Using the egg parasitoid Anastatus bifasciatus against the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in Europe: can non-target effects be ruled out?

Abstract The spread of adventive Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead, 1904) populations in North America is anticipated to increase biological control of Halyomorpha halys (Stål; Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), the brown marmorated stink bug. In an agricultural context, biological control will succeed if it can be integrated in an environment with insecticide applications. We investigated T. japonicus compatibility with nine conventional and organic insecticides commonly used in integrated pest management in perennial crops. Through evaluating mortality and longevity in field and laboratory trials, we determined that T. japonicus fares poorly when exposed to residues of neonicotinoids and pyrethroids. Spinosad resulted in the highest percentage of T. japonicus mortality, 100% in the laboratory and 97% in a field trial. The anthranilic diamide, chlorantraniliprole, had the lowest lethality, with no differences compared to an untreated control. Trissolcus japonicus survived insecticide applications in hazelnut orchards, and over 50% of wasps remained alive after contact with the anthranilic diamides, chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole, the biopesticide Chromobacterium, and an untreated control. Our results indicate that T. japonicus is unlikely to survive and parasitize H. halys in settings that coincide with broad-spectrum insecticide application. Future T. japonicus redistributions could continue in orchards treated with anthranilic diamides and Chromobacterium. As H. halys is a landscape-level pest, orchards may also benefit from biological control if T. japonicus are released in unsprayed areas adjacent to agriculture and in urban sites.

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Preempting the Arrival of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys: Biological Control Options for Australia

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12070581 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 581

Author(s):

Valerie Caron ◽

Tania Yonow ◽

Cate Paull ◽

Elijah J. Talamas ◽

Gonzalo A. Avila ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Northeast Asia ◽

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Halyomorpha Halys ◽

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug ◽

Stink Bug ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Potential Effectiveness ◽

Control Options

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorphahalys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is native to Northeast Asia, but has become a serious invasive species in North America and Europe, causing major damage to crops. While it has not established itself in Australia, it has been intercepted at the border several times, indicating that future incursions and establishment are a case of when, not if. Biological control is one of the few control options for this species and will be important for managing H.halys should it become established in Australia. Prioritizing species that could be used as biological control agents would ensure Australia is prepared. This study summarizes the literature on natural enemies of H. halys in its native and invaded ranges and prioritizes potential biological control agents of H.halys that could be used in Australia. Two egg parasitoid species were identified: Trissolcusjaponicus (Ashmead) and Trissolcusmitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Future efforts to develop biological control should focus on T. mitsukurii, as it is already present in Australia. However, little is known about this species and further work is required to: (1) assess its potential effectiveness in parasitizing H. halys, (2) determine its current distribution and (3) host range in Australia.

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Can Anastatus bifasciatus Be Used for Augmentative Biological Control of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Fruit Orchards?

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects10040108 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 108 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Judith M. Stahl ◽

Dirk Babendreier ◽

Cristina Marazzi ◽

Stefano Caruso ◽

Elena Costi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Host Finding ◽

Host Feeding ◽

Stink Bug ◽

Target Species ◽

Potential Risks ◽

Fruit Orchards ◽

The Impact ◽

Field Setting ◽

Anastatus Bifasciatus

The generalist egg parasitoid Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is the most prevalent egg parasitoid of the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Europe. To assess its efficacy against the pest H. halys and to validate the potential risks for non-target species in a realistic field setting, inundative releases were conducted over three consecutive years in four fruit orchards in Switzerland and Italy. In total, more than 4300 A. bifasciatus females were released, which was equivalent to 11,000 to 26,000 females per hectare, depending on distances between trees in each orchard. Parasitism of freeze-killed sentinel H. halys eggs achieved with the current release strategy was on average 6% (range: 2%–16%) and considered not high enough to effectively suppress the pest. However, the overall impact of A. bifasciatus on the mortality of H. halys eggs was likely underestimated. If pre-imaginal parasitoid mortality (3.3%) and host feeding (6%) are added to the observed parasitism (6%), the actual induced mortality of H. halys eggs may reach more than 15%. Parasitism of lepidopteran non-target species reached an average of 8% and thus, some degree of non-target parasitism after mass releases may be expected. To quantify the impact of the parasitoids in the orchards more precisely, naturally laid egg masses should be used in future trials to include host-finding cues of the host and host plants, and larger scale releases with potentially higher densities of parasitoids should be considered.

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