Insects (2022) 13 (5 - 439)

Marica Scala, Jalal Melhem Fouani, Livia Zapponi, Valerio Mazzoni, Karen Elizabeth Wells, Antonio Biondi, Nuray Baser, Vincenzo Verrastro and Gianfranco Anfora (2022)
Attraction of egg parasitoids Trissolcus mitsukurii and Trissolcus japonicus to the chemical cues of Halyomorpha halys and Nezara viridula
Insects 13 (5 - 439)
Abstract: Trissolcus mitsukurii and Trissolcus japonicus are two Asian egg parasitoids associated with different pentatomids such as Halyomorpha halys. Adventive populations of T. mitsukurii were found in Northern Italy, suggesting its employment as a biological control agent (BCA) against H. halys. Nevertheless, to reduce the latter's population, T. japonicus was released in Italy. Releasing an exotic parasitoid requires investigating the interaction between the BCA and the environment to avoid negative impacts on the entomofauna of the new habitat. Trissolcus mitsukurii is mainly associated with Nezara viridula in its native area. Therefore, we investigated and compared the ability of female T. mitsukurii and T. japonicus to distinguish between naturally released cues of H. halys and N. viridula. A single parasitoid was exposed to contact kairomones of both pests to evaluate its modifications in orthokinetic and locomotory behaviour. The behaviour of female T. mitsukurii was also tested on synthetic compounds simulating the cues of the two pentatomids. When naturally released cues were used, T. japonicus preferred the traces of H. halys, while T. mitsukurii preferred N. viridula 's cues. Moreover, the attraction of T. mitsukurii to N. viridula 's cues was confirmed with synthetic cues. Additional studies are needed to judge if this parasitoid can be used as a BCA.
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Database assignments for author(s): Valerio Mazzoni, Antonio Biondi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Nezara viridula		Italy
	Halyomorpha halys		Italy
Trissolcus mitsukurii (parasitoid)	Nezara viridula		Italy
Trissolcus mitsukurii (parasitoid)	Halyomorpha halys		Italy
Trissolcus japonicus (parasitoid)	Halyomorpha halys		Italy