BMSB in 2018 Pt 2

BMSB in 2018 Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. The spread of a smelly pest appears to be expanding in the Pacific Northwest, raising concerns about an impending commercial fruit threat to crops.

Washington State University entomologist, Betsy Beers says the shield-shaped bugs get their names from the glands on their back sides ...

BEERS ... "And, they release a smelly fluid, if you will, that can be, depending on the species, can be pretty bad or even one or two are actually somewhat fragrant I guess. But, the vast majority of them smell bad and, this one in particular, is said to smell like old sweat socks."

Beers says they could really use your help keeping track of the spread of these smelly critters ...

BEERS ... "When they see a stink bug, that they think might be Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, to take it to like the local county extension office. There's websites where you could report a stink bug because we're looking for new incidences and trying to track its movement across the state."

Beers says keep your cell phones handy ...

BEERS ... "If you could take a good picture with your cell phone you can email that to Mike Bush who's been keeping track of our data base in Yakima County. And, we can do it usually, if the picture's clear enough, we can do it from that, but of course if you're nearby we'd love to have the actual bug in-hand."

Beers says the greatest numbers of the Brown Marmorated Stinks Bugs have been found in Western Washington, but some have been seen in the Yakima and Walla Walla valleys.

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