Journal of Pest Science (2016) 89, 21-29

Guillermo Cabrera Walsh, Anthony S. Dimeglio, Ashot Khrimian and Donald C. Weber (2016)
Marking and retention of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on pheromone-baited and unbaited plants
Journal of Pest Science 89 (1), 21-29
Abstract: Harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica) is an important pest of cole crops in the USA. The adults and nymphs feed on aboveground plant tissues by sucking cell contents and can seriously damage the host. Current insect control measures on cole crops target mainly lepidopteran pests, and the insecticides generally used do not control harlequin bug, so alternative management practices need to be explored. Previous research has established the existence of a male-produced pheromone attractive to both sexes and nymphs of M. histrionica. In this work, two systems of marking bugs were tested to verify if the mark affected fitness traits such as survival and host location. In a second phase, marked individuals were placed on trap host plants baited with synthetic pheromone lures to test whether migration rates were related to M. histrionica density on the trap plants and the presence of the attractants. Neither marking system affected the survival or orientation of the subjects compared to unmarked individuals. The pheromone lures significantly increased the attractiveness of the trap plants, but did not increase the retention time of the plants compared to unbaited plants. Emigration from the trap plants showed a constant rate and seemed unrelated to bug density on the plants. However, a mean peak density of ca. 36 bugs/plant was calculated. Beyond this number, density tended to decrease. These successful marking methods and retention time models support development of M. histrionica management with trap crops, by providing tentative control thresholds and decision rules.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Guillermo Cabrera Walsh, Donald C. Weber, Ashot Khrimian

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
population dynamics/ epidemiology

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Murgantia histrionica		U.S.A. (NE)