What changed
2026-08-06 07:19 UTC → 2026-08-06 07:19 UTC ·
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In early June 2026 Turkey’s provincial agriculture directorates began a province‑wide operation integrated pest‑management programme against the brown marmorated stink bug, treating about 72,000 abandoned buildings launched in Düzce, distributing kits with pheromone traps, sticky devices, protective gear and plant‑protection products 2025, has been expanded to 7,500 hazelnut growers, and sending SMS alerts in Samsun’s Çarşamba district. The 40 provinces. By early August 2026 the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry accelerated its biological‑control programme, releasing a total of 1.65 reported that 1.156 million Trissolcus japonicus (samurai) samurai wasps nationwide. By mid‑June 350 000 – described in the statement as Vespa velutina – had already been released, including 175 000 in the week of 16 June, with the remainder scheduled for early July. Specific releases included 300 000 wasps in Ordu, 11 000 in Artvin’s Arhavi and Borçka districts, 15 000 in Bartın’s Hacıosmanoğlu village, and a planned 130 000 in Giresun’s Tirebolu district on 6 July. A parallel avian programme deployed 51 000 quail and pheasants across 62 provinces and, on 25 June, 1 200 crested quails in Kastamonu. By August the Ministry announced that target of 1.65 million samurai wasps had been released in 2026, covering 40 provinces, with 20 000 supplied to Azerbaijan and technical cooperation extended to Georgia. On 4 August, Agriculture Minister İbrahim Yumaklı confirmed for the “Brown Stink Bug Combat Action Plan,” noting that 1.65 million wasps would be released in 2026 and that 1.156 million had already been deployed. year. The plan also included winter‑habitat effort combines these parasitoids with winter‑site control actions in 859 329 859,329 households, distribution of training brochures, pheromone traps, protective gear and the launch of two research projects limited chemical treatments for hazelnut growers. International cooperation continues: 20,000 wasps were shipped to refine damage‑threshold assessments Azerbaijan for a joint release, and optimise chemical use. The first parasitoid release technical support is being provided for ongoing work in Azerbaijan took place Georgia. Farmer education, informational brochures and two research projects – one on 7 July with Turkish technical support, economic‑damage thresholds and expertise continues to be shared with Georgia. another on optimizing chemical‑use limits – are also part of the plan. The integrated approach combines biological agents, pheromone traps, limited chemical treatments and farmer coordination wasp releases aim to protect Turkey’s key hazelnut sector. hazelnuts and more than 300 other plant species from the invasive pest.