Entomology Today. March 25, 2016 issue.
By Dr. Rob Morrison, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research
Station in Kearneysville, WV.
Research recently appearing in the journal Biological
Control may change how we view native predators of the brown marmorated stink
bug (BMSB). BMSB is an invasive species that was accidentally introduced to the
United States from Asia in Pennsylvania, and has since been detected in more
than 40 U.S. states. It feeds on more than 150 plant species, making it a large
threat to many agricultural systems in the country.
Researchers with the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research
Station and Shepherd University evaluated 25 native generalist natural enemy
species collected from the field as potential predators of BMSB egg masses in
the laboratory.
To better evaluate and characterize damage inflicted by the various predators, the researchers photographed
egg masses before and after predator exposure with the aim of linking egg damage to specific groups or guilds of predators.
Predators were also observed using videography, and some
interesting behaviors emerged. Bottom
line, results suggest that native predators may not be getting as much credit
as they deserve in the biological control of BMSB.
The complete article is available at: http://entomologytoday.org/2016/03/25/native-predators-may-be-having-a-larger-impact-than-expected-on-invasive-stink-bug/
