Samurai Wasps Pt 1
I'm Bob Larson. An invasive pest, that can devastate fruit and nut orchards, has a natural enemy that's found its way to the Pacific Northwest.
Oregon State University Extension Service entomologist David Lowenstein says this tiniest of enemies can be very effective ...
DAVID LOWENSTEIN-1A = 26 ... "This is an Ag Parasitoid of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. What that means is that it is a small parasitic wasp and lays its eggs inside the eggs of Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs. So, it's life cycle is very closely connected. In order for it to reproduce, it requires Brown Marmorated Stink Bug eggs. And this is a species, Samurai Wasps parasitoid, that researchers have been looking at as a potential method for controlling BMSB for the last few years."
Lowenstein says the Samurai Wasps are native to East Asia, as are the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs ...
DAVID LOWENSTEIN-1B = 18 ... "However, we found it in the fields in the Portland and Vancouver, Washington areas in summer of 2015 and summer of 2016. And, this year, we're working to redistribute it around Oregon to evaluate how well it will manage Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in fruit and Hazel Nut orchards."
Lowenstein says they're rearing and studying these beneficial insects in the OSU labs with hopes of learning more about how it can be helpful keeping the BMSB in check.
Listen tomorrow for more on the strategy and how it may help fruit and nut growers here and elsewhere.
