Design of ideal vibrational signals for male attraction, through vibrotaxis experiments, to enhance pest control of stinkbugs

​Satisfying the increasing world-population demand for safe and sustainably-produced food is a tough challenge that policy makers, stakeholders and scientist will face in the coming decades. One issue of particular concern is the demand for the reduction of external inputs required for pest control, which currently mainly relies on pesticides, which are threatening the environment and human health. Thus, alternative methods to control insect pests are needed to minimize these risks. Innovative methods aim at developing sustainable pest control methods by means of behavioral manipulation of insects, for instance using vibrational signals. This study aimed to explore the use of substrate-borne vibrations for pest control of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys Stål (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). To this purpose, we first defined the spectral and temporal characteristics that best elicit male responsiveness by means of bioassays conducted with artificially created signals mimicking female vibratory emission. Then, we evaluated male responsiveness to the signals with different features and supposed degree of acceptability by means of a wooden custom-made T stand arena designed to perform single and two choice test experiments. The results from this study showed that males were attracted to female signals along a high range of amplitudes, with higher pulse repetition time and peak of frequency in correspondence to the first harmonic. This allowed us to propose an “optimal” signal to be used to attract males. When exposing males to single and double choice tests in the T arena, males showed a significant orientation towards the “optimal” female signal. Our result brings this signal to elicit searching behavior and attract males of BMSB towards a stimulation point. Furthermore, we confirm the use of vibrational signal as a strong tool for the development of traps for the species and the further management of this pest