Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) is a polyphagous species native to Asia that has become a serious invasive pest across North America and Europe. It is a key pest with up to 60% fruit damaged in integrated crop production and over 90% in organic farms. One promising alternative to synthetic insecticides relay on the use of parasitoids as they have a crucial role in reducing phytophagous insects. Olfactory cues have a crucial role in host enemy searching behavior of parasitoids. Their host selection process develops in two steps including host location and recognition. At first they use herbivory-induced volatiles (HIPVs) and oviposition-induced volatiles (OIPVs) as long-range cues and then they depend on short-range cues such as chemicals from the host, vibration, and visual signals, when they are closer to a potential host.
The aim of this work is to study and characterize volatile emissions and host plants when Halyomorpha halys is present. The trials will be performed in vineyards and peach orchards and analysis will be performed at Laimburg Research Center (Italy). The insects will be artificially bred and then the two crops will be artificially infested with either only males or with males and females. Headspace volatiles will be collected from all infested branches HIPVs as well as OIPVs will be characterized in GC-MS. This work is done in collaboration with Laimburg Research Center and the University of Padova.