Potential fungistatic effects of the defensive compound of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), on entomopathogenic fungi

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a highly destructive invasive pest that continues to be a source of damage in both food crop and ornamental systems.  Recent efforts to evaluate entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea for management of BMSB have proven largely ineffective.  In an effort to determine the mechanism behind BMSB's resistance, we assayed several compounds isolated from the defensive secretion of BMSB.  Four defensive compounds were evaluated for fungistatic effects against select entomopathogenic fungi.  The role of these compounds as mechanisms for resistance of BMSB to entomopathogenic fungi will be discussed.