Diapause Termination in Invasive Populations of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Response to Photoperiod

Abstract

Understanding cues for diapause termination in insects can be valuable in predicting phenological events in their lifecycles. Once identified, such cues can be utilized as a biofix, the point at which the majority of individuals within a population begin to accumulate degree days. We investigated the impact of photoperiod on completion of reproductive diapause in the invasive eastern North American population of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), by exposing diapausing females to varying light regimes in otherwise identical environments. The critical photoperiod estimated to initiate reproductive development in at least 50% of the potential reproductive population was 13.0–13.5 h, with increasing photoperiods coinciding with increased probability of females reproducing, earlier time to first oviposition, and higher rates of fecundity. These data on the species’ response to photoperiod are in agreement with previous modeling that predicted the twin constraints of photoperiod and temperature on H. halys reproduction prevents populations that undergo diapause from producing more than two generations annually anywhere within the continental U.S. However, the facultative nature of diapause in H. halys leaves open the possibility that sub-populations may not enter diapause in some conditions, potentially allowing for additional annual generations.

Biological Parameters, Phenology and Temperature Requirements of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in the Sub-Mediterranean Climate of Western Slovenia

“…These adults showed no reproductive behavior and immediately entered diapause. This is consistent with findings of Costi et al [ 30 ] and other studies that confirmed day length is the dominant environmental cue for H. halys entry into the reproductive diapause [ 32 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”

Tritrophic analysis of the prospective biological control of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, under extant weather and climate change

“…The hemimetabolous BMSB has egg, nymphal, and preovigenic and ovigenic adult life stages. BMSB overwinters as adults that enter diapause during fall with declining temperatures and photoperiod below 12.7 h daylength (dl) (Nielsen et al 2016;McDougall et al 2021). The proportion of adults entering diapause ( In (t) ) starting at time t when dl F = 12.7 dl is computed using a linear model (Eq.…”

“…As temperatures warm in spring above 12 °C and photoperiod increases above dl S =13.5 dl, BMSB adults begin to emerge from diapause, feed, and enter the preovigenic stage, the duration of which is ~ 1.3 times longer than the preovigenic period of summer adults (Nielsen et al 2017;McDougall et al 2021). The proportion of adults leaving diapause at time t is a linear function of increasing dl ( Out (t))…”

Reproductive biology of overwintering leaffooted bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in California

“…Thus, temperature does not seem to be the limiting factor for L. zonatus oviposition. Like most insect species overwintering as adults, photoperiod could be a main cue to enter and leave the overwintering state for L. zonatus (Tauber and Tauber 1976, McDougall et al 2021).…”