Rize launches combat against invasive stink bug threat

The Rize Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry has launched a comprehensive wintering combat campaign against the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). This pest poses a significant threat to the region's economy, particularly affecting tea and hazelnut production by reducing yields and quality.

As temperatures drop, the insects are migrating from open fields to sheltered areas such as homes, barns, and warehouses, often causing discomfort due to their odor. In response, authorities are implementing an Action Plan that combines chemical and biological methods. The operation includes the distribution of 8,600 liters of biocidal products, 4,000 funnel traps, and 7,000 pheromones to monitor and reduce the population.

As part of a biological control effort, 100,000 Samurai wasps (Trissolcus japonicus), which are natural predators of the stink bug, have been released into the environment. These combat efforts are expected to continue until April, when the insects typically migrate back to agricultural lands.