The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)—A Major Challenge for Global Plant Production

Abstract

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), native to East Asia, is an extremely polyphagous pest that infests more than 300 plant species from 49 families. In Europe and North America, this pest causes enormous damage to the production of economically important crops (tree fruit, vegetables, field crops, and ornamental plants). Global warming favours its spread, as the rise in temperature results in the appearance of further generations of the pest. Halyomorpha halys (nymph and adult) causes damage typical of the Pentatomidae family by attacking host plants throughout their development (buds, stems, fruits, and pods). Ripe fruits are often disfigured, and later suberification and necrotic spots form on the fruit surface, making them accessible to plant pathogens that cause fruit rot and rendering them unmarketable. The increasing global importance of the pest suggests that more coordinated measures are needed to contain its spread. Understanding the biology and ecology of this species is crucial for the development of reliable monitoring and management strategies. Most insecticides available for the control of H. halys have a broad spectrum of modes of action and are not compatible with most integrated pest management systems, so biological control by natural enemies has recently been emphasised. Preventing excessive population growth requires early identification and effective control measures that can be developed quickly and applied rapidly while respecting the environment. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest findings on the global distribution of this important pest, its potential spread, biology and ecology, key host plants of economic importance, monitoring methods, and effective biological control strategies, as well as future perspectives for sustainable H. halys control measures.