Current status of egg parasitoids of stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs in soybean in Louisiana

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are the most important insect pests of soybean (Glycine max L.) grown in Louisiana. Populations of stink bugs in soybean fields are mainly suppressed by insecticide applications. However, biological control of insect pests by parasitoids is an important natural mortality factor. A survey of egg parasitoids of stink bugs was conducted at six Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Research Stations in Louisiana from 2008 to 2011 by collecting naturally occurring egg masses from soybean fields. Stink bug egg masses of the redbanded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), brown stink bugs Euschistus spp., southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.), green stink bug Chinavia hilaris (Say) and spined soldier bug Podisus maculiventris (Say) (a predatory stink bug) were collected and reared in the laboratory . Telenomus podisi (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the most prevalent egg parasitoid during the four years. This parasitoid accounted for 87.7% of all the parasitoid species that emerged from stink bug eggs. The other parasitoid species and genera that emerged were T. consimilis, Trissolcus spp. and Gryon spp. This survey could be used as a basis for including biological control as a component of the existing pest management strategies of stink bugs.