Flying over Eurasia: Geographic Variation of Photoperiodic Control of Nymphal Development and Adult Diapause Induction in Native and Invasive Populations of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive true bug that originates in eastern Asia and is considered now one of the most harmful invasive insect pests in North America and Europe. Similar to the many species that produce more than one generation per year, this bug responds to day length: under short-day conditions (which predict the approaching of autumn), adults form a special overwintering (diapause) physiological state, whereas, under long-day conditions (typical for summer), they reproduce. Critical day length is the condition that induces diapause in 50% of adults. This critical day length is usually strongly correlated with the latitude of the population origin. In this study, we compared the critical day lengths of one native (Andong, South Korea) and three invasive (Torino, Italy; Basel, Switzerland; and Sochi, Russia) populations. The critical day lengths of both sexes fell between 14.5 and 15.0 h in the Korean population, and between 15.0 and 15.5 h in the three European populations. The results demonstrate that microevolution was possibly ‘too slow to keep up’ with the rapid spread of the invader across Eurasia. It is expected that in the near future, the critical day length of invasive H. halys populations will gradually change to adapt better to the local conditions. ABSTRACT: Facultative winter adult diapause in Halyomorpha halys is regulated by a long-day photoperiodic response. Day length also influences nymphal development, which slows down at the critical (near-threshold) day lengths. We compared the photoperiodic responses of one native (Andong, South Korea) and three invasive (Torino, Italy; Basel, Switzerland; and Sochi, Russia) populations in a laboratory common-garden experiment. Nymphs developed and emerging adults were reared at 24 °C in a range of photoperiods with day lengths of 14.0, 14.5, 15.0, 15.5, and 16.0 h. The critical day lengths of the photoperiodic responses of both sexes fell between 14.5 and 15.0 h in the native Korean population and between 15.0 and 15.5 h in three invasive European populations. The differences between the three invasive populations were not significant, despite their distant origins. Moreover, the difference between the Korean and European populations was much smaller than was expected. The microevolution was possibly ‘too slow to keep up’ with the rapid spread of the invader across Eurasia. It is expected that soon the critical day length of the invasive H. halys populations will gradually change to adapt better to local conditions. At present, the critical day length for diapause induction of 15 h 15 min can be used to model the phenology, further spread, and response to climate change for all European populations of the pest.