Attraction of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) haplotypes in North America and Europe to baited traps

Authors: Morrison, William - Rob; MILONAS, PANOS - Benaki Phytopathological Institute; KAPANTAIDAKI, DEBORAH - Benaki Phytopathological Institute; CESARI, MICHELLE - University Of Modena And Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE); DI BELLA, EMANUELE - University Of Modena And Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE); GUIDETTI, ROBERTO - University Of Modena And Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE); HAYE, TIMOTHY - Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI) - Switzerland; MAISTRELLO, LARA - University Of Modena And Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE); MORAGLIO, SILVIA - University Of Turin; PIEMONTESE, LUCIA - University Of Modena And Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE); POZZEBON, ALBERTO - Universita Di Padova; RUOCCO, GIULIA - Universita Di Padova; Short, Brent; TAVELLA, LUCIANA - University Of Turin; VETEK, GABOR - Szent Istvan University; Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2017
Publication Date: 12/5/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5883111
Citation: Morrison III, W.R., Milonas, P., Kapantaidaki, D., Cesari, M., Di Bella, E., Guidetti, R., Haye, T., Maistrello, L., Moraglio, S.T., Piemontese, L., Pozzebon, A., Ruocco, G., Short, B.D., Tavella, L., Vetek, G., Leskey, T.C. 2017. Attraction of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) haplotypes in North America and Europe to baited traps. Scientific Reports. 7:16941. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17233-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17233-0

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a worldwide invasive species native to Asia that threatens our food supply. There has been significant progress in creating tools to monitor and manage BMSB that rely on attractive compounds called pheromones. While these pheromones attract BMSB to traps in South Korea (the native range) and the USA (invaded range), their response in Europe (recently invaded region) has never been tested. In addition, researchers are unsure whether all populations of BMSB originating from different parts of Asia respond to the pheromones similarly. In this study, we have shown that the pattern of response to these pheromones and traps by BMSB populations in Europe are the same as those in the United States. Populations trapped in Europe were genetically diverse and likely represent multiple introductions, while those trapped in the Eastern USA in the state of Maryland represented a single previously characterized population. Our study highlights that the pheromone tools developed in the USA to monitor and manage BMSB are applicable globally.

Technical Abstract: Halyomorpha halys is a global invasive species native to Southeast Asia that is threatening agriculture in invaded regions. While pheromone-based monitoring tools for H. halys have been validated in North America and South Korea, their efficacy has not been widely evaluated in Europe. Our goals were to: 1) establish the attractiveness of semiochemical stimuli paired with field-deployed traps in Europe (Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland), compared with Maryland, USA, and 2) identify H. halys haplotypes recovered from traps at each location. We found qualitatively identical patterns of captures between sites located across Europe and in Maryland, USA. In both regions, captures of H. halys adults indicated a synergistic response to traps baited with the two component H. halys aggregation pheromone, and pheromone synergist, methyl (2E, 4E, 6Z)-decatrienoate when compared with either individually. Nymphal captures were significantly greater in baited traps compared with unbaited traps in both regions, though a synergistic response was not observed likely due to the patchy nature of localized nymphal populations. Haplotype diversity in Europe based on trapped specimens was much greater than the USA, with five new haplotypes described here, probably indicating ongoing invasion and re-introduction of H. halys. By contrast, a single, previously identified haplotype was trapped in Maryland, USA, representing a single introduction. All H. halys haplotypes responded to each semiochemical in apparent proportion to their frequency in the overall population based on independently derived information from prior work. Taken together, we confirm that this pheromone-based technology will be of global utility for the monitoring of this important invasive species.