RNAi-Mediated Gene Silencing in Halyomorpha halys and Its Non-Target Effects on Trissolcus japonicus.

The research explores RNA interference (RNAi) as a targeted and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional insecticides for managing Halyomorpha halys, a major invasive pest in agriculture. The study evaluates the effects of several RNAi products designed to silence essential genes in H. halys. In parallel, potential non-target impacts are being assessed on Trissolcus japonicus, an important egg parasitoid and biological control agent. Experiments are carried out under both laboratory and semi-field conditions, and the performance of RNAi is compared with two conventional insecticides Deltamethrin and Acetamiprid by measuring parasitoid mortality and parasitism rates. The goal is to assess the selectivity and ecological safety of RNAi-based tools for integration into sustainable pest management programs.