Monitoring Nutrient Status of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Adults and Nymphs on Summer Holly

Abstract

Halyomorpha halys (Stål), or brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), has become a major pest and nuisance for both agricultural growers and homeowners since its arrival in North America and Europe. The nutritional ecology of BMSB is important for understanding its life history and rearing requirements. However, little is known about the nutritional status of wild populations, especially in the U.S. This research monitored the nutrient status of nymphal and adult BMSB collected from English holly in western Oregon. We measured their weight, nutrient index (weight/(prothorax × width)3), lipid, glycogen and sugar levels and egg load from May–September/October. First, glycogen and sugar levels of adults were often lowest sometime in June-August with a general increase by September. Meanwhile, their lipid levels varied without a discernible trend. Second, adult females had few eggs in May, with the highest egg load in June and July, and no eggs by September. Lastly, first and second nymphal instars were found in June, and fourth and fifth instars in September. Because nothing is known about the nutrient levels of nymphs, the reported values from this survey can assist future research on physiological responses of BMSB to treatments or environmental impacts in the field.

Lethal and sub-lethal effects of low-temperature exposures on Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) adults before and after overwintering

“…The weight and nutrient index of H. halys could be an indicator of low temperature tolerance. The lengthy overwintering period is a stressor, which results in a decline in the nutritional levels of H. halys adults 38,55 . Such lower nutrient index is undoubtedly related to lowered survival rates of post-diapause H. halys adults in this study 38,55 .…”

“…The lengthy overwintering period is a stressor, which results in a decline in the nutritional levels of H. halys adults 38,55 . Such lower nutrient index is undoubtedly related to lowered survival rates of post-diapause H. halys adults in this study 38,55 . It is possible that H. halys adults can counteract this phenomenon by feeding on suitable food source as they exit from dormancy.…”

“…For a subset of insects (480 ENA and 300 EXA adults) exposed to low temperatures as described before, the nutrient index was calculated as weight (mg)/prothorax width (mm) 3 . This index is considered a proxy of nutritional levels of an insect, and it was previously used to evaluate the nutritional level of H. halys individuals 38,55,65,66 . Differences on weight and nutrient index were considered between dead and alive insects after exposure to low temperatures for 2, 4 or 6 h, through a General Linear Mixed Model with the MIXED procedure of SAS (ver.…”

Plant Stimuli and Their Impact on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Dispersal and Host Selection

“…In the lab, when the diet of stink bug nymphs is switched from a poor host to a preferred host, reproductive performance and growth of adults is improved (Panizzi and Saraiva, 1993). Polyphagous behavior in herbivores does not mean that they have no particular preference in host plant selection, but rather that they have complex preferences for certain hosts at ideal growth stages for specific resources, and these preferences can change throughout the life cycle of the insect and the desired hosts (Kiritani et al, 1965) as nutritional needs change (Skillman et al, 2018).…”

Lethal Effects of High Temperatures on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Adults before and after Overwintering

“…This transition from overwintering to the overwintered state is associated with non-reproductive to reproductive physiological changes [36,37]. When overwintering, the nutritional levels of H. halys populations decline [38] but then display a gradual increase as the winter progresses through the summer [39]. Different physiological and nutritional statuses can have a potential effect on resistance to high temperatures, however this information is not available for H. halys since previous research was performed using laboratory-maintained colonies [33].…”