Assessment of Development, Parasitism, and Predation of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Sassafras (Lauraceae) in Southeastern US Agroecosystems

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a polyphagous pest that disperses from non-crop host plants into crops in search of food.Sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.)Nees; Lauraceae) are found commonly in woodland habitats in the southeastern US and may therefore be a potential host.The main objective of this 2-yr study was to determine if sassafras serves as a host plant for this pest in woodland habitats adjacent to crops in Prattville, Alabama, and Byron, Georgia, USA.Each yr pheromone-baited traps were deployed in the canopy of sassafras trees to capture H. halys.We also evaluated parasitism and predation of H. halys sentinel egg masses by native parasitoids and predators in sassafras.Halyomorpha halys adult males and females as well as second through fifth instars were captured in traps and observed in sassafras trees over the season at both locations each yr of the study.Trissolcus euschisti Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) (67.7%) and Anastatus reduvii (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) (18.3%) were the primary parasitoid species that emerged from H. halys sentinel egg masses.Stylet sucking (62.3%) and chewing (32.0%) were the primary types of predation on H. halys eggs.We conclude that sassafras is a reproductive host plant for H. halys, and native natural enemies prey on and parasitize H. halys egg masses in this host plant.