Virginia Tech
Ecology of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentitomidae): Oviposition on Different Trees, Nymphal Development on Various Vegetable Hosts, and Assessment of a Bacterial Pathogen
Abstract
dc:description.abstractThe brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive species that has spread throughout the United States and become a serious agricultural pest. Studies were conducted in Virginia on the survival of H. halys nymphs on different vegetable hosts and on the oviposition preference of H. halys on common tree hosts in southwestern Virginia. To determine the effects of vegetable host on H. halys survival, nymphs were placed on one of five vegetable host plants and their corresponding vegetable fruit. Survival was highest on sweet corn, followed by bell pepper and snap bean. Eggplant and tomato were poor compared to other vegetable hosts tested, potentially due to secondary compounds released by the plant to reduce feeding. Of six common host trees sampled, H. halys laid the most egg masses on catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, while aggregation lure had no effect on the number of eggs laid. Across host trees, egg masses were more commonly found in trees with fruiting structures present. An additional study was conducted on a red-sternum phenotype of H. halys. Mortality was recorded by sternum phenotype for each sex. There was no difference in survival between groups at two time points. Biochemical tests were used to determine if the red-sternum was associated with the potentially pathogenic red bacteria Serratia marcescens. Only one stink bug's gut contents had a confirmed infection of S. marcescens. Results from these studies offer insight into H. halys development on vegetable hosts and oviposition preferences on different host trees.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- MSLFS
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Entomology
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Entomology
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2019
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Formella, Adam John
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Kuhar, Thomas P.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Taylor, Sally V.
- Stevens, Ann M.
Subjects
dc:subject × 8Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:18137
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/99202