Release of ‘Samurai Wasps’ against the invasive stink bugs in Manisa

In cooperation between the Manisa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and the Bornova Institute of Agricultural Pest Research, a thousand parasitoid eggs of the Samurai Wasp, which is a biological control agent against the brown marmorated stink bug pest, were released into the nature.

Speaking at the program held in the Gediz region of Yağcılar Neighborhood in the Yunusemre district, the Manisa Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Metin Öztürk, stated that the Samurai Wasp is the main enemy of the brown marmorated stink bug. Emphasizing the importance of producers being sensitive to prevent yield and quality losses due to Manisa’s wide range of products and important export items, Öztürk expressed that with the release of the Samurai Wasp within the scope of biological control, it is possible to parasitize the eggs of the brown marmorated stink bug in nature and control the pest’s population.

Metin Öztürk highlighted their emphasis on biological control in production, stating, “Raising awareness about biological control methods, introducing alternative control methods to producers to reduce chemical control, thereby reducing input costs, protecting the environment and soil, we prioritize biological control in our province and carry out studies for its implementation at every opportunity. In this context, in 2023, we carried out the release of 485 red-legged partridges and most recently, on 23.02.2024, the release of a thousand red-legged partridges.”

The program was attended by Metin Öztürk, the Manisa Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Tevfik Turanlı, the Director of the Bornova Institute of Agricultural Pest Research, Deputy Director Serdar Mersinli, Plant Production and Plant Health Branch Manager Gökmen Kaya, Bornova Institute of Agricultural Pest Research Biological Control Department Head Bilgin Güven, Yunusemre District Director of Agriculture and Forestry Bülent Güleç, experts from the Bornova Institute of Agricultural Pest Research, provincial and district directorates, and producers.

About the brown marmorated stink bug:

The brown marmorated stink bug is a destructive, invasive, and polyphagous pest that causes significant losses in agricultural production. Being able to feed on more than 300 plant species, the invasive insect’s ability to fly long distances facilitates its spread. The brown marmorated stink bug is harmful to many fruit and vegetable species. Mainly affecting hazelnuts, it is also among the most important hosts for apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, persimmons, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. By feeding on fruits and vegetables, it poses a risk of yield and quality loss for many products.