Biological control of invasive stink bugs: review of global state and future prospects

Authors: CONTI, ERIC - Universita Di Perugia; AVILA, GONZALO - New Zealand Institute Of Plant & Food Research; BARRATT, BARBARA - Agresearch; CINGOLANI, FERNANDA - Center For Studies Of Parasites And Vectors, Cepave; COLAZZA, STEFANO - University Of Palermo Italy; GUARINO, SALVATORE - National Research Council - Italy; Hoelmer, Kim; LAUMANN, RAUL ALBERTO - Embrapa National Research Center; MAISTRELLO, LARA - University Of Modena And Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE); MARTEL, GUILLAUME - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); PERI, EZIO - University Of Palermo Italy; RODRIQUEZ-SAONA, CESAR - Rutgers University; RONDONI, GABRIELE - Universita Di Perugia; ROSTAS, MICHAEL - Georg August University; ROVERSI, PIO - Centro Di Ricerca Difesa E Certificazione (CREA – DC); SFORZA, RENE - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); TAVELLA, LUCIANA - University Of Turin; WAJNBERG, ERIC - Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique (INRA)

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2020
Publication Date: 9/27/2020
Citation: Conti, E., Avila, G., Barratt, B., Cingolani, F., Colazza, S., Guarino, S., Hoelmer, K.A., Laumann, R., Maistrello, L., Martel, G., Peri, E., Rodriquez-Saona, C., Rondoni, G., Rostas, M., Roversi, P., Sforza, R., Tavella, L., Wajnberg, E. 2020. Biological control of invasive stink bugs: review of global state and future prospects. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 169: 28-51. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12967.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12967

Interpretive Summary: A small number of invasive stink bug species are responsible for large economic losses to agriculture worldwide. The most important species are the Bagrada bug, brown marmorated stink bug, redbanded stink bug, southern green stink bug, and harlequin bug. Biological control of these pests has been difficult because of the scarcity of highly effective biocontrol agents capable of controlling pest populations below the economic injury level. Improving the efficacy of biological control agents is possible through techniques that conserve natural enemies and exploit the chemical cues that influence their behavior. Synthetic behavioural chemical cues and volatile chemicals given off by plants as a result of pest feeding can be manipulated as sustainable pest control methods within IPM programs. However, additional field studies are necessary in order to verify the efficacy and aid in transferring research to application.

Technical Abstract: A few species of invasive stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are responsible for large economic losses to agriculture on a global scale. The most important species, from recent to old invasions, include Bagrada hilaris, Halyomorpha halys, Piezodorus guildinii, Nezara viridula and Murgantia histrionica. Bagrada hilaris, H. halys and N. viridula are now almost globally distributed. Classical biological control of these pests is difficult because of the scarcity of highly effective biocontrol agents capable of controlling pest populations below the economic injury level. The most common parasitoids in their geographical area of origin are egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae, Encyrtidae, Eupelmidae). In some cases, native parasitoids of adult stink bugs (Diptera: Tachinidae) have adapted to the novel hosts in the invaded area. Improving efficacy of biological control agents, mainly egg parasitoids, is possible through conservation biological control techniques and exploitation of the parasitoid chemical ecology. Synthetic semiochemicals or herbivore induced plant volatiles have additional potential for future application as sustainable pest control methods within IPM programs. However, additional field studies are necessary in order to verify the efficacy and aid in transferring research to application.