Parasitism of Halyomorpha halys and Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) sentinel eggs in Central Florida

Authors: BIRKMIRE, SARAH - University Of Florida; LEPPLA, NORMAN - University Of Florida; McKenzie, Cindy; MOORE, MATTHEW - University Of Florida; OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida; SEEHAUSEN, LUKAS - Centre For Agriculture & Biosciences International (CABI); TALAMAS, ELIJAH - University Of Florida; Tillman, Patricia; HODGES, AMANDA - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2025
Publication Date: 9/25/2025
Citation: Birkmire, S., Leppla, N., Mckenzie, C.L., Moore, M., Osborne, L., Seehausen, L., Talamas, E., Tillman, P.G., Hodges, A. Parasitism of Halyomorpha halys and Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) sentinel eggs in Central Florida. Florida Entomologist. 108(1):20250015. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0015

Interpretive Summary: Newly introduced invasive stink bugs, such as the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) and the native southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula), threaten Florida agriculture. Some of Florida’s top grossing crops, including tomatoes, sweet corn and an array of ornamental plants are at risk to damage by these pests. Integrated pest management tactics which include biological control components can be very important for the control of invasive and native plant pests including stink bugs. Surveys were conducted in central Florida from March 2021 to March 2022 to assess the complex of stink bug egg parisitoids in different ecosytems (vineyard, two peach orchids and an organic vegetable farm). A total of 3,590 egg masses were deployed, 61 had successful parasitoid emergence (1.7%) and 59% predation of egg masses were detected. Eleven egg parasitoid species were detected, nine from the brown marmorated stink bug and 6 from the southern green stink bug. Parasitism increased with temperature and was not affected by changes in relative humidity. This body of work has important implications for the research of pentatomid biological control on both the state and national level. A useful characterization has been provided of the pentatomid egg parasitoid fauna in a region with growing numbers of invasive stink bugs. Now that it is known which parasitoid species are present, further research should be conducted to determine their host preferences and potential suitability for use in biological control programs. Since these parasitoids have been detected, additional research is needed in relation to their efficacy, potential for mass rearing, and effects on non-target beneficial hemipterans.

Technical Abstract: Surveys to assess the complex of pentatomid egg parasitoids in central Florida were conducted during March 2021–March 2022, utilizing frozen sentinel egg masses and yellow sticky cards. Egg masses of two invasive stink bug species, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and Nezara viridula (L.), were deployed in a vineyard, two peach orchards, and a non-certified organic practicing vegetable farm. Parasitoids recovered from both hosts were Anastatus sp., Anastatus nr. hirtus (Ashmead), Anastatus tenuipes (Bolivar y Pieltain), and Trissolcus solocis Johnson. Five parasitoid species were recovered only from H. halys eggs: A. mirabilis (Walsh and Riley), Encyrtidae spp., Tr. brochymenae (Ashmead), and Tr. hulensis (Harrington). Ooencyrtus sp. and Psix striaticeps (Dodd) were recovered only from N. viridula eggs. Overall, approximately 1.69% parasitism and 59.19% predation of egg masses were detected. Parasitism increased with temperature and was not affected by changes in relative humidity. Parasitoids recovered from the yellow sticky cards were Telenomus spp., Hadronotus spp., and Psix striaticeps. COI sequences for each parasitoid species was deposited in GenBank.This research provides the basis for augmentative biological control of pentatomids in organic and conventional cropping systems in Florida.