Successful Culturing of a Trypanosomatid Associated with the Invasive Stink Bug Bagrada hilaris Burmeister (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Authors: Grodowitz, Michael; BREUGNOT, DAMIEN - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); TANNIERES, MELANIE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); BON, MARIE-CLAUDE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); ROCHE, MARIE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This presentation will provide information on the complexity of culturing insect intestinal protozoa and the successful culturing of the trypanosomatid in the alimentary tract of the Bagrada bug; an introduced invasive species in the western U.S.

Technical Abstract: Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), native to Africa, India, and Asia, is an invasive pest of several economically important agricultural crops in the U.S. It primarily feeds on plants in the Brassicaceae but possesses a relatively large host range feeding and damaging corn (Zea mays L.), kale (Brassica oleracea L.), arugula (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), among others. During investigations into developing a physiological age-grading system for B. hilaris, a flagellated protozoan was discovered in the alimentary canal. The ability to successfully describe and document the development and potential impact of this protozoan it is important to develop methods to culture it using artificial media. This presentation describes various attempts to culture this protozoan including those with and without fetal bovine serum. Overall, attempts to culture this species were successful. For example, the maximum concentration of trypanosomatids reached in culture was about 4.6 x10^5±3.1 x10^4 individuals/ml in only 8 days, which represents a 10,000-fold increase from the initial starting concentration.