Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard
Harmless crop-associated insect communities are a fundamental part of the agroecosystem. Their potential as a reservoir of natural enemies of pests has encouraged their conservation through the development of low-impact pest management programs. The brown marmorated stink bug, <i>Halyomorpha h...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Sofia Victoria Prieto Matteo Dho Bianca Orrù Elena Gonella Alberto Alma |
| author_facet | Sofia Victoria Prieto Matteo Dho Bianca Orrù Elena Gonella Alberto Alma |
| author_sort | Sofia Victoria Prieto |
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| description | Harmless crop-associated insect communities are a fundamental part of the agroecosystem. Their potential as a reservoir of natural enemies of pests has encouraged their conservation through the development of low-impact pest management programs. The brown marmorated stink bug, <i>Halyomorpha halys,</i> represents a serious threat to Italian hazelnut production. Laboratory and field experiments confirmed the susceptibility of this pest to the disruption of the obligated symbiotic interaction with gut bacteria, paving the way for the development of the symbiont-targeted control strategy. Here we present the results of a three-year field assessment of symbiont-targeted control in a hazelnut orchard in northwestern Italy. The use of a biocomplex to disrupt symbiont acquisition by <i>H. halys</i> nymphs was compared to the use of lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide. The effects on the local entomofauna were assessed, as were the trend of <i>H. halys</i> population and the damage caused by stink bugs to harvested hazelnuts. The insecticide consistently reduced the insect diversity in the field, while the anti-symbiont biocomplex had no effect. However, the control of the <i>H. halys</i> population and the stink bug-induced damage to hazelnuts varied over the years in the field plot submitted to the symbiont-targeted approach. Our results indicate that the symbiont-targeted control does not interfere with local insect communities. Key aspects for improving the effectiveness of this tactic are discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-674031bcbc294c85bb68efa31a9313b9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-674031bcbc294c85bb68efa31a9313b92025-08-20T03:08:09ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-06-0116768810.3390/insects16070688Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut OrchardSofia Victoria Prieto0Matteo Dho1Bianca Orrù2Elena Gonella3Alberto Alma4Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyHarmless crop-associated insect communities are a fundamental part of the agroecosystem. Their potential as a reservoir of natural enemies of pests has encouraged their conservation through the development of low-impact pest management programs. The brown marmorated stink bug, <i>Halyomorpha halys,</i> represents a serious threat to Italian hazelnut production. Laboratory and field experiments confirmed the susceptibility of this pest to the disruption of the obligated symbiotic interaction with gut bacteria, paving the way for the development of the symbiont-targeted control strategy. Here we present the results of a three-year field assessment of symbiont-targeted control in a hazelnut orchard in northwestern Italy. The use of a biocomplex to disrupt symbiont acquisition by <i>H. halys</i> nymphs was compared to the use of lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide. The effects on the local entomofauna were assessed, as were the trend of <i>H. halys</i> population and the damage caused by stink bugs to harvested hazelnuts. The insecticide consistently reduced the insect diversity in the field, while the anti-symbiont biocomplex had no effect. However, the control of the <i>H. halys</i> population and the stink bug-induced damage to hazelnuts varied over the years in the field plot submitted to the symbiont-targeted approach. Our results indicate that the symbiont-targeted control does not interfere with local insect communities. Key aspects for improving the effectiveness of this tactic are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/688non-target insectsalpha diversitybrown marmorated stink bugkernel damage<i>Corylus avellana</i>orchard |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Victoria Prieto Matteo Dho Bianca Orrù Elena Gonella Alberto Alma Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard Insects non-target insects alpha diversity brown marmorated stink bug kernel damage <i>Corylus avellana</i> orchard |
| title | Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard |
| title_full | Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard |
| title_fullStr | Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard |
| title_full_unstemmed | Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard |
| title_short | Symbiont-Targeted Control of <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard |
| title_sort | symbiont targeted control of i halyomorpha halys i does not affect local insect diversity in a hazelnut orchard |
| topic | non-target insects alpha diversity brown marmorated stink bug kernel damage <i>Corylus avellana</i> orchard |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/688 |
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