Two Asian egg parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) emerge in Northern Italy : Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) and Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Authors: SABBATINI PEVERIERI, GIUSEPPINO - Centro Di Ricerca Difesa E Certificazione (CREA – DC); TALAMAS, ELIJAH - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services; BON, MARIE CLAUDE - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); MARIANELLI, LEONARDO - Centro Di Ricerca Difesa E Certificazione (CREA – DC); BERNARDINELLI, IRIS - Ersa Regional Agency For Rural Development; MALOSSINI, GIORGIO - Ersa Regional Agency For Rural Development; BENVENUTO, LUCA - Ersa Regional Agency For Rural Development; ROVERSI, PIO FEDERICO - Centro Di Ricerca Difesa E Certificazione (CREA – DC); Hoelmer, Kim

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2018
Publication Date: 12/31/2018
Citation: Sabbatini Peverieri, G., Talamas, E., Bon, M., Marianelli, L., Bernardinelli, I., Malossini, G., Benvenuto, L., Roversi, P., Hoelmer, K.A. 2018. Two Asian egg parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) emerge in Northern Italy : Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) and Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 67: 37-53. 2018. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.67.30883.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.67.30883

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug is a native of Asia that has become a serious invasive agricultural and nuisance pest in North America and Europe. Its ability to feed on a wide range of plant hosts from field crops and orchard fruit to ornamentals and native trees and shrubs facilitated its invasion and limits the effectiveness of control methods including pesticides. An alternative control method, classical biological control by natural enemies, offers considerable potential for reducing populations the stink bug in the invaded countries. A tiny parasitic wasp, the samurai wasp, has been identified as a candidate for release as a biocontrol agent. This wasp, which has already been found in North America, and a closely related species were recently discovered in Italy during surveys for the stink bug. This represents the first report of the samurai wasp in Italy and the first report of the related parasitic wasp outside of its native Asian range. The wasps will help to reduce the invasive stink bug populations and contribute to effective pest management.

Technical Abstract: The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a highly polyphagous species native to Asia that has become a serious invasive agricultural and nuisance pest in North America and Europe. Its ability to feed on numerous plant species ranging from field crops and orchard fruit to ornamentals and native tree species facilitated its invasion and limited the efficacy of common control methods including pesticides. An alternative control method, classical biological control by natural enemies, offers considerable potential in reducing populations of H. halys in invaded regions. The solitary egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus has been identified in laboratory studies as the primary candidate for release as a biocontrol agent. This species and a closely related species, T. mitsukurii, were recently discovered in Italy through surveys for native natural enemies attacking H. halys. This represents the first report of T. japonicus in Italy and the first report of T. mitsukurii outside of its native Asian range.