Effects of persimmon tannin on survival and reproduction of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) occurs in sweet persimmon orchards from late July to early September and its damage level is negligible before mid‐July. It rarely appears in persimmon orchards after mid‐September, but is easily found in soybean fields. From the phenological observation of H. halys, it is assumed that seasonal migration of H. halys to sweet persimmon orchards may be related to the content of soluble tannin in sweet persimmon fruits. The feeding preference of H. halys was evaluated on sweet and astringent persimmon fruits, and the effects of persimmon fruits and purified persimmon tannin were tested on the survival of H. halys. Numbers of visiting bugs and feeding spots on the fruits were significantly higher on sweet persimmon than those on astringent persimmon. There was no significant difference in survivorships of H. halys fed sweet persimmon and soybean. However, the number of eggs laid by sweet persimmon fed adult females was significantly lower than those fed soybean. The higher concentration of persimmon tannin caused higher mortality of H. halys. Male and female H. halys fed with 3% persimmon tannin showed the lowest survival. Longevities of male H. halys fed with 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1% persimmon tannin were 14.9, 12.7, 14.5 and 16.3 days, respectively. However, males fed with 3% tannin lived only 6.4 days. The longevities of female H. halys were similar to those of male (10.1, 14.4, 13.8, 12.0 and 6.1 days for 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 3% tannin concentration, respectively). These results suggest that H. halys invades sweet persimmon orchards during late July and early September when more suitable foods, e.g. soybean, are in short supply and sweet persimmon fruits become suitable for feeding (e.g. lower tannin content).