotinoid does not alter ability to learn but memory retention. While foraging in agricultural habitats, natural enemies, such as egg parasitoids, may encounter insecticide residues, which, if not lethal, can alter host location behaviour and learning capacity. Such interference can reduce the potential of biological control agents, especially exotic species which are released in small numbers in a new environment and first need to establish and build up their populations. Several studies have investigated the lethal effects of pesticides on parasitoids, but less information is available about non-lethal consequences, and no information is available on the potential effect on associative learning in egg parasitoids. The egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmed) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a biological control agent of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). We hypothesised that a low concentration (causing 20 % parasitoid mortality) of a commonly used neonicotinoid insecticide (acetamiprid) alters the behaviour and learning capacity of T. japonicus to exploit the chemical traces left by reproductive females of either the main host, H. halys , or of an alternative host, Arma custos (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). In open arena bioassays, parasitoid females responded positively to traces left by both stink bug species. Following oviposition experience and encounter with host traces (associative learning), T. japonicus reduced foraging time. Parasitoids previously exposed to neonicotinoid showed changes in foraging behaviour, with increased residence time spent in the host-contaminated area and altered kinetics of the walking behaviour. Neonicotinoid exposition did not affect the learning ability of parasitoid females 1 h after oviposition experience but prolonged the memory retention. The insecticide effects on female parasitoid behaviour may affect its reproductive ability and this should be considered when attempting its establishment in the introduction areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is one of the main insect pest species causing economic damage to several agricultural commodities worldwide and one of the worst threats to tree fruit crops in northern Italy, especially in the Emilia-Romagna region. Previous efforts in implementing H. halys surveillance at the regional level were mainly focused on studying the H. halys phenology, but they were not designed to provide a public service. In this paper, we propose a data-driven approach to support the application of Integrated Pest Management strategies against H. halys. The proposal is based on the experience of a three-year project in which a network of monitoring traps has been deployed throughout the whole Emilia-Romagna region and a data platform has been implemented to enable the real-time tracking of H. halys occurrence and distribution, integrating these information with multiple data sources, and analytical capabilities through a public website. Besides the real-time pest surveillance, the data platform allowed us to increase our understanding about H. halys seasonal invasion dynamics and the main factors contributing to its spread. The results will help individual growers in protecting their crops and the whole region in promoting more efficient usage of insecticides and more sustainable and healthy agricultural productions. • The presented data-driven approach is based on the experience of a threeyear project • A standardized monitoring method of H. halys in Emilia-Romagna is presented • Integration and analysis of data from many sources are supported by a data platform • Resources are publicly available to support sustainable crop management strategies • The principal factors that determine H. halys presence are investigated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive species from Asia. This polyphagous, stink bug species has posed a serious production challenge in several crop species in the areas where established. The insect has spread to all the mainland states in the U.S. in about one and half decades after its first detection in Pennsylvania. The types of crops reported to have been infested by this stink bug have increased with its spread to new geographic locations. In this study, we report the first evidence of H. halys infestation in almond fruit in California. In Stanislaus County, an adult brown marmorated stink bug in an almond orchard was first observed in May 2017. The stink bug feeding on almond fruits caused excessive gumming to the developing fruits, and damage to the kernels along with typical necrotic feeding signs on the shell (endocarp) and hull (exocarp and pericarp) of the fruit at harvest. The infestation and damage by H. halys on almond warrants further research to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for this pest.

Proactive biocontrol could accelerate responses to invasive pests in urban areas — where pesticide use may be unpopular — before they spread to agricultural areas.

The purpose of this study was to identify the mantid species in the population of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug – Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855). H. halys is an economical pest on crops in Georgia, introduced and established rather recently. Mantids and H. halys were collected in the humid subtropical regions of Western Georgia and the dry subtropical regions of Eastern Georgia in 2018–2020. Based on the morphometric analysis and morphological observation confirmed that from four specimens, three belong to Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, and one of them–Iris polystictica Fisher-Waldheim, 1846 (Synonims: Mantid polystictica Fisher-Waldheim, 1846; Iris tiflisina Giglio-Tos, 1915) H.transcaucasica characterized with: total length of specimens were ranged from 65 mm to72 mm; knee of the mid and hind femora (HF) with a small spine; the medial face of the fore coxae (FC) without a black spot. I. polystictica had the following remarkable signs: fore femora (FF) with 5 external spines, frontal sclerite (FS) with 2 small round knobs (SRK). Observations in nature and laboratory experimentshave shown that H. transcaucasica predates on H. Halys in all stages of post-embryonic development. It was also established that mantids followed H. halys grouping sitesand migrating population outside the building as well as inside of it. Predation of the adults and nymphs of H. transcaucasica was documented after they underwent starvation periods. The 3rd instar nymph of H. transcaucasica preyed on the 1stinstar H. halys nymphs, while adult H. transcaucasica attacked adult of H. halys. A maximum number of H. halys (7 insect) were eaten by an adult H. transcaucasica on the first day, and in this case, the same number of nymphs (7 insects) were observedwithin the first hours of the experiment. Statistical analysis shows that there is no correlation between the intensity of predation and the time of the day, which is confirmed by the chi-square test, in the case of an adult mantid (χ2 = 80.00, P = 0.355), and in the case of nymph (χ2 = 32,250, P = 0.264) as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, has become one of the most damaging agricultural pests worldwide. After being first detected in Europe (in Switzerland), it is now widely spread throughout the European continent and many countries in Eurasia. Since its first appearance in Slovenia in 2017, it has caused extensive damage to fruit and vegetable production. Investigating the biology and behavior in local environmental conditions is the first step towards effective pest control. Information on the number of generations per year is crucial for anticipating critical phases of pest development and for adapting control measures that target the pest's vulnerable life stages. A 3-year study (2019–2021) on the biological parameters of H. halys was performed outdoors in Nova Gorica (western Slovenia), confirming that in the sub-Mediterranean climate this pest has two overlapping generations per year. The net reproductive rates observed over the period studied indicate growing populations. The highest population growth was recorded in 2019, when the net reproductive rate of increase (R0) reached 14.84 for the summer generation and 5.64 for the overwintering generation. These findings reflect the current situation in Slovenia, where the growing populations of H. halys has been causing considerable damage to agricultural crops since 2019. In the last decade, the invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, has become one of the most serious pests for agricultural crops worldwide. First detected in Europe (in Switzerland), the insect is now widely found across the European continent and many Eurasian countries. Since its first appearance in Slovenia in 2017 it has caused considerable damage to fruit and vegetable production. Understanding the biology and behavior in the local environmental conditions is of key importance for an effective pest management. Knowledge of the voltinism of the species is crucial to anticipate critical phases of pest development and for adapting control measures that target the vulnerable life stages of the pest. A 3-year study (2019–2021) of H. halys biological parameters was performed outdoors in Nova Gorica (western Slovenia), confirming that in the sub-Mediterranean climate this pest has two overlapping generations per year. The net reproductive rates observed in the studied period indicate growing populations. The highest population growth was recorded in 2019, when the net reproductive rate of increase (R0) reached 14.84 for the summer generation and 5.64 for the overwintering generation. These findings match the current situation in Slovenia, where increasing populations of H. halys and severe crop damage have been observed since 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions often result from multiple invasion events. In the case of several subsequent invasive episodes, 'newcomers' are usually poorly adapted to local environmental conditions in contrast to the representatives of the already-established invasive population of the same species. Therefore, the mode of inheritance of life-history features determining the survival and performance of interpopulation hybrids is an important component of invasiveness. We investigated the mode of inheritance of the photoperiodic response in the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, by crossing between the native population of South Korea and the invasive population of the Black Sea coast of Russia. The aim of this study was to predict the overwintering potential of the progeny from possible crosses between representatives of the native and invasive populations. The pre-adult development time and the incidence of winter adult diapause in the progeny of the interpopulation crosses were close to the average of the values recorded in 'pure' (unmixed) crosses. Female and male genotypes were equally important in the determination of these characters. Such a mode of inheritance is most likely determined by a polygenic control and would only partially promote subsequent invasion events from the native South Asian range of H. halys into Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The egg parasitoids Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) are the most effective biocontrol agents of the invasive agricultural pest Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in its native range (east Asia). Trissolcus japonicus and T. mitsukurii are sympatric in the native areas. In northern Italy, where H. halys is a major pest of fruit orchards, adventive populations of both species are spreading, and T. japonicus is artificially released under a classical biocontrol program against H. halys. This laboratory study aimed to assess the outcome of competition when both species share the same resource and possible implications for the biological control of the invasive stink bug. Egg masses of H. halys were offered to each parasitoid after previous parasitization by the other species. Parasitoid behaviour, number of ovipositions, and successfully developed parasitoids were recorded. Additionally, contest behaviour was assessed when both species were released simultaneously on the same egg mass. Results showed that both T. japonicus and T. mitsukurii were able to parasitize an egg mass already parasitized by the other species. Competition occurred within the host eggs and each species outperformed the other when it was the first to oviposit. Importantly, the overall contribution to H. halys mortality was not affected by the interaction between parasitoids, as non‐parasitized eggs were 4–6% in the absence of competition and <8% in its presence, respectively. When simultaneously released on the egg mass, T. mitsukurii was more aggressive, engaging in chase‐off events in 71% of cases compared to 50% of T. japonicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]