Range expansion and increasing damage potential of phytophagous shield bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) (review)

During a few recent decades, in many regions of the world, there have been recorded expansion of ranges and an increase in the harmfulness of many species of shield bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) (A.R. Panizzi, 2015; J.E. McPherson, 2018). A leading role in these processes is probably played by the current climate change and unintentional introduction of phytophagous pentatomids as a result of intensified transportation of goods and development of tourism coupling with natural polyphagy and high migratory potential of many pentatomids (D.L. Musolin, A.Kh. Saulich, 2012, A.M. Wallner et al., 2014; T. Haye et al., 2015; T.C. Leskey and A.L. Nielsen, 2018). In the south of Russia, since the start of the XXI century there have been numerous records of increased population density and substantial damage caused to soybean, vegetable, fruit, and berry crops caused by the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) that previously had only limited distribution and damage in the region (M.V. Pushnya et al., 2017; A.S. Zamotailov et al., 2018). In the Krasnodar Territory and Republics of Adygea and Crimea, losses of tomato, beans, cabbage, grapes, raspberries and other crops caused by this pest reached 70-90 % in some places in 2017-2019. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (in Russia, Abkhazia, and Georgia), agricultural and ornamental crops are currently also seriously damaged by the invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) that was introduced to the region less than 10 years ago (I.M. Mityushev, 2016; D.L. Musolin et al., 2018). In different parts of its invasive range, this polyphagous pentatomid demonstrates tendencies to expand its’ host plant range (D. Lupi et al., 2017; M.-A. Aghaee et al., 2018; S. Francati et al., 2021; V. Zakharchenko et al., 2020). At the same time, various wild plant species growing along forest edges and forest belts have recently become the major reserves of N. viridula and H. halys in the Caucasus and this greatly complicates the control of these pests (B.A. Borisov et al., 2020). Studies of seasonal development of the native shield bug Graphosoma lineatum (L.) in the forest-steppe zone of the Belgorod Region demonstrated that currently this species often produces two annual generations, whereas in the 1990s the species had two generations during the growing season only in the exceptionally warm years with temperatures above the mean level (D.L. Musolin, A.Kh. Saulich, 2001). Currently, in European countries and Russia, a number of pentatomids, e.g., Palomena prasina (L.), Dolycoris baccarum (L.), Eurydema ornata (L.), Pentatoma rufipes (L.), and Rhaphigaster nebulosa (Poda), have increased population densities what is accompanied by increased damage caused by these species to cultivated crops and wild plants. In Central America, the stink bug Antiteuchus innocens Engleman et Rolston was not previously considered a serious pest, but in recent years an increased abundance of this pentatomid has been recorded in Mexico, what lead to a weakening of pine forests (F. Holguín-Meléndez et al., 2019). High population densities and increased damage caused by stink bugs to crop production is also facilitated by the absence or slow development of control measures against these invasive pests.