General Info
Farmers in the mid-Atlantic region have reported the worst experiences, and the apple industry appears hit hardest, with thirty seven million dollars in damage to growers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the U.S. Apple Association. That is about 18 percent of the Mid-Atlantic crop.
The brown marmorated stink bugs, a three-quarter-inch attacker native to Asia, is believed to have came first to the Allentown, area in nineteen ninety eight. The bug began appearing in mid-Atlantic orchards in 2003-2004 and exploded in number last year.
It becomes very difficult to control these crop eaters during winter times as they hibernate and resumes back in spring. When coming back from their hibernation, their consumption (damage) is double from what they were consuming before hibernation. This is most probably brought by their tendency of producing young ones when under hibernation and others after they come out. Their young ones especially in nymph stage consume so much and many fruits are damaged. This continues for three months after eggs are laid to the time they become adults.
Recently, stink bugs have been seen in 33 states, including every one east of the Mississippi River and as far west as California, Oregon and Washington.
Scientists and researchers like Tracy Leskey say that the population of these pests goes down tremendously in winter times and rises in springs. They are said to have reduced in a very large number in the year 2010 during long winters that saved many areas from infestation.
Mark Seetin, the association's director of regulatory and industry affairs, termed stink bugs the worst threat to farmers he has seen in his 40 years in agriculture.
Despite the invasion all over the world, crop growers in areas like Washington State, which is the biggest apple producer nationally, have not seen major damage so far, said Mike Willett, vice president for scientific affairs for the Northwest Horticultural Council. This bug was first sighted in Washington some years ago.
Stink bugs, named for the stinking scent they give off when crushed, feed on nearly anything, including cherries, tomatoes, grapes, lima beans, soybeans, green peppers, apples and peaches. The stink bug has a needle-like mouth which it uses to slice open the fruit or vegetable it lives on. Due to this piercing, the fruit or vegetable obtains a weird spot that deviates from its shape.
Growers like Tom Haas had one time experienced the effect of stink bugs, close to 40 percent in one season at his Cherry Hill field in Lancaster. Mr. Haas, who owns the orchard, said it was the worst damage that he had seen in a generation and said the stink bugs do enormous damage to the fruit.
Although damaged fruits are safe for human consumption, it is the disfigurement which significantly reduces the price of the fruit. For example, growers get about $3 a bushel for apples sold cider, whereas on the other hand they get $30 per bushel for the best, pick-your-own apples.
At Catoctin Mountain Orchard, about 10 miles south of the Maryland-Pennsylvania line, owner Robert Black said he did not realize how bad the stink bug damage was until his apples ripened.
Mr. Black said that he had a crop of Pink Ladies and they were very badly hit by the menace caused by these stink bugs, to the extent that about 45%-50% of his crop was destroyed.
U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., demanded federal action last year after he heard from orchard growers in his native western Maryland district.
Researchers are considering long-term solutions, such as finding chemicals that can attract these pests to traps before they can feed on fruit - a strategy that has worked in controlling Japanese beetles. Some also are researching the importation of this pests' main Asian predator, the parasitic wasp, though that work could take, years to ensure the wasps would not cause their own set of problems.
An insecticide by the name of Dinotefuran is the best chance for farmers or grower looking for a quick solution. Dinotefuran can also be found in popular commercial products such as Venom and Scorpion. The Environmental Protection Agency says that the chemical compound can be used in grapes, vegetables and cotton. However, it restricts its use in orchards.
According to EPA, Mitsui Chemicals, the manufacturer of the chemical, did not ask to get dinotefuran licensed for tree fruit applications at the time of approval in 2004. Now the EPA is reviewing an emergency-exemption petition from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that could allow the compound's use in orchards in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Other scientists from North Carolina to New York are scrambling to fight back against the pests.
In a recent meeting with farmer representatives at a research station in Pennsylvania, tree-fruit entomologist Greg Krawczyk warned that insecticides could not provide an easy solution.
Interestingly most farmers are almost fed up by this insects habit, Krawczyk says that once this insects are sprayed with any of the chemicals, they appear dead but after few days or season a bunch of them are back and doing the same as the previous. It's true about Krawczyk argument but spraying one time or one season makes no difference on these pests, their control method should continue as long as you are planting new crops.
Control of this Stink bugs can be achieved through various ways some of them being chemicals like permethrin, cypermethrin, baygan, pt-phantom, deltamethrin that are discussed in my article of Stink bugs control.