Turkey releases 300,000 samurai wasps in Ordu to combat brown marmorated stink bug threatening hazelnut crops

The Karadeniz Agricultural Research Institute released 300,000 Trissolcus japonicus, known as samurai wasps, across districts of Ordu province to curb the brown marmorated stink bug that has been damaging hazelnut orchards since its first appearance in Turkey in 2023. Institute director Doç. Dr. İlyas Deligöz said the national goal this year is to release 1.65 million wasps, part of a programme that has already seen three million wasps deployed nationwide, exceeding global averages.

Despite the biological‑control effort, agricultural engineer Haldun Gedikali warned that the pest still poses a serious risk to hazelnut yields. He urged growers to maintain regular field inspections and to apply chemical treatments promptly if infestations appear, while expressing optimism about a good 2024 harvest. The ongoing threat underscores the importance of both biological and conventional measures for Turkey’s key hazelnut sector.