scholarly journals Behavioral Response of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Its Egg Parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) to Host Plant Odors

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement Akotsen-Mensah ◽  
Brett R. Blaauw ◽  
Monique J. Rivera ◽  
Cesar Rodriguez-Saona ◽  
Anne L. Nielsen

Insects use a range of cues to help them interact with each other and their host plants. Among these cues, olfaction plays a major role in host selection. The present study investigated the behavioral response of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), and its egg parasitoid, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), to host plant-related odors. We used H. halys nymphs since their response to host odors is relatively unknown. In a Y-tube, we first evaluated the behavioral response of H. halys nymphs to whole-fruit odors of apple [Malus domestica (Borkh.)] and peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch)]. Subsequently, we tested the behavioral response of H. halys and T. japonicus to 18 selected synthetic volatiles previously identified from H. halys and its common host plants. In the greenhouse, we further tested H. halys attraction to the most promising of these volatiles individually and as blends. In single-choice tests, H. halys nymphs preferred odors from apple and peach over the control (no odor). In dual-choice tests, H. halys did not show any preference between apple and peach odors. Among the 18 volatiles tested, H. halys nymphs were attracted to ethyl salicylate (ES), undecane (UN), and ethyl acetate (EA) compared to the control. In the greenhouse, H. halys nymphs were similarly attracted to blends of 1:1 ratio of ES and EA but not to single compounds. Also in the Y-tube, female T. japonicus preferred the arm that had ES, β-caryophyllene, and decanal and a blend of these three compounds at a 1:1:1 ratio. Trissolcus japonicus was more attracted to the control arm than to the arm containing tridecane or α-pinene. These results indicate the potential of developing H. halys and T. japonicus attractants or/and repellents based on host plant volatiles and suggest possible adaptive responses of this pest and its egg parasitoid to similar host plant odors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1097-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Zhi Zhong ◽  
Jin-Ping Zhang ◽  
Li-Li Ren ◽  
Rui Tang ◽  
Hai-Xia Zhan ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Warren H. L. Wong ◽  
Matt A. Walz ◽  
Angela B. Oscienny ◽  
Jade L. Sherwood ◽  
Paul K. Abram

AbstractAn effective stockpiling method for egg masses of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys [Stål]; Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) would be useful for rearing and field studies of its egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). The current method of stockpiling H. halys egg masses at sub-zero temperatures has lethal and sublethal fitness consequences for T. japonicus. We show that parasitoid emergence from egg masses refrigerated at 8°C for up to two months before parasitism is higher than from frozen egg masses and usually has minimal or no sublethal fitness effects (sex ratio, development time, activity, fecundity, longevity, and weight) on emerging T. japonicus. Only after two months of host egg refrigeration did the emergence of T. japonicus begin to decrease significantly (by 9.6% relative to untreated viable egg masses), whereas egg masses previously frozen at -80°C had a 58.8% reduction in parasitoid emergence after 14 days of storage. Refrigerated egg masses that were subsequently exposed to average field temperatures (warm: 22.9°C; cool: 13.2°C) were still suitable for T. japonicus parasitism after 7 days, while viable egg masses exposed to warm temperatures for 7 days before parasitism had 24.1% lower parasitoid emergence. Our results demonstrate that refrigeration at 8°C, while resulting in complete mortality of H. halys embryos after 10 days, are more suitable for T. japonicus parasitism than those stored at sub-zero temperatures. The quantity and quality of H. halys eggs that can be stockpiled with this method could facilitate T. japonicus laboratory colony maintenance, field monitoring, and releases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M Boyle ◽  
Donald C Weber ◽  
Judith Hough-Goldstein ◽  
Kim A Hoelmer

Abstract The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a highly polyphagous species native to Asia that has become a serious invasive agricultural and nuisance pest across North America and Europe. Classical biological control host range evaluations have revealed egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) to be the primary candidate biocontrol agent for field release against H. halys. However, these evaluations only provide us with the physiological host range of T. japonicus. Other Trissolcus species have demonstrated that contact kairomones from different host species elicit varied responses in the parasitoids’ host foraging behaviors. To assess T. japonicus response to host kairomones, mated naive females were exposed to leaf surfaces contaminated with adult kairomones from its preferred host, H. halys, or from a native nontarget host, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Red maple, apple, and soybean were used as plant substrate treatments. The wasp’s residence time on the leaf surface, linear walking velocity, and angular walking velocity were observed and measured using Noldus EthoVision XT tracking software. Within each leaf treatment, T. japonicus displayed stronger behavioral responses on leaves contaminated with contact kairomones from H. halys. The parasitoid resided on H. halys contaminated leaves for approximately twice as a long as it did on P. maculiventris contaminated leaves. Further, both species’ kairomones elicited significant decreases in parasitoid walking velocity on all tested substrate types. Overall, our study suggests that kairomone-based behavioral studies can be used to further evaluate the host specificity of T. japonicus and can be an invaluable supplement to classical biocontrol host range testing regimes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 2077-2084 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M Lowenstein ◽  
Heather Andrews ◽  
Anthony Mugica ◽  
Nik G Wiman

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.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Hanna R. McIntosh ◽  
Victoria P. Skillman ◽  
Gracie Galindo ◽  
Jana C. Lee

The egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus is the main candidate for classical biocontrol of the invasive agricultural pest Halyomorpha halys. The efficacy of classical biocontrol depends on the parasitoid’s survival and conservation in the agroecosystem. Most parasitoid species rely on floral nectar as a food source, thus identifying nectar sources for T. japonicus is critical. We evaluated the impact of eight flowering plant species on T. japonicus survival in the lab by exposing unfed wasps to flowers inside vials. We also measured the wasps’ nutrient levels to confirm feeding and energy storage using anthrone and vanillin assays adapted for T. japonicus. Buckwheat, cilantro, and dill provided the best nectar sources for T. japonicus by improving median survival by 15, 3.5, and 17.5 days compared to water. These three nectar sources increased wasps’ sugar levels, and cilantro and dill also increased glycogen levels. Sweet alyssum, marigold, crimson clover, yellow mustard, and phacelia did not improve wasp survival or nutrient reserves. Further research is needed to determine if these flowers maintain their benefits in the field and whether they will increase the parasitism rate of H. halys.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucrezia Giovannini ◽  
Giuseppino Sabbatini-Peverieri ◽  
Leonardo Marianelli ◽  
Gabriele Rondoni ◽  
Eric Conti ◽  
...  

Abstract The invasive stink bug Halyomorpha halys is a severe agricultural pest of worldwide importance, and chemical insecticides are largely sprayed for the control of its populations. Negative impacts and several failures in chemical pest management led to consider classical biological control as one of the most promising methods in a long-term perspective. The Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus is the main candidate biocontrol agent of H. halys, but more recently a second Asian egg parasitoid, Trissolcus mitsukurii, is getting attention after adventive populations were found on H. halys egg masses in Europe. Before recommending the use of T. mitsukurii for biological control of H. halys, a risk analysis is necessary and therefore here we present the first study on the fundamental physiological host range of this parasitoid in Europe. Tests conducted with T. mitsukurii on different hemipterans, using three different experimental designs, revealed a broad physiological host range, comparable with the host range displayed by T. japonicus under similar laboratory conditions. Specifically, in addition to its coevolved host H. halys, T. mitsukurii successfully parasitized the majority of tested pentatomid species and one scutellerid, although with highly variable emergence rates. Host egg sizes positively affected parasitoid size and female egg load. Further studies, testing more complex systems that involve olfactory cues from host and host plants, will simulate different aspects of the parasitoid host location behavior under field conditions, allowing in-depth evaluation of the possible risks associated with the use of T. mitsukurii as a biocontrol agent of H. halys.


Author(s):  
Adam Formella ◽  
Seth J Dorman ◽  
Sally V Taylor ◽  
Thomas P Kuhar

Abstract The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a polyphagous pest that feeds on a wide variety of agricultural commodities including tree fruits, berries, vegetables, field crops, and ornamental trees and shrubs. Accurate knowledge of where H. halys lays eggs is critical to optimize the potential release of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), a scelionid egg parasitoid native to the same host region as H. halys. Ideally, parasitoids should be released in and around areas with high host density. In southwestern Virginia in 2017 and 2018, we searched trees for egg masses in an urban environment and nonmanaged wooded border environment. We also evaluated the effects of a commercial aggregation lure on the number of eggs being deposited. This aggregation lure, when combined with methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate (MDT), has been shown to attract both adult and nymph H. halys and its effects on egg laying were not known. Results of this study showed no difference between the number of eggs laid on trees with and without lures. Catalpa trees, Catalpa bignonioides Walter, had the most egg masses throughout the course of the study; however, the redbud, Cercis canadensis L., had similar numbers in the late July and August. There was an overall trend with more eggs masses found on trees with fruiting structures present. This information can provide insight on where and when to make augmentative releases of egg parasitoids for H. halys.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mokhtar Abdulsattar Arif ◽  
Tuğcan Alınç ◽  
Salvatore Guarino ◽  
Stefano Colazza ◽  
Antonino Cusumano ◽  
...  

Egg parasitoids foraging for suitable hosts scattered in the environment rely mainly on chemical cues. Elucidating the chemical ecology of natural enemies is important in the development of effective and successful strategies for conservation biological control. In this context, the host cuticular hydrocarbons, which are exploited by several species of egg parasitoids as contact kairomones, could be used to retain them by providing information about the presence and the sex of adults of the target species: sex is important because only females of the host species lay the eggs that can be subsequently utilized for parasitoid reproduction. However, the chemical basis of host sex discrimination in egg parasitoids is not well understood. We carried out behavioral and chemical bioassays to investigate the role played by contact chemical cues left by adults of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, in host egg searching behavior and adult host sex discrimination by the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead). A first set of bioassays showed that parasitoids spent more time exploring patches contaminated with chemicals associated with adult H. halys females compared with adult males. Similar responses were displayed by T. japonicus when hexane extracts of H. halys were tested suggesting that non-polar chemical compounds are involved in host sex discrimination. GC-MS analysis of hexane extracts revealed quantitative differences in the cuticular compounds of the two sexes, with 1-hexadecene (more abundant in males) being the most important component in determining these differences. Hexane extracts of H. halys females blended with synthetic 1-hexadecene significantly reduced the wasps’ arrestment responses compared to crude extracts.


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