More on the Stink Bug

More on the Stink Bug. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

We have been visiting with Tracy Leskey, a Research Entomologist with USDA-ARS Kearneysville, WV about the invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug which appeared on the scene in the late 90’s and was officially recognized in 2001. Since then, this little insect with it’s offending odor and large appetite has devastated crops, especially on the east coast.

LESKEY: So the question is how are we going to respond. One of the things we did was to create this IPM working group that brought together the research community, growers,industry reps, regulatory folks and what we did was to prioritize research objectives, regulatory issues as well as outreach objectives.

Leskey said the media took note of the situation.

LESKEY: It was not just the crop problems that generated this issue, it was also the homeowner issues. And this is the kind of thing that homeowners and businesses deal with, the nuisance problems associated with this bug looking for over wintering sites. This is another email I received and this is what he said. “This weekend I vacuumed up more than 8000 stink bugs, the vast majority were alive, in my attic to add to the more than 4000 I’ve removed from my living space since January 1, 2011.

She says they have received a grant and have put together a team to look into the issue.

LESKEY: We have 14 cooperating institutions from 10 states including here on the west coast, Oregon State and Washington State.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.