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Overview of the Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855): Key Traits and Control Measures. Threats to agricultural crops in Bulgaria Cover

Overview of the Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855): Key Traits and Control Measures. Threats to agricultural crops in Bulgaria

Open Access
|Nov 2025

Abstract

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is one of the most dangerous, invasive agricultural pests globally, causing significant economic losses. This review synthesizes current scientific research on its taxonomy, morphology, biology, ecology, and management, with a focus on the invasion in Europe and the status in Bulgaria. The analysis confirms that H. halis, an invasive pest native to East Asia and established in our country since 2016, is already causing damage to agricultural crops. Key factors for its spread are extreme polyphagy (over 300 host species), its overwintering behavior (entering buildings and vehicles, facilitating anthropochory), and high reproductive potential. Temperature requirements (lower developmental threshold ≈14.2°C and ≈538 DD for a full cycle) and data from the region strongly indicate that species is univoltine or has one and a partial second generation in the main agricultural regions of Bulgaria. Climate change is expected to expand the areas supporting bivoltinism and increase population pressure. Effective management is impossible without implementing an integrated approach (IPM), focusing on behavioral tactics (monitoring at crop borders with pheromone attractants) and urgently researching the potential for biological control with the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus, which is already established adventively in other parts of Europe.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/asn-2025-0018 | Journal eISSN: 2603-347X | Journal ISSN: 2367-5144
Language: English
Page range: 65 - 81
Published on: Nov 21, 2025
Published by: Konstantin Preslavski University of Shumen
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2025 Plamen Chamurliyski, published by Konstantin Preslavski University of Shumen
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.