Journal of Pest Science (2022) 95, 605-618

Lucrezia Giovannini, Giuseppino Sabbatini-Peverieri, Leonardo Marianelli, Gabriele Rondoni, Eric Conti and Pio Federico Roversi (2022)
Physiological host range of Trissolcus mitsukurii, a candidate biological control agent of Halyomorpha halys in Europe
Journal of Pest Science 95 (2), 605-618
Abstract: The invasive stink bug Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, is a severe agricultural pest of worldwide importance, and chemical insecticides are largely sprayed for its control. Negative impact and failures of chemical pest management led to consider classical biological control as one of the most promising methods in a long-term perspective. The Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus is the main candidate biocontrol agent of H. halys, but more recently a second species, Trissolcus mitsukurii, which shares the area of origin with H. halys, has drawn special attention after adventive populations were found in Europe. Despite its recent detection, intentional release or redistribution are bound to approval of national petitions, which requires detailed risk analyses. With the aim of providing a contribution for the future development of a risk assessment for release purposes, here we present the first study on the physiological (fundamental) host range of T. mitsukurii in Europe. Tests conducted on different hemipterans common to Southern Europe, using three different experimental designs, revealed a oligophagous host range, limited to Pentatomoidea and comparable with the host range displayed by T. japonicus under similar laboratory conditions. In addition to its coevolved host H. halys, T. mitsukurii successfully parasitized the majority of tested pentatomid species and one scutellerid, although with highly variable emergence rates. Notably high parasitization rates were detected on H. halys, Acrosternum heegeri and Dolycoris baccarum. Host egg sizes positively affected parasitoid size and female egg load. Although T. mitsukurii might be a promising biological control agent of H. halys in Europe, further studies (e.g., chemical ecology, field parasitism) are needed for assessment of non-target risks.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Gabriele Rondoni, Eric Conti, Pio Federico Roversi

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

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