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Title: Marking and retention of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on pheromone baited and unbaited plants

Author
item GUILLERMO, CABRERA WALSH - Fuedei
item Dimeglio, Anthony
item Khrimian, Ashot
item Weber, Donald

Submitted to: Journal of Pest Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2015
Publication Date: 2/1/2016
Citation: Guillermo, C., Dimeglio, A.S., Khrimian, A., Weber, D.C. 2016. Marking and retention of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on pheromone baited and unbaited plants. Journal of Pest Science. 89:21-29.

Interpretive Summary: Harlequin bug (HB) is an important pest of cole crops in the southern USA. The sap-sucking adults and nymphs feed on aboveground plant tissues, and can seriously damage the host. Current control measures on cole crops target mainly caterpillar pests, and these products generally used do not control harlequin bug; effective organic controls are also not available. Alternative management practices, including non-chemical tactics, need to be explored. Previous research has established the existence of a male-produced pheromone attractive to both sexes and nymphs (young) of HB. Researchers need additional information on how HB move in response to the pheromone and other attractants, to develop traps or trap crops with which to suppress the pest. To track bug movements, a durable marking system is required which does not impair bug survival and movement. Also, more knowledge is needed as to how bugs move, once they arrive at a host plant. In this work two marking systems were found that do not affect survival and bug movement and orientation. In a second set of experiments, although the pheromone lures significantly increased the attraction of bugs to the trap plants, lures did not increase the retention time of the plants compared to unbaited plants. HB departure from the trap plants showed a constant rate, and was not related to bug density on the plants up to high densities. These successful marking methods and retention time models will support development of HB management with trap crops by vegetable researchers and pest managers.

Technical Abstract: Harlequin bug (HB) is an important pest of cole crops in the USA. The sap-sucking adults and nymphs feed on aboveground plant tissues, and can seriously damage the host. Current control measures on cole crops target mainly lepidopteran pests, and the products generally used do not control harlequin bug, so alternative management practices need to be explored. Previous research has established the existence of a male-produced pheromone attractive to both sexes and nymphs of HB. In this work two marking systems were tested to verify if the mark affected fitness traits such as survival and host location. In a second phase, marked individuals were placed on trap host plants baited with synthetic pheromone lures to test whether migration rates were related to HB density on the trap plants and the presence of the attractants. Neither marking system seemed to affect the survival or orientation of the subjects compared to unmarked individuals. The pheromone lures significantly increased the attraction of the trap plants, but did not increase the retention time of the plants compared to unbaited plants. HB emigration from the trap plants showed a constant rate, and seemed unrelated to bug density on the plants. However, a mean peak density of ca. 36 HB/plant was calculated. Beyond this number HB density tended to decrease. These successful marking methods and retention time models support development of HB management with trap crops.