Effect of exclusion net timing of deployment and color on Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) infestation in pear and apple orchards

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive pest species native to East Asia that has become the major pest for many crops, causing serious economic damage. The occurrence of this invasive pest leads to an increase in broad-spectrum insecticides applications, often with limited results in H. halys management. Exclusion netting based on insect-proof nets is considered an environmentally friendly tactic that may potentially reduce H. halys infestation and damage. In a first experiment, during two growing seasons we investigated whether the timing of exclusion netting deployment affected season-long H. halys infestation and impact on apple and pear production. A second experiment considered the effect of netting color. Our results confirm that insect-proof nettings are effective in controlling H. halys infestations in fruit orchards, also observing an effect of timing of netting deployment on H. halys adult infestation, especially in apple orchards. Netting deployment could be delayed until the growing fruit phase on pear orchards, while on apple orchards it should be performed at flower fading phase. Brown marmorated stink bug infestation and damage were also influenced by the netting color, with black nets having higher infestation levels and fruit damage than white ones. Within an integrated pest management framework, early net deployment and the use of clear color nettings should be considered to reduce H. halys infestation and its damage in pome fruit crops

An insight into the role of trissolcus mitsukurii as biological control agent of halyomorpha halys in Northeastern Italy

11noSustainable strategies such as classical or augmentative biological control are currently being evaluated for the long-term management of the alien invasive pest Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). A three-year study carried out in northeastern Italy was performed to investigate the distribution and field performance of the H. halys egg parasitoid Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), in comparison with other parasitoid species. In the study area, adventive populations of T. mitsukurii were present since 2016, representing the earliest detection of this species in Europe. Trissolcus mitsukurii was the most abundant parasitoid and showed a higher “parasitoid impact” (i.e., number of parasitized eggs over the total number of field-collected eggs) compared to the other species, i.e., Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) and Trissolcus kozlovi Rjachovskij (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). The hyperparasitoid Acroclisoides sinicus (Huang and Liao) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was also recorded. Phylogenetic analysis of T. mitsukurii population distinguished two clades, one covering samples from Italy, Japan and China, the other from South Korea. The present study provides promising results for the biological control of a pest that is having a dramatic impact on a wide range of crops worldwide.openopenScaccini D.; Falagiarda M.; Tortorici F.; Martinez-Sanudo I.; Tirello P.; Reyes-Dominguez Y.; Gallmetzer A.; Tavella L.; Zandigiacomo P.; Duso C.; Pozzebon A.Scaccini, D.; Falagiarda, M.; Tortorici, F.; Martinez-Sanudo, I.; Tirello, P.; Reyes-Dominguez, Y.; Gallmetzer, A.; Tavella, L.; Zandigiacomo, P.; Duso, C.; Pozzebon, A

Assessing the distribution of exotic egg parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys in Europe with a large-scale monitoring program

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys 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 H. halys. Adventive populations of two candidates for releases, Trissolcus japonicus and Trissolcus mitsukurii, have recently been detected in Europe. To assess their distribution and abundance, a large-scale survey was performed. From May to September 2019, a wide area covering northern Italy and parts of Switzerland was surveyed, highlighting the expanding distribution of both Tr. japonicus and Tr. mitsukurii. Within four years after their first detection in Europe, both species have rapidly spread into all types of habitats where H. halys is present, showing a wide distribution and continuous expansion. Both exotic Trissolcus showed high levels of parasitism rate towards H. halys, while parasitization of non-target species was a rare event. The generalist Anastatus bifasciatus was the predominant native parasitoid of H. halys, while the emergence of native scelionids from H. halys eggs was rarely observed. The presence of the hyperparasitoid Acroclisoides sinicus was also recorded. This study provided fundamental data that supported the development of the first inoculative release program of Tr. japonicus in Europe

Combining traditional dietary assessment methods with novel metabolomics techniques: present efforts by the Food Biomarker Alliance

FFQ, food diaries and 24 h recall methods represent the most commonly used dietary assessment tools in human studies on nutrition and health, but food intake biomarkers are assumed to provide a more objective reflection of intake. Unfortunately, very few of these biomarkers are sufficiently validated. This review provides an overview of food intake biomarker research and highlights present research efforts of the Joint Programming Initiative 'A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life' (JPI-HDHL) Food Biomarkers Alliance (FoodBAll). In order to identify novel food intake biomarkers, the focus is on new food metabolomics techniques that allow the quantification of up to thousands of metabolites simultaneously, which may be applied in intervention and observational studies. As biomarkers are often influenced by various other factors than the food under investigation, FoodBAll developed a food intake biomarker quality and validity score aiming to assist the systematic evaluation of novel biomarkers. Moreover, to evaluate the applicability of nutritional biomarkers, studies are presently also focusing on associations between food intake biomarkers and diet-related disease risk. In order to be successful in these metabolomics studies, knowledge about available electronic metabolomics resources is necessary and further developments of these resources are essential. Ultimately, present efforts in this research area aim to advance quality control of traditional dietary assessment methods, advance compliance evaluation in nutritional intervention studies, and increase the significance of observational studies by investigating associations between nutrition and health. Keywords: Dietary assessment; Food intake biomarkers; Food metabolome; Metabolomics

On the Variability of the Length Weight Relationship for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus (L.)

Following extensive review, a model of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT), Thunnus thynnus (L.), length–weight relationship for the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (RW = 0.0000188 SFL3.01247; Ec 1) is presented on the basis of samples of ABFT spawners, with an average value of index K = 2.03 ± 0.15SD, collected by the Atlantic traps of Portugal and Spain in the Strait of Gibraltar (1963; 1996–1998; 2000–2012), and a set of samples of juvenile fishes from ICCAT–GBYP (n = 707). The resulting model (Ec 1), together with the model used for the eastern stock assessment (RW = 0.000019607 SFL3.0092; Ec 2) and a recently adopted by ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) (RW = 0.0000315551 SFL2.898454; EAST) are analyzed in using a bi-variant sample [SFL (cm), RW (kg)] of 474 pairs of data with the aim of validating them and establishing which model(s) best fit the reality represented by the sample and, therefore, will have the greatest descriptive and predictive power. The result of the analysis indicates that the model EAST clearly underestimates the weight of spawning ABFT and that model Ec 2 overestimates it slightly, being model Ec 1 that best explains the data of the sample. The result of the classical statistical analysis is confirmed by means of the quantile regression technique, selecting the quantiles 5, 25, 50, 75, and 95%. Other fisheries and biological indicators also conclude that the model EAST gradually underestimates the weight of ABFT spawners (of 2–3 m) by 9–12.5 %, and does not meet the criterion that for RW = 725 kg (Wmax), SFL = 319.93 ± 11.3 cm (Lmax).Cort, JL.; Estruch Fuster, VD.; Neves Dos Santos, M.; Di Natale, A.; Abid, N.; De La Serna, JM. (2015). On the Variability of the Length Weight Relationship for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus (L.). Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture. 23(1):23-38. doi:10.1080/23308249.2015.1008625S2338231Aguado-Giménez, F., & García-García, B. (2005). Changes in some morphometric relationships in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus Linnaeus, 1758) as a result of fattening process. Aquaculture, 249(1-4), 303-309. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2005.04.064Block, B. A., Teo, S. L. H., Walli, A., Boustany, A., Stokesbury, M. J. W., Farwell, C. J., … Williams, T. D. (2005). Electronic tagging and population structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Nature, 434(7037), 1121-1127. doi:10.1038/nature03463Chapman, E. W., Jørgensen, C., & Lutcavage, M. E. (2011). Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus): a state-dependent energy allocation model for growth, maturation, and reproductive investment. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 68(11), 1934-1951. doi:10.1139/f2011-109Cort, J. L., Arregui, I., Estruch, V. D., & Deguara, S. (2014). Validation of the Growth Equation Applicable to the Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna,Thunnus thynnus(L.), UsingLmax, Tag-Recapture, and First Dorsal Spine Analysis. Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture, 22(3), 239-255. doi:10.1080/23308249.2014.931173Cort, J. L., Deguara, S., Galaz, T., Mèlich, B., Artetxe, I., Arregi, I., … Idrissi, M. (2013). Determination ofLmaxfor Atlantic Bluefin Tuna,Thunnus thynnus(L.), from Meta-Analysis of Published and Available Biometric Data. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 21(2), 181-212. doi:10.1080/10641262.2013.793284Fraser, K.Possessed. World Record Holder for Bluefin Tuna. Kingstown, Nova Scotia: T & S Office Essentials and printing, 243 pp. (2008).Fromentin, J.-M., & Powers, J. E. (2005). Atlantic bluefin tuna: population dynamics, ecology, fisheries and management. Fish and Fisheries, 6(4), 281-306. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2979.2005.00197.xHattour, A.Contribution a l’étude des Scombridés de Tunisie. Université de Tunis. Faculté des Sciences, 168 pp. (1979).Karakulak, S., Oray, I., Corriero, A., Deflorio, M., Santamaria, N., Desantis, S., & De Metrio, G. (2004). Evidence of a spawning area for the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.) in the eastern Mediterranean. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 20(4), 318-320. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2004.00561.xKoenker, R., & Bassett, G. (1978). Regression Quantiles. Econometrica, 46(1), 33. doi:10.2307/1913643Koenker, R. (2005). Quantile Regression. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511754098Milatou, N., & Megalofonou, P. (2014). Age structure and growth of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.) in the capture-based aquaculture in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquaculture, 424-425, 35-44. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2013.12.037Perçin, F., & Akyol, O. (2009). Lengthâ weight and lengthâ length relationships of the bluefin tuna,Thunnus thynnusL., in the Turkish part of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 25(6), 782-784. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01288.xPercin, F., & Akyol, O. (2010). Some Morphometric Relationships in Fattened Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus L., from the Turkish Aegean Sea. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9(11), 1684-1688. doi:10.3923/javaa.2010.1684.1688Rooker, J. R., Alvarado Bremer, J. R., Block, B. A., Dewar, H., de Metrio, G., Corriero, A., … Secor, D. H. (2007). Life History and Stock Structure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Reviews in Fisheries Science, 15(4), 265-310. doi:10.1080/10641260701484135Sinovcic, G., Franicevic, M., Zorica, B., & Cikes-Kec, V. (2004). Length-weight and length-length relationships for 10 pelagic fish species from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia). Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 20(2), 156-158. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0426.2003.00519.xTičina, V., Grubišić, L., Šegvić Bubić, T., & Katavić, I. (2011). Biometric characteristics of small Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, Linnaeus, 1758) of Mediterranean Sea origin. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 27(4), 971-976. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01752.

Hyperparasitism of Acroclisoides sinicus (Huang and liao) (hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on two biological control agents of Halyomorpha halys

Halyomorpha halys (St\ue5l) is an invasive Asian pest that causes severe crop losses on various crops. Nowadays, management strategies against this pest mainly rely on pesticide use, but biological control with egg parasitoids is considered the most promising long-term and sustainable solution. Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) are Asian egg parasitoids already present in Europe and are the most effective biological control agents of H. halys. Therefore, these two species are considered for biological control programs in Europe and other parts of the world. Acroclisoides sinicus (Huang and Liao) is a pteromalid parasitoid wasp that frequently emerged from H. halys egg masses collected in northern Italy. This species has been hypothesized to be a hyperparasitoid of Trissolcus spp. parasitoids. This study was carried out under laboratory conditions where A. sinicus was tested in no-choice and two-choice experiments to assess the host preference between T. japonicus and T. mitsukurii. Olfactory responses of A. sinicus from volatiles emitted from different potential hosts were also tested. In all trials, A. sinicus showed a clear preference for parasitizing H. halys eggs previously parasitized by T. mitsukurii compared to T. japonicus. In no-choice experiments, the impact of the hyperparasitoid on T. japonicus was low, showing an exploitation rate of 4.0%, while up to a 96.2% exploitation rate was observed on T. mitsukurii. Acroclisoides sinicus was also attracted by volatiles emitted by egg masses parasitized by T. mitsukurii, while no response was observed to egg masses parasitized by T. japonicus or not parasitized. Therefore, according to the results obtained here, A. sinicus could limit the population development of T. mitsukurii, while lesser effects are expected on T. japonicus

Semi-natural habitats promote biological control of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) by the egg parasitoid Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead)

The invasive alien species Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a major pest of kiwifruit and other fruit crops. Adventive populations of the Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were found in the north of Italy in 2016. Halyomorpha halys abundance was monitored in 14 kiwifruit orchards located in north-eastern Italy, and H. halys egg masses were sampled within kiwifruit orchards to assess the impact of egg parasitoids. Both H. halys populations and parasitoid impacts were evaluated considering the influence of ecological structures, and in particular the distance from semi-natural habitats constituted by riparian vegetation buffers and the presence of hedgerows surrounding the orchard. Halyomorpha halys populations fluctuated during the two seasons surveyed, and adults were more abundant during the first year of the study. In addition, more adults were detected in kiwifruit orchards located close to the riparian vegetation and decreased along with the distance from this habitat. Trissolcus mitsukurii had higher parasitism rates on H. halys eggs than the native Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). No effect of hedgerows was observed on parasitoid impacts in orchards, while a relationship was detected with distance from riparian vegetation: a high T. mitsukurii parasitism rate was observed in kiwifruit orchards close to riparian vegetation buffers. Our findings demonstrate that semi-natural habitats constituted by large patches of unmanaged vegetation promote biological control of H. halys by the introduced egg parasitoids