Turkey releases thousands of parasitic wasps to combat brown marmorated stink bug

In the Black Sea region of Turkey, officials have released more than 11,000 Trissolcus japonicus (commonly called Samuray wasps) in Artvin’s Arhavi and Borçka districts. The insects parasitise the eggs of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), a pest that has damaged hazelnut, fruit and vegetable crops.

A separate release of 15,000 Samuray wasps took place in Bartın’s Hacıosmanoğlu village, with plans to distribute over 100,000 wasps across 1,000 locations in the province. Both actions are part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s national integrated management project aimed at reducing the stink bug’s impact on agriculture through biological control.