Factors influencing short-term parasitoid establishment and efficacy for the biological control of Halyomorpha halys with the samurai wasp Trissolcus japonicus.

Background: Classical biological control has been identified as the most promising approach to limit the impact of the invasive pest species Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This study investigated the parasitism rate at sites where the biocontrol agent Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was released and where its unintentional introduction took place, in the Trentino-South Tyrol region. The effect of land-use composition was studied to understand which factors favor the establishment of hosts and parasitoids, including native and exotic species.

Assessing the Distribution of Exotic Egg Parasitoids of in Europe with a Large-Scale Monitoring Program.

The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive agricultural pest with a worldwide distribution. Classical biological control has been identified as the most promising method to reduce the populations of . Adventive populations of two candidates for releases, and , have recently been detected in Europe.

Assemblage of the Egg Parasitoids of the Invasive Stink Bug : Insights on Plant Host Associations.

(Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive alien species and a key agricultural pest. Its native parasitoids ( Ashmead and Ashmead) have been registered in several countries where brought dramatic economic losses and where biological control is considered to be the most effective long-term solution. By searching for stink bug egg masses and exposing sentinel egg masses, we monitored the distribution of native and exotic egg parasitoids in Trentino-Alto Adige (Italy), an area where both the host and parasitoids are in expansion.

An Insight into the Role of as Biological Control Agent of in Northeastern Italy.

Sustainable strategies such as classical or augmentative biological control are currently being evaluated for the long-term management of the alien invasive pest (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). A three-year study carried out in northeastern Italy was performed to investigate the distribution and field performance of the egg parasitoid (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), in comparison with other parasitoid species. In the study area, adventive populations of were present since 2016, representing the earliest detection of this species in Europe.