Chemical ecology of Halyomorpha halys: Discoveries and applications

Authors: Weber, Donald; Morrison, William - Rob; Khrimian, Ashot; Rice, Kevin; Leskey, Tracy; RODRIGUEZ-SAONA, CESAR - Rutgers University; NIELSEN, ANNE - Rutgers University; BLAAUW, BRETT - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Pest Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2017
Publication Date: 4/27/2017
Citation: Weber, D.C., Morrison III, W.R., Khrimian, A., Rice, K.B., Leskey, T.C., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Nielsen, A.L., Blaauw, B.R. 2017. Chemical ecology of Halyomorpha halys: Discoveries and applications. Journal of Pest Science. 90:989-1008.

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug is a highly destructive pest originally from east Asia that was accidentally introduced into North America and Europe in the last two decades. For detection and monitoring of pest populations, farmers and scientists often use pheromones (volatile chemicals attracting members of the same species) and other attractants to trap pests. However, prior to its invasion, very little was known about the pheromones or other attractants of brown marmorated stink bug, posing a problem of how to detect and measure their populations. Since then, however, researchers have identified the aggregation pheromone (produced by male bugs and attracting females, males and the immature nymph bugs), and combined it with another stink bug’s pheromone for added attraction. Commercially-available lures and traps are now available for farmers, and for some crops such as apples, monitoring traps are used to decide when pest populations need to be controlled, only when necessary. In the future, pheromones, possibly with other attractants, may be used to control and not just to monitor brown marmorated stink bug. This review article summarizes the discoveries and uses of insect and plant-produced chemical signals in the ecology and behavior of the brown marmorated stink bug. It should be of interest to researchers, pest managers, and growers of affected crops.

Technical Abstract: There have been notable and significant advances in elucidating the chemical ecology of the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), brown marmorated stink bug. This highly destructive and polyphagous pest is originally from Korea, China, and Japan, but was accidentally introduced into other parts of the world through commerce. Prior to its invasion into other regions, very little was known about the chemical ecology of H. halys. However, since that point, researchers have identified and synthesized its aggregation pheromone, documented its synergism with the pheromone of another Asian stink bug, Plautia stali, developed monitoring traps of various designs, and lures with reliable attractants have become commercially available. Furthermore, plant volatiles have been shown to have both attractive, neutral, and repellent effects on attraction and retention of H. halys, and H. halys-derived volatiles have been shown to play a role in recruiting the natural enemy community. Finally, management strategies based on pheromone-based technology have been evaluated, including sprays based on a cumulative threshold of adult captures in pheromone-baited traps, and the use of intensively baited trees in an attract-and-kill strategy to manage this pest. This review summarizes the available literature on the chemical ecology of H. halys, and concludes with several research areas that should be explored in future research.