First detection of the samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), in Canada

By

Abram, Paul
Talamas, Elijah
Acheampong, Susanna
Mason, Peter
Gariepy, Tara

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

68

Pages

29-36

Subjects

adventive establishment , brown marmorated stink bug , classical biological control , Halyomorpha halys

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.68.32203

 

Abstract

We report the first detection of Trissolcusjaponicus, an exotic Asian egg parasitoid and the primary candidate for classical biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorphahalys, in Canada. Twenty-eight Trissolcusjaponicus emerged from an H.halys egg mass from a site heavily infested by H.halys in Chilliwack, British Columbia, in 2018. This egg mass was deployed and retrieved as part of ongoing sentinel egg mass surveys for natural enemies of H.halys from 2017–2018 in coastal and interior British Columbia (total of 1,496 egg clusters at 16 sites). The identification of T.japonicus was based on biology (high levels of successful emergence from H.halys eggs), morphology, and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Trissolcusjaponicus was not detected at any other survey sites in 2017–2018; however, three species of indigenous egg parasitoids were found attending or emerging from H.halys egg masses at low levels (<4%) at several sites. The origin of the detected T.japonicus, the extent of its establishment in British Columbia, and its ultimate impact on H.halys populations remain to be determined. Nonetheless, the detection of this exotic biological control agent in Canada concurrently with regulatory review of its intentional importation and release is emblematic of the current uncertainty around regulatory control on the movement of biological control agents across borders.