Biological control of Halyomorpha halys: effect of Trissolcus japonicus releases

A highly polyphagous species known to feed on more than a hundred host plants, Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), also known as the brown marmorated stink bug, is an endemic stink bug of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China that spread to many other regions following human pathways. It damages ornamentals, open-field crops, and fruit crops. In Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, Halyomorpha halys was first uncovered in 2012. Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) has been recognized to be the most efficacious biological control agent against H. halys. To assess the occurrence of the parasitoid in semi-natural regions and kiwifruit orchards in the Veneto region, sentinel and naturally laid H. halys egg masses were collected and analaysed from May to October 2022.