INDIGENOUS NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE INVASIVE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG, HALYOMORPHA HALYS (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE)

Abstract

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive species native to Southeastern Asia. Since its arrival into the U.S., BMSB has become an economically important pest in many cropping systems, including woody ornamental plants. Here I have explored the potential impact of indigenous natural enemies on BMSB in woody ornamental nursery systems in Maryland. When sampling for indigenous natural enemies in 2012 and 2013, I found seven species of egg parasitoids attacking BMSB with especially high parasitism rates from Anastatus reduvii. Overall egg mortality averaged 58% and parasitism rates increased from32% in 2012 to 44% in 2013. When sampling for predators as biological control agents, predation was low overall. I found that Arilus cristatus consumed more BMSB than any other predator species tested though low abundances were observed in the field. I also found that the use of sentinel egg masses may underestimate rates of parasitism.