Attraction of Adults of Halyomorpha halys (Stal, 1855) and Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) by Artificially Heated Shelters

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) and southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are invasive species in Europe. They move into overwintering sites (tree bark, buildings) in the temperate latitudes in the autumn, which is induced by the change of photoperiod in the autumn. The aim of this study is to examine whether heating has an impact on their behaviour in the pre-overwintering period and whether the two species can be attracted with artificially heated shelters. A heated box shelter and the same shelter as structure and size but unheated (as control) have been made and the numbers of stink bugs entering into them were recorded. Significantly higher numbers of H. halys and N. viridula specimens have been registered in the heated shelter than in the unheated one. This indicates that temperature has an impact on their overwintering site choice and thus heated shelters can attract the two species.

Automated summary

The study found that a heated box shelter attracted more brown marmorated stink bugs and southern green stink bugs compared to an unheated shelter, indicating that temperature has an impact on their choice of overwintering sites.