A new parasitoid record for the invasive pest Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1885) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Türkiye: Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae)

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1885) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive quarantine pest that has spread rapidly worldwide and in Türkiye in recent years, causing significant damage to agricultural products. In this study, conducted in 2025, nymphs and adults of H. halys were collected from hazelnut orchards in Trabzon province, brought to the laboratory and cultured. As a result of the study, Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae) was reared from nymphs and adults of H. halys. The present study reports M. scalaris as a parasitoid of the H. halys for the first time. In addition to several biological observations regarding the parasitoid-host relationship, information on the parasitoid’s distribution in Türkiye and worldwide, as well as its known hosts, is provided with support from the relevant literature. Further studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of this parasitoid as a biological control agent.