Stink bug spread worries growers across nation

Yahoo News ^ | May 20, 2011 | David Dishneau and Genaro C. Armas

[Clintonfatigued]

An insect with a voracious appetite, no domestic natural predators and a taste for everything from apples to lima beans has caused millions of dollars in crop damage and may just be getting started.

The brown marmorated stink bug, a three-quarter-inch invader native to Asia, is believed to have been brought first to the Allentown, Pa., area in 1998. The bug began appearing in mid-Atlantic orchards in 2003-04 and exploded in number last year.

This spring, stink bugs have been seen in 33 states, including every one east of the Mississippi River and as far west as California, Oregon and Washington.

"All that we do know for certain is that a tremendously large population went into overwintering in fall 2010. So, if they survived, there could be a very large population emerging in the spring," said Tracy Leskey, a research entomologist at the U.S. Agriculture Department's Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville W.Va.

Growers in the mid-Atlantic region have reported the worst problems, and the apple industry appears hit hardest, with $37 million in damage to growers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the U.S. Apple Association. That's about 18 percent of the Mid-Atlantic crop.

Mark Seetin, the association's director of regulatory and industry affairs, called it the worst threat to farmers he's see in his 40 years in agriculture.

[Clintonfatigued]

This bug is a threat to agriculture. Food prices are high enough as it is and this could make it even worse.

[Nonsense Unlimited]

In other news the bug has been renamed “The Zero bug” and efforts are underway to get it listed as the national insect.

At least for now.

[gusopol3]

Just when it became rare to see Japanese beetles around here, stink bugs showed up.

[hemogoblin]

These are a scourge in SW Va. — all over the inside and outside of our home. We have several jars around to catch them in. We actually do call them “Obama Bugs.”

[Red_Devil 232]

If you have a garden in the south you have seen these guys for sure! I hate them!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Are these the bugs that look pretty much like a Japanese Beetle?

[Clintonfatigued]

Is there a natural predator to them?

[pennyfarmer]

They make great gags for coworker pranks. Just sayin. LOL

[bigheadfred]

Are these the bugs that look pretty much like a Japanese Beetle?

Exactly the same except for the eyes.

[Brandonmark]

[GeronL]

China’s secret weapon??

[PA Engineer]

There are many YouTube videos discussing different types of traps. The homemade version (on the cheap) that looks good is here. A commercial (home made and a little pricey) is here. The Pittsburgh area had quite the invasion this past year.

Last fall I was installing LED lighting in my two story kit barn and found "hundreds" had crawled behind the wooden gusset plates. It was something like out of a horror film. Bug bombs worked, but it was very unpleasant. Thank you China.

[xzins]

The stink bug is repelled by the deodorant bug.

P&G says it has a Secret Deodorant Bug, but it’s only effective on females.

Dial Corp is working on a Right Guard deodorant bug, but it’s waiting for clearance from the NFL Player’s Union which swears they’ll strike if there isn’t a jock rot clause in the Right Guard contract.

[Ditter]

This must be a different bug from the one I call a stink bug, because they have been around a lot longer than ‘98.

[Clintonfatigued]

Could be. It’s native to China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

[TribalPrincess2U]

I agree. This bug has been around for 70 years or more.

Did 0 and holder come up with a way to make a crisis out of them. GW causing
stink bugs to attack?

[The Cajun]

That little green *astard on top of the penny is what we have around here.

[Clintonfatigued]

There is a wasp native to China called Trissolcus halyomorphae. I don’t know what the layman’s term for the wasp is. It’s a natural predator to this kind of stink bug. I think we ought to import a few.

[TribalPrincess2U]

I wish I could keep walking sticks around here.