This year there will be no Abkhazian tangerines on the Russian New Year's table. The expected harvest is half that of last year and is probably the lowest in the entire history of Abkhaz citrus growing. 50% of the tangerine harvest was eaten by the marbled bug; the catastrophic invasion of this insect caused colossal damage to the peasants not only of Abkhazia, but also of Georgia.
The marbled stink bug, also known as the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys Stal.), belongs to the family of stink bugs Pentatomidae, order Hemiptera or Hemiptera and got its name for its original coloring.
The color of the insect is brown, but the back and head have unusual inclusions, which visually creates a marbled tint. The marbled bug is native to the countries of Southeast Asia, including China, Japan, the countries of the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Since 1996, the marbled bug began to actively spread throughout the United States and by 2014 it was already observed in 34 states and the southern provinces of Canada. In 2007, the bug was identified in Switzerland, and in 2010 - in New Zealand. The diet of the marbled bug is very wide: fruit crops include apple, pear, all types of citrus fruits (mandarin, lemon, orange), peach, persimmon, figs, hazelnuts, grapes; from vegetable crops - beans, cucumber, pepper, corn.
The Chairman of the RA State Committee for Ecology and Nature Conservation Saveliy Chitanava and the Head of the State Plant Protection Service of the RA Ministry of Agriculture Vladimir Geria spoke about the measures taken to combat the marbled bug.
According to environmentalists, an outbreak of mass reproduction of the marbled bug (colloquially the stink bug) in Abkhazia and in the humid subtropics of Russia has been observed since the second half of 2015.
This led to severe harvest losses of fruit and subtropical crops in 2016. Experts call a pest invasion a natural disaster.
The Chairman of the RA State Committee on Ecology and Nature Conservation Saveliy Chitanava and the Head of the State Plant Protection Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of the RA Vladimir Geria spoke about what measures are being taken to combat the marbled bug.
However, according to him, such local pest control measures do not bring significant results.
“Having studied the experience of neighboring countries, we came to the conclusion that the marbled bug will continue to spread. Until it has a natural enemy, which, by eating representatives of this species, regulates their numbers. Therefore, the measures taken can only minimize the harm caused by the pest.”
According to Geria, government services are not able to treat the entire territory covered by the pest with drugs, since its invasion has acquired the proportions of a natural disaster. There are simply not enough human resources to combat the bug.
“To effectively combat the invasion of the marmorated bug, the help of volunteers is needed!” - he thinks.
The Chairman of the RA State Committee on Ecology and Nature Conservation Saveliy Chitanava adheres to the same position.
“The consequences of an invasion of the marmorated bug can be minimized if the pest is effectively combated in the early stages of its development, when individuals do not yet know how to fly.”
Chitanava spoke about the possible migration route of the marmorated bug.
“Bedbug eggs could have ended up in hazelnut planting material (seedlings), which reached Abkhaz peasants from Turkey and Greece, through the countries adjacent to Abkhazia.”
Next year, according to environmentalists, the situation will not fundamentally improve, the possibilities for using pesticides are limited, their effectiveness is relatively low, and in this ecological niche the pest does not yet have natural enemies that would limit its population.
The voracious insect ate not only tangerines - there are practically no hazelnuts, few figs, persimmons, many have lost grapes, etc.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Abkhazia, as of November 1, only 35 tons of tangerines were exported from the country, while last year 200 tons were exported for the same period of time. We can tentatively say that half of the harvest has been lost. The volume of annual agricultural exports can only be 15 thousand tons - this is a disaster for the industry. Tangerines have stopped feeding the peasants who farm them.
In comparison with 2014, which was relatively productive, 36 thousand tons were collected then, very significant results. It is unlikely that we will be able to return to such harvest volumes soon, perhaps never at all.
Growing citrus fruits has become an extremely risky enterprise. One year the fruits are not marketable, another year there is a low price, in the third year there are “misunderstandings” at the border, etc. On the other hand, “substandard” processing did not arise. Every year, hundreds and thousands of tons of tangerines are simply thrown into the backyard. In order for modern enterprises to process any agricultural products to emerge, gas is needed. It is not in Abkhazia. And the “cheapest electricity in the world” is actually the most expensive in the world - the energy sector is in disrepair, it is an unreliable and, as a result, an expensive source of energy.
In this chain of troubles for citrus growers, the invasion of the marmorated bug is perhaps the most difficult test. The problem is clearly not for one year. And it puts plantation owners in a very difficult situation. Maintaining citrus plantings requires time, labor and investment. What's the point of doing all this if only a horde of marbled bugs can feast on the fruits of the work?
Fighting the marbled bug in Georgia
The Georgian authorities have begun distributing drugs to combat marbled bugs; 230 thousand families in Western Georgia will receive them, according to the official Facebook page of the National Food Agency.
In addition to the drugs, residents will also receive so-called special pheromones to attract marbled bedbugs.
The transfer of drugs is carried out in stages in the regions of Samegrelo, Guria, Imereti and Adjara. Each family will receive one liter of the drug and pheromone to attract insects and their further destruction.
Specialists of the plant protection department of AIC "Vitus" carry out ento-phytopathological examination of green spaces, develop individual action plans for plant protection, and provide comprehensive care for green spaces.
Plant protection department of agro-industrial complex "Vitus".
The brown marmorated bug, which made its way onto the subtropical Black Sea coast of Russia 4 years ago, is causing headaches not only for agriculture. Urban and rural residents, inhabitants of private houses, and sometimes apartments, are forced to confront the massive invasion of these insects into their homes.
Rosselkhoznadzor and other bodies from the Ministry of Agriculture have released a number of printed and electronic booklets and video materials on how to deal with the marbled bug in gardens, fields and vegetable gardens. But while farmers are fighting the pest for their harvest, homeowners are looking for ways to deal with stink bugs at home. Those who have succeeded in this share their experience and advice with others, and this article contains practical recommendations on how to remove the marbled bug indoors and in the local area.
Brown marmorated bug: how to fight it at home and in the yard - 15 ways
These are tried and tested methods that will help eradicate or at least discourage the annoying pest at home.
1. Block insects from entering your home
Marble bugs make their way into the room through narrow cracks and technological openings. Therefore, arm yourself with sealing materials and block the path to uninvited guests in the following places:
- Air conditioner
- Wiring
- Water and sewer pipes
- Skirting boards
- Chimney
- Window openings
- Doorways
- Ventilation holes
- Siding
Inspect the home structure thoroughly and seal any gaps with mortar, silicone or caulk. If it is cold enough outside in winter, then blocking access to the inside of the room will not allow bedbugs to find a warm place, and they will die.
2. Make sure mosquito nets are secure
Even after sealing all the cracks, insects can become a nuisance by congregating on window mosquito nets. Make sure the screens are in good condition and fit tightly to prevent stink bugs from invading.
3. Repel bedbugs with garlic
A solution of garlic and water produces a repellent effect on marbled bedbugs. Mix 4 tablespoons of garlic powder in two cups of warm water, add the solution to a spray bottle, and spray the garden perimeter, doors, and window sills to repel insects. Repeat this procedure every 3-5 days or more often as needed.
4. Repel pests with essential oils
Strong scented essential oils (such as eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint or lavender) also have a bed bug repellent effect. Prepare a solution in the proportion of one teaspoon of oil to two cups of warm water, pour it into a sprayer and spray according to the same principle as with garlic water.
5. Use the right combination of plants to plant.
Oddly enough, stink bugs do not like stinky plants. To test this in practice, do a simple experiment: plant chrysanthemums, basil, garlic, mint, lavender and other plants around the garden plants that the marbled bug damages, as well as around the house.
The catnip plant also repels the pest, but it has a side effect - if you plant catnip in the yard, it will attract cats. If fighting garden bugs is worth it, go ahead and use this plant.
6. Vacuum up bedbugs
Indoors, marbled bugs tend to concentrate in clusters, so you can quickly collect them all at once using a vacuum cleaner. Of course, this method comes with the risk of a terrible smell that will remain on the vacuum cleaner.
To avoid this, try the following method: place a nylon stocking over the end of the vacuum cleaner pipe, secure with an elastic band, and stuff the rest of the stocking inside the pipe. When you vacuum up the bedbugs, they will get stuck in the stocking, so all you have to do is drown them in a bucket of soapy water and throw them away.
7. Keep bedbugs dehydrated
Now that you have gotten rid of the clusters of marbled bugs, sprinkle the area with diatomaceous earth. When the next bugs try to get in, they will inevitably become coated in this natural powder, which will scrape away the protective lipid coating from their exoskeleton, leading to fatal dehydration.
8. Shake bedbugs into a deadly solution
If the bugs are concentrated high, you can brush them off and make them fall. Place a bowl of deadly liquid under them so that the bedbugs fall directly into it. Here are examples of such solutions that are lethal to bedbugs:
- Hot water with a teaspoon of aromatic essential oil
- Hot water with mixed liquid soap
- Pure alcohol
Aromatic essential oil, in addition to killing stink bugs, will also protect against their unpleasant odor. Do not use ammonia or chlorine bleach for this purpose, as these products are not safe for humans, and the combination of the two can be fatal.
9. Catch bedbugs one by one
To catch individual bedbugs, make and keep a smaller container of soapy water (or something similar) on hand. Cut off the top of a two-liter plastic bottle to create an elongated, narrow cylindrical container, and fill it with soapy water, alcohol or an essential oil solution to a height of 2-3 cm from the bottom.
When you find a marbled bug, place a container under it and brush it off with a broom, a piece of cardboard, or your hand if you do not suffer from insectophobia. You can also make a modification from a liter or half liter bottle and attach it to a handle to reach the bugs on the ceiling or top of the wall.
10. Catch bedbugs in the light
Install light baits in your home or garden that will attract bedbugs into a death trap. Inventive bedbug fighters have come up with a lot of ingenious traps of this type.
For example, a two-liter bottle is cut into two parts, a light source is placed at the bottom of the lower part, and the upper part is turned over and inserted into the lower part, forming a funnel. Attracted by the light, the bugs climb through the funnel into the trap, but can no longer get out.
Another light trap uses a cylindrical container, like a coffee cup or flower pot, to hold a light source inside. A transparent glass bowl filled with soapy water or other liquid that is fatal to bedbugs is placed on top of the glowing cylinder. Moving towards the light, marbled bugs fly into the liquid and die.
11. Catch bedbugs with a damp towel
Towards evening, soak a large towel in water, wring it out and hang it on a line in the yard overnight. Marmorated bed bugs will collect in the damp folds of the towel throughout the night. Early in the morning, before the bedbugs wake up, remove the towel and dip it in a bucket of soapy water.
12. Outsmart bedbugs by providing them with convenient hiding places.
Make a multilayer cardboard bedbug trap. Using layers of cardboard liners, you can create a spacious trap with plenty of attractive hiding places for marbled bed bugs. In autumn, install these traps in warm places around the house and in the garden. The bugs will inhabit these traps, thinking that they have found a suitable shelter for the winter, and all that remains is to destroy them.
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25.04.2018
Marbled bug ( lat. Halyomorpha halys) is a representative of stink bugs of the order Hemiptera and is a serious plant pest that poses a particular danger.
On July 1, 2017, this insect was included in the Unified List of Quarantine Objects of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The main habitat of the marbled bug has historically been the countries of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Japan, the countries of the Korean Peninsula), but since 1996, the pest began to actively colonize the countries of the American continent. The insect was found in 34 states of America and southern Canada, and in 2007 it reached the European continent. It is believed that the bug was introduced into these countries along with shipments of citrus and feijoa fruits.
Due to the absence of natural enemies, the population of these insects is still growing rapidly, posing an increasing threat to agricultural crops. For example, in the United States alone, just a few years after its discovery, the pest caused a loss of $33 billion in just one year. Due to this fact, the marbled bug is often called “American.”
Already in 2010, the insect was noticed in New Zealand, and in 2014 in Abkhazia and Georgia, where, starting in 2015, mass reproduction of this pest began.
Since 2016, Abkhazia has experienced significant yield losses on subtropical crops. For example, in 2017 alone, the marmorated bug destroyed about half of the entire tangerine harvest. At the same time, the insect does not disdain either fruit and berry crops, or shrubs, or fruit trees, or citrus fruits, or ornamental crops and flowers.
As it turned out, marbled bugs are absolutely not sensitive to the effects of pyrethroid-type insecticides, so controlling the pest with chemical means is quite difficult.
Today, marbled bugs can be observed in Ukraine, mainly in the southern regions of the country, for example, in the Odessa region.
Description of the harmful insect
In terms of external characteristics, the marbled bug is practically no different from typical insects of its kind. The insect has a pear-shaped body and reaches about one and a half centimeters in length.
Like most bedbugs, the insect emits a disgusting, pungent odor designed to repel predatory animals and birds.
On the back of the bug there are brownish stains of varying tonal intensity, creating the effect of a marble pattern, for which the pest got its name.
In the winter, bedbugs try to penetrate residential heated premises (for example, basements or barns), where they find shelter, penetrating inside through various cracks. Sometimes people find up to several thousand individuals of this species in their homes. Marbled bugs can overwinter in animal burrows and bird nests, feeling equally at home in both damp and fairly hot conditions.
With the onset of spring (from about mid-April), the female marbled bug begins to lay eggs, attaching them to the back of the leaves in small piles of 20 to 30 embryos. The eggs of the bug are white and spherical in shape. Each size is approximately one and a half millimeters in diameter.
After two or three weeks, larvae emerge from the eggs. Like most representatives of this species, bedbug larvae (nymphs) go through five stages or instars during their formation, and the entire period of formation into an adult insect takes from 35 to 45 days.
It is noteworthy that at the first stage, nymphs have a scarlet or orange body color and reach a length of up to 2.4 millimeters. At the second stage, the outer cover of the larvae darkens significantly, becoming almost black. Starting from the third instar, the nymphs lighten again, acquiring a light brownish, almost white body color, reaching 12 millimeters in length. Such a high degree of polymorphism of the larvae played a cruel joke on zoologists, significantly complicating the quick identification of this insect.
As a rule, the marmorated bug manages to produce three generations per season (for example, in the humid subtropical climate of Abkhazia) and by the end of October or early November the adult insect goes into hibernation.
What is the danger of these insects?
With the onset of spring, the marbled bug begins to feed on young shoots and fruits of most garden crops, and therefore poses a significant threat to agriculture. It is noteworthy that both the larva and the adult feed on the same plant species, piercing the outer tissues and sucking out the juice. In this case, the surface of the stems becomes lumpy, and under the bark a tissue is formed that resembles the consistency of cotton wool.
The marbled bug is omnivorous. The pest attacks tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, grapes, apple trees, pears, peaches, figs, corn, and so on. The insect does not disdain legumes, for example, peas and beans, citrus fruits (tangerines, lemons, oranges) and persimmons. At the same time, fruits and vegetables affected by the pest lose their original taste, and when citrus fruits are damaged, the fruits, without having time to ripen, fall to the ground.
On fruit trees (apple and pear), necrosis can form as a result of an attack by bugs, and on tomatoes and peppers, pockets of rot subsequently appear at the puncture sites of the fruit.
As it turns out, marbled bugs can also pose some danger to humans, especially for people with weakened immune systems and allergies, since the pest’s bite can cause swelling, itching and other allergic manifestations.
Pest control methods
According to foreign biologists, the best results in resisting the pest are currently demonstrated by the drug “ Karate Zeon", which is based on the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin. It is necessary to use this product at the rate of 4 milliliters of the drug per 10 liters of water, and it is advisable to carry out at least two treatments with this chemical.
Another drug that actively resists bedbug infestations is “ Clipper"with the active ingredient bifenthrin. This product demonstrates a good effect by destroying adult insects. The chemical must be used at a rate of 6 milliliters per 10 liters of water, and one treatment is sufficient.
It is advisable to treat plants with chemicals in early spring, when the bug is still the first generation of pests, has not gained strength and has a weakened immune system. Timely early treatment will help reduce the number of all subsequent generations.
The marbled bug is an insect belonging to the order Hemiptera, the family of stink bugs, brown in color, about 17 mm long. Negatively affects agriculture: it destroys crops, shrubs and other cultivated plants and their fruits. Last year, Abkhazia and Georgia experienced the invasion of the marbled bug. The damage caused farmers to begin actively developing effective methods to combat the marbled bug.
The brown marmorated stink bug has a pear-shaped body. It clearly shows inclusions of different shapes, which is why this color is called marble. Its peculiarity is an unpleasant odor that repels predators, reminiscent of the stench of skunk, burnt rubber and cilantro, so it will be difficult not to notice the appearance of a marbled bug in a house or apartment; below is a photo of the appearance of the bug.
The photo shows the American brown marmorated bug, a dangerous agricultural pest.
The agricultural pest first appeared in East Asia in 1998, and from that moment on, humanity began to consider this continent as the insect’s homeland. A few years later, the brown marmorated bug began to harm crops in the United States, causing a loss of $33 billion in a year, which is why it is often called “American.” It is also common in the countries of Southeast Asia, Turkey, Abkhazia, Georgia and Europe.
It is noted that the insect is unpretentious to its habitat, and accordingly can settle both in a human house and on the street. Typically, marbled bugs live in animal burrows, bird nests, farm sheds and basements. Feels equally good in damp conditions and in hot environments. Immediately after wintering, the pest actively tries to find food for itself, damaging the shoots of young plants.
Life cycle of the marbled bug
From mid-April, the female marbled bug begins to lay eggs, doing this in groups of 25-30 pieces. They can be found on the underside of leaves of various plants. After 2-3 weeks, larvae appear, which have five age categories and differences.
- In the first stage, the shade of the born insects is red or orange.
- In the second stage, the larvae acquire a dark or even black color.
- In the third stage and subsequent stages, the pest acquires a brown-white color.
The marbled bug has the ability to reproduce in three generations in one year.
Eggs and larvae of the marbled bug. The first generation breeds from the first half of May to the third ten days of June. Development time of the second generation: the third ten days of June and the first ten days of August. The third generation of the insect begins active reproduction from the beginning of August to the first half of October. Subsequently, there is a pause in the spread of insects, which becomes more active next spring.
Harm to agriculture from the marmorated bug
For example, in Tbilisi, marbled bugs actively destroy agricultural crops, fruit and berry crops and herbaceous plants during their ripening period. Insects are often found on tree branches and bush stems.
The presence of a pest on plants can be determined by a noticeable pungent odor. Beginning its active reproduction in the spring, the pest is capable of destroying most or even the entire crop in a certain area.
Rosselkhoznadzor reported that the damage to Russian agriculture in 2018 from the American brown marmorated bug could amount to up to 2 billion rubles. In February of this year, the insect was discovered in a shipment of tangerines from Abkhazia during quarantine phytosanitary control.
How can you tell if there is a marbled bug?
If insects harm fruit trees and shrubs, the plant begins to die: extensive necrosis appears on the bark of the trunks, the surface becomes lumpy, and cottony tissue is found under the bark. Fruits and vegetables lose their real taste.
When citrus plants (oranges, lemons, tangerines) and persimmons are affected, the fruits begin to drop prematurely and the fruits do not have time to reach their full ripening.
Brown marmorated American bug on grapes. The accumulation of pests in vineyards significantly affects the taste of berries and negatively affects the quality of wine made from grapes. The marbled bug affects hazelnuts, apple trees, figs, pears, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, as well as legumes (beans, peas, beans) and a host of other crops (for example, corn does not ripen, the cobs become defective) grown by humans.
Please note that due to the mass reproduction of bedbugs in 2016-2017. a significant share of the yield of subtropical crops and flowering plants was lost. The pest invasion affected Sochi and Krasnodar. Particular damage was caused to vegetable crops in this area, amounting to damage of several million rubles. The bug was brought in along with the supply of citrus and feijoa fruits from other countries.
Are marmorated bugs dangerous for humans?
Bed bugs do not cause serious danger to humans, not to mention the direct destruction of cultivated plants. In some cases, people into whose home or apartment bedbugs have entered may be allergic to the smell or bites. If an insect gets on bedding or hygiene items, a person with weak immunity develops itchy skin rashes, therefore, the pest must be removed as soon as possible.
Marmorated bug bite
The bite of a marbled bug is dangerous for humans because it causes an allergic reaction in the form of inflammation at the site of the bite, and in allergy sufferers - severe swelling, even angioedema and other allergic manifestations.
How to deal with the marbled bug - the best methods
Effective methods that help get rid of marbled bugs are chemical treatments with various compositions. For this, biologists recommend using the following drugs:
- Karate Zeon is an effective remedy with the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin. It is necessary to dissolve 4 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water. To completely eradicate stink bugs, two treatments will be required. Excellently eliminates the reproduction of adults and larvae of the last instar.
- Clipper. The active ingredient of the chemical is bifenthrin. The composition must be diluted in a ratio of 6 ml of the drug to 10 liters of water. It has a special killing effect on imagoes. A one-time treatment will be required.
- Treatment with insecticides is allowed: phosphorus, karbofos or chlorophos.
Means for combating marbled bugs in the garden. Treatment of fruit and crop plants against pests must be carried out in early spring, when insects still have weak immunity. Be sure to follow safety precautions when using chemicals. Chemicals should be used in the home with extreme caution, as they can harm children and pets.
TBILISI, November 12 – Sputnik. The only and most effective way to combat marbled bugs at the moment is their physical destruction, said former Minister of Environmental Protection, Chairman of the non-governmental organization Green Georgia-Friends of the Earth Nino Chkhobadze.
Earlier, the National Food Agency of Georgia stated that it was considering the possibility of introducing a biological enemy against the pest. This is a locust or a gadfly. According to Chkhobadze, this is a rather risky step that should be well thought out, since we are talking about people’s health.
“The only way out in the fight against marbled bugs, which, by the way, the United States and Canada have resorted to, is their physical destruction. You just need to collect them and burn them. This is the only way out at this stage,” Chkhobadze said at a press conference.
The expert cited a past example of Georgia's attempts to control insects and pests. She said that to combat the bark beetle, which is common in Borjomi (Samtskhe-Javakheti region), the Siberian woodpecker was introduced at one time. However, we got a rather strange result - the Siberian woodpecker switched to other insects, but nothing happened to the bark beetles. And they still live there safely.
Chkhobadze expressed concern and called the problem of marbled bugs one of the most serious and dangerous. According to her, the outbreak of the pest population is occurring against the backdrop of climate change.
The population of Western Georgia, which especially suffers from the invasion of marmorated bugs, told Chkhobadze that birds had disappeared from the region. The expert turned to ornithologists with a request to study this issue. She cannot name the exact reason for the mass migration of birds. This may be due to the treatment of areas with chemicals, lack of sufficient food as a result of drought, or other unknown reasons.
“The population in Western Georgia tells me that the meat of a chicken that has eaten marbled bugs smells so terrible that it is better not to eat it,” adding that poultry have begun to eat them, and ducks are the best at digesting the pest.
Chkhobadze noted that if radical measures are not resorted to, danger next year will also threaten Eastern Georgia, where wheat is sown, which is the natural food of marbled bugs.
“This is a great danger for our economy; it will be a serious blow to agriculture. Unfortunately, marbled bugs have begun to spread to the vineyards. When we meet with the population, they say that if the marbled bug gets into the grapes, the wine will no longer be good and will have a completely different taste,” Chkhobadze emphasized, once again calling on everyone to unite and with common efforts begin the fight against marbled bugs.
Marbled bugs, or stink bugs, have become a serious problem in Georgia. Last summer, they caused serious damage to the agriculture of residents of Western Georgia, where they not only destroyed crops, but also filled residential buildings. In October, marbled bugs appeared in Tbilisi. Some residents of the capital complained of an allergic reaction allegedly after their bites.