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Bergh JC, Talamas EJ, Brandt SN, Edwards A, MacRae L, Monger G, Bowen J, Lawrence K, Reed K, Pottorff S. Releasing and tracking the distribution of adventive Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in Virginia. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 52:583-592. [PMID: 37300305 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Adventive populations of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), an egg parasitoid of the invasive agricultural pest, brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), have been detected in the United States since 2014. Given its importance as an H. halys biocontrol agent, efforts to redistribute T. japonicus began within some US states. Our surveillance for T. japonicus in northwestern Virginia in 2016-2017 yielded annual detections only in 1 county. Thus, to promote its broader establishment, releases of H. halys egg masses parasitized by T. japonicus from Virginia occurred in 2018 (2 releases) and 2020 (1 release) at 9 sites throughout Virginia's tree fruit production regions. Monitoring of T. japonicus and H. halys, using yellow sticky cards deployed in H. halys host trees and pheromone-baited sticky traps, respectively, was conducted from 2018 to 2022. Annual captures of H. halys adults and nymphs appeared to reflect adequate populations to support T. japonicus establishment across most or all sites. Prerelease monitoring yielded a single T. japonicus at 1 site. By 2022, T. japonicus was detected at or near 7 of the remaining 8 release sites, with first detections varying between 1 and 2 yr from the releases in 2018 and 2020. Captures at most sites were very low, but establishment at several locations was indicated by detections in 2-4 seasons. In 2022, T. japonicus surveillance at 11 additional sites in northwestern Virginia yielded detections at all locations, including those at which it had not been detected in 2016-2017, providing evidence for its range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Christopher Bergh
- Virginia Tech, Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Winchester, VA 22602, USA
| | - Elijah J Talamas
- Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Samuel N Brandt
- Virginia Tech, Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Winchester, VA 22602, USA
| | - Ashley Edwards
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Hillsville, VA 24343, USA
| | - Lucinda MacRae
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Lovingston, VA 22949, USA
| | - Grace Monger
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Lovingston, VA 22949, USA
| | - Jason Bowen
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Lovingston, VA 22949, USA
| | | | - Kathleen Reed
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Roanoke, VA 24018, USA
| | - Steve Pottorff
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Hillsville, VA 24343, USA
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