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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382535
Research Project: Biological Control for Management of Invasive Pest Management, Emphasizing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Spotted Wing Drosophila and other Invasive Insect Pests of Crops

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Modelling the biocontrol potential of Trissolcus species for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål

Author
item YONOW, TANIA - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories
item KRITICOS, DARREN - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories
item OTA, NOBORU - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories
item AVILA, GONZALO - New Zealand Institute Of Plant & Food Research
item TALAMAS, ELIJAH - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item Hoelmer, Kim
item CHEN, HUAYAN - Sun Yat-Sen University
item CARON, VALERIE - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2021
Publication Date: 5/25/2021
Citation: Yonow, T., Kriticos, D.J., Ota, N., Avila, G., Talamas, E.J., Hoelmer, K.A., Chen, H., Caron, V. 2021. Modelling the biocontrol potential of Trissolcus species for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål. Insects. 12, 581. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060491.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060491

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug is native to Asia but has been accidentally introduced to Europe and North America, where it has become a key pest by feeding on numerous important crops. Although not yet established in Australia, there is a consensus that this is only a matter of time, and it is prudent to investigate management options. Previous studies have modelled the potential distribution of the stink bug and one of its principal natural enemies, Trissolcus japonicus (samurai wasp). This study developed a similar model of the potential distribution of Trissolcus mitsukurii, a parasitoid of the stink bug in Japan that was introduced into Australia in the 1960s to control another introduced pest. This study used these models to examine the overlap in the expected distributions of both T. mitsukurii and T. japonicus with their host, and assessed the potential for the two Trissolcus species to mitigate the impacts of brown marmorated stink bug in its adventive range.

Technical Abstract: The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is native to northeast Asia. It was accidentally introduced to Europe and North America, where it has become a key pest, feeding on many important crops. Climatic modelling indicates that H. halys is likely to vastly expand its current known distribution, and numerous border interceptions of this pest in many countries, including Australia and New Zealand, indicate that it would be prudent to prepare for its eventual arrival in Australia. Similar climatic modelling was used to assess the potential distribution of Trissolcus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), the key parasitoid of H. halys in China. This study used CLIMEX to assess the potential distribution of Trissolcus mitsukurii, the main parasitoid of H. halys in Japan, which was brought to Australia in the 1960s and which has also self-introduced into Italy. We found that T. mitsukurii should be able to significantly expand its range globally, and that there is a significant degree of overlap in the projected ranges of the three species. From a biological control perspective, this implies that the two Trissolcus species may be able to mitigate the impacts of H. halys as it spreads.