The underestimated role of pest pentatomid parasitoids in Southern South America

Abstract

Stink bugs are pests of economic importance of extensive crops (commodities) in the Neotropics, particularly in Southern South America. They are abundant, have a broad geographical distribution, and cause severe damage. Main species include the Neotropical brown-stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), the Southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), the green-belly stink bugs, Dichelops furcatus (F.), and D. melacanthus (Dallas), and the brown-winged stink bug, Edessa meditabunda (F.). The management of these pest species on crops is complex because they can cause economic damage in low numbers, and it is difficult to control by the commonly used insecticides. Therefore, biological control appears as the most important tactic to be implemented in stink bug management programs. Among the many natural enemies present on the various agroecosystems, egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera) and parasitoids of adult stink bugs (Diptera and Hymenoptera) are the most promising groups to be exploited as biological control agents of pest species. Despite attempts in the past, implementation of biological control of stink bugs on major commodities in Southern South America still remains at a low level of adoption, and its high potential is, generally, underestimated. In this review article, we present extensive data from the literature on the two main groups of biological control agents referred above. Moreover, we discuss ways to promote biological control as the most important tactic to manage stink bugs in Southern South America.

Biological characteristics of Trissolcus urichi (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Euschistus heros (Fabricius) and Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Eggs

“…Among the recorded stink bugs from soybean fields, there have been at least 54 different species belonging to the family Pentatomidae 4 . The relative economic importance of each species might vary according to each country or its region 5 . However, of the many species of stink bug, the Neotropical Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is the most frequent pest of field crops, mainly in the central region of Brazil at latitudes between 0° and 23° 6 .…”

Relationship Between Stink Bug Populations in Winter Shelters and Atmospheric Variables in Soybean Growing Areas in Southern Brazil

“…Therefore, parameters such as the presence of suitable hosts throughout the summer and autumn, in addition to the level of management used during the soybean growing period and the presence of predators and parasitoids during the growing period and in the refuges must be taken into account during the off-season. These variables are reflected in the population abundance of stink bugs that will disperse to A. bicornis, S. angustifolium, and E. retusa plants in addition to others in the border of cultivation areas (Panizzi 1997, Engel et al 2018, 2020, Fuentes-Rodríguez et al 2019, Zerbino & Panizzi 2019, Sosa-Gómez et al 2020.…”

Review: classical biological control of invasive stink bugs with egg parasitoids – what does success look like?

“…Importation of T. basalis from Egypt to control N. viridula in Australia began in 1933, and additional introductions to Australia from a variety of other geographical origins continued over the next 60 years, attempting to improve levels of N. viridula control . During the same time period, further introductions of T. basalis were made to a number of other areas including New Zealand, Hawaii, the mainland USA and South America . In Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, T. basalis spread rapidly, high parasitism rates were recorded, and the biological control program was declared by some to be a complete success and a landmark case of classical biological control .…”

“…In Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, T. basalis spread rapidly, high parasitism rates were recorded, and the biological control program was declared by some to be a complete success and a landmark case of classical biological control . Trissolcus basalis also spread rapidly in South America, became an important part of pest management programs against N. viridula and other pest pentatomids in soybean, and reportedly was used with some success in inoculative biological control programs . Trissolcus basalis currently parasitizes N. viridula in Europe and Japan, although it was not intentionally introduced to these regions …”