Turkey's hazelnut crop faces surge in brown marmorated stink bug threat

Agricultural engineers warned that the brown marmorated stink bug (kahverengi kokarca) is spreading rapidly across Turkey’s hazelnut‑growing regions. Because this year's temperatures were cooler, the pest's egg‑laying period was delayed, and officials expect the insect’s damage to become evident in the coming days.

Cemil Pehlevan, head of the Trabzon branch of the Ziraat Mühendisleri Odası, urged growers to coordinate with provincial agriculture and forestry directorates and to avoid indiscriminate pesticide use, especially in areas where samurai bees have been released for biological control. He called for a joint response involving the Ministry of Agriculture, the ministries of Environment, Climate Change, Health, universities and research institutes, and suggested that the pest be included under AFAD’s emergency framework.

Hazelnut farmers in Giresun noted that dense clusters on branches can be misleading, as internal rot, fungal disease and the stink bug can still cause significant yield losses. July was highlighted as a critical period for the crop’s development, with weather conditions and pest pressure likely to determine the final harvest size.