Laboratory rearing of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the impact of single and combination of food substrates on development and survival

Abstract

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB),Halyomorpha halys(Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is non-native species that has rapidly expanded its range in the United States of America and Canada. This study was aimed at increasing our knowledge of the biology of BMSB and developing a rearing method. A laboratory culture maintained on 15 different foods (pear, peach, Granny Smith apple, red delicious apple, squash, tomato, carrot, green bean, grape, corn, leaves of princess tree, leaves of butterfly-bush, dry seeds of sunflower, cowpea, and peanut) had on average 26.0±2.1 eggs per egg mass, and an incubation period averaging 6.94±1.2 days. Developmental duration from second instar to adult averaged 28.2±0.9 days similar to second instars reared to adult on single diet of green beans, corn, sunflower, cowpea, and peanut seeds. Survival from egg to adult was 85.4% and a growth index (GI) of 2.2±0.2 for the laboratory culture comparable to ⩾2.0 GI and 80–90% reported nymphal development on a diet of dry sunflower, cowpea, and peanut seeds. We reared six generations of BMSB before the study was terminated. Our results indicate the foods that are better for BMSB growth, development, and survival.

Influence of Temperature on Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Tables for a Minnesota-Acclimated Population of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys)

“…Compared to the PA population [47], the MN population had a relatively higher survivorship of 80-96% between 23 and 30 • C ( Table 1), suggesting that this range of temperatures was least stressful on their growth, development, and reproduction. H. halys reared at analogous laboratory conditions (mean ± standard error (s. e.) of 27 ± 2 • C; 16:8 L:D and 70 ± 10% RH) on multiple food substrates have been shown to attain >85% egg-to-adult survival rates [72]. However, abiotic factors like lower relative humidity may also constrain stink bug populations from attaining higher survival rates in the field, similar to what has been reported in controlled laboratory conditions [67,73].…”

“…Albeit, the significantly shorter development time and higher survival for the MN population of H. halys reared under comparable conditions in the laboratory (27 • C, 16:8 L:D, 70 ± 10% RH) relative to the PA population ( Supplementary Table S1, Table S3 and Table 1) contradicted our expectations of their life history parameters. However, two populations that are not genetically distinct can also have variable life history parameters in the laboratory owing to differences in diet [72]. Consistent with our estimates for the MN population at 27 • C (33.21 ± 0.36 days; 96% survival), a North Carolina population of H. halys reared on a mixed food substrate was shown to develop significantly faster (33.9 ± 1.9 days) and exhibit higher survival (85.4%) [72] compared to the PA population (35.8 ± 0.5 days; 52.5% survival); all three populations were reared under the same laboratory conditions (27 • C, 16:8 L:D, 70 ± 10% RH).…”

“…However, two populations that are not genetically distinct can also have variable life history parameters in the laboratory owing to differences in diet [72]. Consistent with our estimates for the MN population at 27 • C (33.21 ± 0.36 days; 96% survival), a North Carolina population of H. halys reared on a mixed food substrate was shown to develop significantly faster (33.9 ± 1.9 days) and exhibit higher survival (85.4%) [72] compared to the PA population (35.8 ± 0.5 days; 52.5% survival); all three populations were reared under the same laboratory conditions (27 • C, 16:8 L:D, 70 ± 10% RH). While green beans and Spanish peanut served as food for H. halys in the PA study [47], we used green beans, carrot, and soybeans as food [51], which may have led to differences in the life history estimates of the two populations.…”

Evaluation of preference of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) for different colour bell peppers and the role of plant protein

“…Insects were placed in 500 ml transparent polypropylene containers with a partial mesh screen lid (BioServ, Frenchtown, New Jersey, United States of America) containing moist cotton balls and transported to the IPM laboratory. The insects were transferred to screen cages (30.5 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm; BioQuip, Rancho Dominguez, California, United States of America) and provided carrots, green beans, tomatoes, grapes, corn, princess tree leaf under ambient laboratory conditions (26.0 ± 2.00C, 70% relative humidity, 16/8 light/day cycle) (Dingha and Jackai 2016). Egg masses were laid by adult females on the top or side of the cage and they were removed every other day and placed on paper towels in small plastic cups (2.5 cm diameter) and transferred into separate round clear plastic containers (11 × 8 cm) in which moistened cotton balls were added to increase humidity.…”

“…All plants used in the tests were cleaned with a solution containing 0.5% bleach to remove any contaminants and air-dried prior to being used. We had established that the bleach solution did not affect feeding by the insect (Dingha and Jackai 2016).…”