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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #398641
Research Project: New Tools for Managing Key Pests of Pecan and Peach

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Habitat and vertical stratification affect capture of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug

Author
item Cottrell, Ted
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item Grabarczyk, Erin
item TOEWS, M - University Of Georgia
item SIAL, A - University Of Georgia
item SRIYANKA, L - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2023
Publication Date: 7/7/2023
Citation: Cottrell, T.E., Tillman, P.G., Grabarczyk, E.E., Toews, M., Sial, A., Sriyanka, L. 2023. Habitat and vertical stratification affect capture of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug. Environmental Entomology. 20:1-3. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad061.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad061

Interpretive Summary: Distribution of stink bugs and their insect predators across landscapes has been studied in more detail recently. However, little is known about the effect of plant height on vertical stratification of stink bugs and their predators. In this study, we examined capture of native stink bugs, the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and a predaceous wasp in two habitats (woodlands and pecan orchards) in addition to their vertical stratification at increasing heights. Furthermore, the effects of canopy height and habitat on BMSB egg mass predation and parasitism were evaluated. Adult BMSB were abundant in both habitats, but more nymphs were captured in pecans. The same pattern was found for adult brown stink bugs, red shouldered stink bug, and the predaceous wasp. In contrast, adult dusky stink bugs and the green stink bugs were more abundant in woodlands. More nymphal BMSB and adults of Brown stink bug, red shouldered stink bug and the predaceous wasp were captured in ground traps than canopy traps in pecan. More adult and nymphal BMSB were captured at varying heights in woodlands canopy than on the ground as were adult dusky stinkbugs and green stinkbugs. Both parasitism and predation occurred in woodland and pecan canopy. However, in one test we found that parasitism of BMSB egg masses occurred more often in upper tree canopy, and more parasitism was detected in woodland than orchard habitat. In two tests, predation was higher in woodlands than pecan orchards. These results will aid in optimizing conservation biological control tactics in these habitats.

Technical Abstract: TSpatiotemporal distribution of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and their natural enemies across farmscapes has been studied in more detail recently. However, the impact of plant height on vertical stratification of stink bugs and their natural enemies is rarely addressed across these diverse habitats. In this study, we examined capture of native stink bugs, the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), and a predaceous wasp, Astata occidentalis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), in two habitats, woodlands and pecan orchards, in addition to their vertical stratification (0-13.7 m) at increasing heights. Furthermore, the effects of canopy height and habitat on H. halys egg mass predation and parasitism were evaluated. Adult H. halys were abundant in both habitats, but more nymphs were captured in pecans. The same pattern was found for adult Euschistus servus (Say), Thyanta custator, and A. occidentalis. In contrast, adult E. tristigmus and Chinavia hilaris (Say) were more abundant in woodlands. More nymphal H. halys and adults of E. servus, T. custator, and A. occidentalis were captured in ground traps than canopy traps in pecan. More adult and nymphal H. halys were captured at varying heights in woodlands canopy than on the ground as were adult E. tristigmus and C. hilaris. Both parasitism and predation occurred in woodland and pecan canopy. However, in one test we found that parasitism of H. halys egg masses occurred more often in upper tree canopy, and more parasitism was detected in woodland than orchard habitat. In two tests, predation was higher in woodlands than pecan orchards. These results will aid in optimizing conservation biological control tactics in these habitats.