FIRST EVIDENCE OF THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG AND ITS

POPULATION SIZE IN PERENNIAL CROPS IN CROATIA

IVANA PAJAČ ŽIVKOVIĆ1, DANA ČIRJAK1*, IVANA MIKLEČIĆ1, MAJA PINTAR2, BORIS DURALIJA3, DARIJA LEMIĆ1
1 University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Zoology, Svetošimunska cesta 25, Zagreb, Croatia (dcirjak@agr.hr)
2 Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food, Centre for Plant Protection, Gorice 68b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
3 University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Pomology, Division of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, Zagreb, Croatia

1. INTRODUCTION
• The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855)) is a highly invasive insect pest that has recently spread throughout Europe, causing
enormous economic damage.
• In Croatia, this pest was first detected in 2017. Its rapid spread from urban to rural areas and its first mass emergence were detected in a soybean field
in Zagreb County in 2019.
• In this work we report the first occurrence of the brown marmorated stink bug in perennial crops in five counties in Croatia (Zagreb County, Osijek-
Baranja County, Vukovar-Syrmia County, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and Istria County).

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Table 1. Monitoring sites of H. halys in Croatia in 2022.

• In a six-month period, from June to November 2022, H. No Locality Long and Lat
halys adults were monitored using pheromone lures and 1. Petrovina Turopoljska 45.689562, 16.021316
adhesive pads designed specifically for this species. 2. Mičevec 45.736278, 16.047883
• Occurrence and population size of H. halys was 3. Staro Čiće 45.696737, 16.108477
monitored in 14 sites in five counties in Croatia, in nine 4. Osijek 45.528993, 18.761097
different economically important perennial crops (Table
5. Kneževi Vinogradi 45.748940, 18.721370
1).
6. Piškorevci 45.251844, 18.414542
7. Marjančaci 45.628697, 18.395075
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
8. Marijanci 45.660854, 18.291529
• Halyomorpha halys was detected in all surveyed areas, 9. Tovarnik 45.169583, 19.151139
in nine economically important perennial crops - apple
10. Ivankovo 45.301438, 18.733608
(Malus domestica Borkh.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), 11. Rijeka 45.344444, 14.378333
cherry (Prunus avium L.), fig (Ficus carica L.), grapevine
12. Novi Vinodolski 45.143333, 14.775833
(Vitis vinifera L. 1753), pear (Pyrus communis L.), plum
(Prunus domestica L.), olive (Olea europea L.), and 13. Škudelin 45.457274, 13.644285

hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). 14. Ipši 45.368765, 13.849296

• Population sizes varied from a few to 80 individuals.

• The highest population size was found in hazelnut (79
specimens) in Tovarnik (Vukovar-Syrmia County), pear
(31 specimens) in Marijanci (Osijek-Baranja County) and
cherry (22 specimens) in Ivankovo (Vukovar-Syrmia
County) (Table and Figure 1).
• Given recent reports of economic damage from this pest
in our neighboring countries (Serbia, Slovenia, Italy) the
observed population size is a cause for concern.
• Notable occurrences of H. halys include 3 specimens
each, detected in vineyard in Novi Vinodolski (Primorje-
Gorski Kotar County) and in olive trees in Ipši (Istria
County) (Table and Figure 1).
• Although the population size in these crops was small,
the presence of this invasive species is of concern given
the importance of these perennial crops in Croatia and
the fact that this pest has caused damage in European
countries and affected the quality of wine and olive oil.
Figure 1. Detection of H. halys on various perennial crops in Croatia during the 2022
4. CONCLUSIONS growing season (locations are detailed in Table 1).
• Halyomorpha halys was detected in all perennial crops examined.
• Although no fruit damage was observed, weekly catches of H. halys exceeded the established treatment threshold of 10 adults, necessitating control
measures.
• Considering the invasiveness of H. halys and the favorable climatic conditions for its development in Croatia, pears, apples, and cherries, in addition to
hazelnut, are the most threatened by this pest.
• Since economic damage caused by H. halys has been detected in perennial crops of our neighboring countries, it is urgent to strengthen monitoring of
H. halys in order to prevent its further spread and occurrence of economic damage in Croatia as well.
5. REFERENCES
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V Balkan Symposium on Fruit Growing, Zagreb, Croatia, June 18-21, 2023