Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393376
Research Project: Biologically-based Management Systems for Insect Pests and Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes in the Southeastern Region

Location: Southeast Watershed Research

Title: Assessment of development, parasitism, and predation of Hoalyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in sassafras (Lauraceae) in southeastern US agroecosystems

Author
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item KESHEIMER, KATELYN - Auburn University
item HIRSCH, KATHERINE - Auburn University
item Grabarczyk, Erin

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/23/2022
Publication Date: 4/18/2023
Citation: Tillman, P.G., Kesheimer, K.A., Hirsch, K., Grabarczyk, E.E. 2023. Assessment of development, parasitism, and predation of Hoalyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in sassafras (Lauraceae) in southeastern US agroecosystems. Florida Entomologist. 106(1):16-21. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0103.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0103

Interpretive Summary: Not Required

Technical Abstract: The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a polyphagous pest that disperses from non-crop host plants into crops to search for available food. Sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees) are commonly found in woodland habitats in the southeastern US. Therefore, the main objective of this 2-yr study was to determine if sassafras serves as a host plant for this pest in woodland habitats adjacent to crops in Alabama and Georgia. Each year pheromone-baited traps were deployed in the canopy of sassafras trees to capture H. halys. Parasitism and predation of H. halys sentinel egg masses by native parasitoids and predators in sassafras was also evaluated. Halyomorpha halys adult males and females as well as second through fifth instars were captured in traps and observed in sassafras trees, each year of the study. Trissolcus euschisti Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) (67.7%), Anastatus reduvii (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) (18.3%) were the primary parasitoid species that emerged from H. halys sentinel egg masses. Stylet sucking (62.3%) and chewing (32.0%) were the primary types of predation on H. halys eggs. We conclude that sassafras is a significant host plant for H. halys, and native natural enemies prey on and parasitize H. halys egg masses in this host plant.