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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382465
Research Project: Biological Control for Management of Invasive Pest Management, Emphasizing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Spotted Wing Drosophila and other Invasive Insect Pests of Crops

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Preempting the Arrival of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys: Biological Control Options for Australia

Author
item CARON, VALERIE - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories
item YONOW, TANIA - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories
item PAULL, CATE - Csiro, Black Mountain Laboratories
item TALAMAS, ELIJAH - Florida Department Of Agriculture
item AVILA, GONZALO - New Zealand Institute Of Plant & Food Research
item Hoelmer, Kim

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2021
Publication Date: 6/28/2021
Citation: Caron, V., Yonow, T., Paull, C., Talamas, E.J., Avila, G., Hoelmer, K.A. 2021. Preempting the arrival of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys: biological control options for Australia. Insects. 12,581. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070581.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070581

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug has become a serious invasive species in North America and Europe, causing major economic damage to crops. It has not yet established in Australia but has been intercepted several times, and future incursions and establishment are likely. Biological control can be a useful management method in Australia and other invaded countries. We assessed potential biological control agents that could be suitable for use in Australia, resulting in two candidates: Trissolcus japonicus (the samurai wasp) and the related species Trissolcus mitsukurii. As T. mitsukurii was introduced in Australia in the 1960s to control another stink bug, it should be given priority for further investigation.

Technical Abstract: The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys is native to Northeast Asia, but has become a serious invasive species in North America and Europe, causing major damage to crops. While it has not established in Australia, it has been intercepted several times, indicating that future incursions and establishment is a case of not if, but when. Biological control is one of the few control options for this species and will be important for managing H. halys should it become established in Australia. Prioritizing species that could be used as biological control agents would ensure Australia was prepared. This study assesses the literature on natural enemies of H. halys in its native and introduced ranges. Using information from the review we prioritized the potential biological control agents of H. halys that could be used in Australia, resulting in two candidate species: Trissolcus japonicus and Trissolcus mitsukurii (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Therefore, future efforts to develop biological control should focus on these species. As T. mitsukurii was introduced in Australia in the 1960s to control another pest, it should be given priority for further investigation. Little is known about this species and further work is required to: 1/ assess its efficiency at controlling H. halys, 2/ determine its current distribution and 3/ host range in Australia.