Diversity of Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Egg Parasitoids in Woodland and Crop Habitats in Southwest Georgia, USA

Abstract

Euschistus servus (Say), Chinavia hilaris (Say), and Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are economic pests of row crops. They move within and between closely associated crop and non-crop habitats throughout the growing season in response to deteriorating suitability of their current host plants. This study was conducted to investigate parasitism of naturally occurring C. hilaris and E. servus eggs in woodland habitats and crops alongside these habitats in southwest Georgia, USA. Also, parasitism of sentinel eggs of N. viridula was examined in a woodland habitat. Ten species of parasitoids, including 7 scelionids, 2 eupelmids, and 1 encyrtid, parasitized E. servus eggs. Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the most prevalent parasitoid of E. servus eggs in each of 3 habitats: woodlands, an early-season crop, and late-season crops. In woodlands, 27.9% of E. servus eggs were parasitized by Anastatus reduvii (Howard) and A. mirabilis (Walsh & Riley) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). Four species of parasitoids, including 1 scelionid, 2 eupelmids, and 1 encyrtid, parasitized C. hilaris eggs. Trissolcus edessae Fouts (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the most prevalent parasitoid of C. hilaris eggs in woodlands and the only parasitoid of C. hilaris eggs in late-season crops. In woodlands, 40.7% of C. hilaris eggs were parasitized by A. reduvii and A. mirabilis. In a woodland habitat, 6.6% of N. viridula sentinel eggs were parasitized by A. reduvii females, Anastatus males, and 1 encyrtid. Anastatus species were the only parasitoids that existed primarily in woodland habitats. In conclusion, a diversity of parasitoid species parasitizes native stink bug eggs in southwest Georgia, and species of parasitoids emerging from stink bug eggs can vary by habitat.