Responses of Overwintering Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to Dead Conspecifics

Abstract

Overwintering brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) (Stål) are a notable domestic nuisance. In addition to disruptive activity, dead individuals remain in homes, sometimes in large numbers. To better understand the effects of these remains on overwintering behavior, adult H. halys were subjected to several experiments to test their responses to dead conspecifics. In non-tactile tests of individuals exposed to groups of dead conspecifics, H. halys did not respond to 1-yr-old desiccated dead conspecifics, but avoided corpses that were freshly killed. In tactile tests of individuals exposed to groups of dead conspecifics, H. halys joined those corpse aggregations significantly more often than not, and preferred corpses to cotton when given a choice. In tests of exposure of overwintering individuals to fresh dead conspecifics over the course of a winter, no necrophagy or evidence of survival advantage was observed, but overall females had higher survival rates than males.

Brown marmorated stink bug overwintering aggregations are not regulated through vibrational signals during autumn dispersal

“…For example, other non-social arthropods may react to the hydrocarbons of conspecifics in disparate ways, including both behavioural attraction or aversion [40]. After dispersal to a final overwintering site, H. halys responds to thigmotactic cues, based on antennal contact [17], to initiate tight cluster formation (even when in the presence of freshly dead insects [41]), and a similar process may happen prior to autumn dispersal. Another possibility is that there may be some as-yet-to-be-determined trail-following mark or pheromone used by H. halys during autumn clustering.…”

Cannibalism in the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål)

“…In overwintering populations of species displaying aggregative behaviour, conspecific necrophagy may indeed provide resources during the winter months [ 10 ]. However, according to Chambers et al [ 11 ], necrophagy is highly uncommon in H. halys . In their research, no evidence of necrophagy or survival advantage was recorded in overwintering individuals exposed to dead conspecifics during winter.…”

“…In their research, no evidence of necrophagy or survival advantage was recorded in overwintering individuals exposed to dead conspecifics during winter. In their experiments, the authors provided one-year-old dead H. halys to live individuals, but necrophagy was never observed [ 11 ]. In our opinion, the poor nutrient and water content of desiccated corpses cannot provide an appropriate food source, especially for a piercing-sucking species such as H. halys .…”

“…In our opinion, the poor nutrient and water content of desiccated corpses cannot provide an appropriate food source, especially for a piercing-sucking species such as H. halys . Chambers et al also reported that freshly killed individuals generated a repellent effect in live conspecifics [ 11 ]. The consumption of live conspecifics was observed in the present study.…”

“…Conspecific necrophagy has been documented among overwintering adults, for example, in the boxelder bug Leptocoris trivittatus [ 10 ]. Necrophagy does not occur in H. halys , and freshly dead individuals can even repel conspecifics [ 11 ].…”