Trio Of Invasive Stink Bugs Threaten US Food Supply
Since 1997 America has been under siege by invaders from Asia. In just 14 years they have made huge strides, invading large portions of the states, leaving destruction in their wake. The invaders aren't foreign troops but they're a threat to us nonetheless. I'm referring to three specific species of Asian stink bugs; the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, the Kudzu Bug and The Bagrada Bug. None of them has natural enemies here and all are difficult to control by conventional means. All of these true bugs are extremely destructive to food crops.
The shield shaped Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halymorpha, halys, was introduced to the United States in Allentown PA and is believed to have arrived in shipments from China in 1997. It was first collected and identified in 1998. Since its arrival it has multiplied at an alarming rate. It has become a major nuisance pest in homes and offices, especially in the fall when seeking shelter for the winter. During this time it invades in large numbers, from dozens to thousands. If you disturb this bug it emits a substance described by some as smelling like dirty socks and by others as having the odor of Cilantro. BMSB is also proving to be a serious agricultural pest, feeding on a wide variety of crops. Last year it caused losses of 25 to 100% to orchardists in the mid Atlantic region. It has now been seen in 33 states and the District of Columbia. The pest is established on both coasts and has been seen in southern California. If it reaches California's agriculture rich Central and Salinas valleys where winters are mild it could breed nearly all year long and cause losses in the billions of dollars, threatening large portions of the US food supply. Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs feed on plants by sucking through their piercing mouthparts, disfiguring fruits and leaving hard dry sections and depressions, making the fruit unmarketable as fresh produce.
The Kudzu Bug, aka. Globular Stink Bug and Bean Plataspid, Megacopta cribraria, is a recent introduction that is gaining ground in the Carolinas, Georgia and other Southeastern states at a rapid pace. According to sources at the University of Georgia, no one is sure exactly how the species arrived in North America. One thing we do know however is that it is spreading quickly. It looks somewhat like a ladybird beetle except that it is a little square in shape, is brown in color and lets of a foul stench when threatened or crushed. On the positive side it does devour the invasive Kudzu Vine. Unfortunately, it also voraciously feeds on and damages soybeans and may damage other important legume crops. It's feeding damages and removed the moisture from host crops, decreasing yield by up to 10 percent. In the fall large numbers of Kudzu Bugs congregate on the walls of homes and try to find their way inside.
According to UC Riverside, the Bagrada Bug, Bagrada, hilaris, was first found in June 2008 in Los Angeles Co. California and is widespread across all southern California counties. According to the Western Farm Press it is spreading rapidly across Arizona as well. The Bagrada Bug prefers more arid climates and may have the potential to spread across the entire US Southwest. Cruciferous crops such as cabbage, kale, broccoli and the like are the preferred foods for this stink bug. It will also feed on potatoes, sorghum cotton, maize, wheat, and other field crops and some weeds. It feeds by piercing tender young growth with its sucking mouthparts. A publication by John C. Palumbo, at the website of the University of Arizona, Yuma Agricultural Center indicates that the pest feeds on and damages seedlings, new foliage and meristems (growth points) of cruciferous plants causing severe damage and deformation that makes the crops unusable as fresh produce. Losses from infested conventionally grown cruciferous crops are at 20 to 25 percent. Organic farmers are hardest hit at 45 to 50 percent.
About the Author
Harry Case is Sales and Marketing Manager for Pest Control Center, Inc. in California and is a licensed pest control "Field Representative." He has been in the Structural Pest Control industry since May of 2005. Harry also has 16 & ½ years experience as a licensed Pest Control Operator in the related field of Landscape Pest and disease Control in the state of Washington.
"The Bugman" - March Biological Control ~When to start using fly parasites for fly control.
[simpleaffiliate source="amazon" results="10"]organic pest control los angeles[/simpleaffiliate]
[simpleaffiliate source="cj" results="10"]organic pest control los angeles[/simpleaffiliate]
[simpleaffiliate source="clickbank" results="5"]organic pest control los angeles[/simpleaffiliate]
No comments:
Post a Comment