Understanding of dispersal ecology is a critical component to build robust and practical simulation model for insect populations. In this study, we report multifaceted approaches to examine dispersal capacity, behavior and ecology of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). We first evaluated the baseline flight capacity of adults using flight mill systems in the laboratory. The results indicates that this species has strong flight capacity: adults were found yielding flight distances of >2 km in 24 hours with a small portion of the BMSB population capable of flight into double digits. In the field, we made direct observations on BMSB flight to examine free flight capacity and diurnal patterns. BMSB made flight when ambient temperature was >15 oC and flew with the speed of 3 m/s under field conditions, yielding its prevailing flight directions away from the sun’s position over a day. Dispersal capacity and behavior of nymphal stages (2nd through 5th) were also studied. In the laboratory, video image analysis indicates that all nymphal stages have strong walking capacity comparable to adults. In the field, the walking distance of 3rd and 5th instar nymphs on mowed grass was quantified based on direct observation of individuals. Under these conditions, 5th instars moved nearly two-fold greater distances compared with 3rd instars, but surface temperature affected both nymphal stages similarly. Shorter bouts of movement were common at surface temperatures below 25 oC, whereas individuals showed longer walking distances above 25 oC. These baseline knowledge on BMSB dispersal will be key to building and improving simulation model in order to predict spatiotemporal dynamics of the pest populations.

썩덩나무노린재(Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)의 발육을 15, 20, 23, 25, 30℃에서 조사하였다. 종령기까지 발육을 완성한 온도는 20℃와 23℃이었다. 20℃와 23℃에서 약충기간은 각각 46.9일과 35.5일이었으며, 1령 기간이 가장 짧고 5령기간이 가장 길었다. 실험에 사용한 최저 온도인 15℃에서는 2령까지, 30℃에서는 4령까지 발육하는 동안에 모든 개체가 사망하였다. 암수 성충의 수명은 20℃에서는 각각 53.6일과 45.3일이었고, 23℃에서는 각각 50.1일과 68.1일이었다. 암컷 당 총 산란수는 20℃에서는 135.8개, 23℃에서 242.9개이었다. 알에서부터 성충우화까지 필요한 평균 적산온도(발육영점온도 13.94℃ 적용)는 20℃와 23℃에서 각각 314.5 일도와 367.8 일도이었다. 그 외에 약충의 각 령기별 발육기간과 사망율, 산란전기간과 산란후기간, 산란횟수별 산란수, 알에서 산란전기간까지의 적산온도 등이 조사되었다.

Several pentatomids and an alydid are reported inflicting losses in several host plants ranging from leguminous crops to fruit orchards in Korea. Understanding their visual preference would help develop mass trapping or efficient monitoring device. Visual preference of the major pentatomids and an alydid bugs to different colors and light emitting diodes (LED) of different wavelengths were observed. Adults of pentatomid such as Halyomorpha halys Stål, Plautia Stali Scott, and Nezara sp., and an alydid Riptortus pedestris (F.) were exposed to seven different colors (black, yellow, green, blue, white, cream, orange) in a multiple choice tests. Also, adult and second instar nymphs of the bugs were released inside a hexagonal LED boxes consisting of LED lamps of six different wavelengths (375 to 630 nm). Most of the pentatomids showed highest preference to blue color followed by yellow and 530 nm LED. However, R. pedestris showed higher preference to the yellow color followed by blue and black. Second instar nymphs of all the tested species also showed higher preference to 530 nm. Their color and LED lamp preference would help in development of mass trapping device.

This study was conducted to investigate the fruit damage according to the number of released stink bugs and date of adult introduced on non-astringent persimmon. The fruit damage differed significantly by the number, date, and the source of feed for Riptortus clavatus. Damages on the fruits appeared when five bugs were released to mother branches bearing fruits. Damages to the fruits was heavy in the case that bugs were introduced in September and October, compared with in June, July and August. Persimmon fruit damage was influenced significantly by the available sources to R. clavatus, persimmon fruit alone or additional supply of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and water. Characteristic damage symptoms by R. clavatus showed only scars on the fruit skin, without fruit dropping. Halyomorpha halys (=mista) showed significantly higher fruit damage when they were released in July, August, and September compared with other periods. Number of H. halys to the fruit also showed significant differences in fruit damages. Five H. halys in July showed 100% damaged fruits. The fruit damage by Plautia stali was not significantly different according to dates of introduction but the number of insects gave significant differences in the fruit damage ratio at the level of 1, 3, 5 bugs introduced to the mother branche bearing friuts. The damage symptoms by P. stali was fruit dropping in July and August but from September damaged fruits were found in the branches.

The completely sequenced mitochondrial genome of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a circular molecule of 16,518 bp with a total A+T content of 76.4%. Nucleotide composition and codon usage of this genome are near the means observed in other 12 hemipteran mitochondrial genomes; however, the initiation codon for CO1 gene appears to be TTG, dissimilar to what has been seen in the 12 mitochondrial genomes. In this genome, the A+T rich region between srRNA and tRNAIle gene includes two extensive repeat regions, in which each region includes 4 and 12 tandem repeats of a 73 bp sequence, respectively. The gene content, order, and structure of the H. halys mitochondrial genome are consistent with that of Triatoma dimidiata, belong to the same suborder Heteroptera, but different from two suborders, Auchenorrhynca and Sternorrhyncha, including various gene rearrangements. Analyzing phylogenetic relationship and comparing gene order and content of the 13 hemipteran mitochondrial genomes of three suborders, Heteroptera, Auchenorrhynca, and Sternorrhyncha, supported the morphology-based current hypothesis that both Auchenorrhynca and Sternorrhyncha are a monophyletic group.