Gennady Babenko
Deputy Head of the Domestic Quarantine Department of the Southern Interregional Department of Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision)
Bugs are ‘taking over’ the Krasnodar Territory. A quarantine has been introduced in the region due to brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys). Despite the fact that these insects’ habitat is Asia, residents of the Krasnodar Territory - Kuban - have known about them for a long time. However, such a great number of brown marmorated stink bugs have never been seen in the past. Bugs get into houses, and social networks are full of photos of premises covered with bugs, these insects also spoil the crop. Brown marmorated stink bugs have spread almost throughout the entire Kuban area. The largest outbreaks were in Anapa covering 2.2 thousand hectares, Sochi - 1.6 thousand hectares, in the Tuapse District - 443 hectares, in the Seversk District - 14 hectares, and in Goryachy Klyuch - 71 hectares. Gennady Babenko, Deputy Head of the Domestic Quarantine Department of the Southern Interregional Department of Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision), told the EcoTourism EXPERT’s correspondent about where the Asian brown marmorated stink bugs came from to the Krasnodar Territory, how to bring them under control, and whether it is possible to get rid of them.
- Brown marmorated stink bugs are not native insects to the Krasnodar Territory but they are not new, either. This inhabitant of Asia was first seen in Kuban about 10 years ago. Why was the decision to introduce quarantine made now?
- To establish a quarantine zone, it is necessary to identify not just the presence of adult insects - at the imago stage - in the area, but the entire population, including larvae and nymphs. Brown marmorated stink bugs are included in the list of quarantine objects approved by the Eurasian Commission for all states that are members of the economic union, including the Russian Federation. In accordance with federal law on plant quarantine No. 206 of July 21, 2014, a quarantine regime is introduced and a quarantine zone is established due to the detection of a quarantine insects’ population in the area. In the Krasnodar Territory, specifically in Sochi, the brown marmorated stink bugs were first detected in 2018. These insects ‘came’ from Abkhazia and they were brought to the neighboring republic from Georgia. These bugs can fly and also migrate during the transportation of some goods by vehicles. In 2018, brown marmorated stink bugs were seen in an abandoned hazelnut garden in Sochi. Since the garden was already old and did not bear fruit, it was cut down. For three years, no brown marmorated stink bugs were seen, so the quarantine was lifted. But since 2019, brown marmorated stink bugs have spread throughout the entire Krasnodar Territory. As a result, in 2023, populations of these bugs were identified in different places of the Kuban area. To date, 13 quarantine zones have been identified in five areas - the Tuapse and the Seversk districts, Anapa, Goryachiy Klyuch, and Sochi, with the total area of more than 4,400 hectares.
- Brown marmorated stink bugs have been inhabiting our region for quite a long time. But there has probably never been an invasion of these bugs like it was this fall. What is causing such an outbreak?
- First of all, I wouldn’t consider the current situation as an outbreak. Of course, all varieties of insects show a cyclicity accompanied by a higher birth rate. This happens because more favorable weather conditions develop, and at some point, more host plants appear, which the insects feed on. As for the current situation, it is more associated with the time of year rather than with an increased birth rate of brown marmorated stink bugs. In the fall, the bugs go into hibernation for the winter, and they take a winter-long nap in warm, dry places. That’s why they flock to colonies and head for houses. It seems like there’s an invasion of these bugs. Of course, people are tired of the insects getting into the houses and it seems like there are a lot of them. As soon as the outside temperature is below +15oCelsius, such a massive ‘invasion’ of brown marmorated stink bugs normally stops.
- What harm do brown marmorated stink bugs cause, is there any understanding of what damage they cause to people and crops?
- I should mention that brown marmorated stink bugs are not dangerous to humans, they just fly and murmur. If you crush them, an unpleasant smell is in the room. These bugs mainly do harm to plants. They are polyphagous, but mainly they damage fruit and berry crops. During the breeding season, they do harm to agricultural crops like corn, beans. What is the main problem caused by brown marmorated stink bugs? Let’s take, for example, an apple. A bug ‘pierces’ it with its proboscis, sucks out the juice through a tiny hole, and throws its own substances in an apple. A small void forms inside the apple, the pulp softens. Such apples cannot be stored for a long time. When brown marmorated stink bugs damage the grapes, good wine cannot be obtained from such grapes. As for the damage to the crop caused by brown marmorated stink bugs, it is almost impossible to calculate it. The fact is that in commercial gardens, plants are treated against pests several times, naturally, this results in the reduction of the number of all insects, including the brown marmorated stink bugs.
- What does the introduction of quarantine due to brown marmorated stink bugs mean?
- When a phytosanitary regime is introduced in any area, an owner of the land plot is offered a program to localize foci and eliminate the population of the quarantine objects - brown marmorated stink bugs. A phytosanitary regime prescribes phytosanitary measures, determines what is prohibited to do and what must be done. Quarantine phytosanitary measures provide for a ban on exporting fruit and berry products from the quarantine zone without an examination that shows whether the products are damaged or not. In the absence of brown marmorated stink bugs in the quarantine products, a certificate is issued for the products and they are transported to their destination. When quarantine objects are detected, exporting such products is prohibited from the quarantine phytosanitary zone. Phytosanitary measures prescribed in the program also determine what measures should be taken in the quarantine zone, including surveys for detecting the brown marmorated stink bugs and measures to fight against insects during the growing season and in the autumn and winter. In case of brown marmorated stink bugs, spraying and chemical treatments are carried out during the growing season using the chemicals included in the catalog, approved for use in the Russian Federation in compliance with sanitary requirements. In the autumn and winter periods, wintering places are examined like roofs, sheds, and garages where brown marmorated stink bugs usually hibernate, to identify these colonies and destroy them mechanically. Simply put, if you find a large number of these bugs indoors, it is best to collect them with a broom in a dustpan and crush them.
- There are many gardens in the places like the Tuapse and Seversk districts, Anapa, Goryachiy Klyuch; it is clear that chemical treatments are used there to fight against brown marmorated stink bugs. But what about Sochi, where most of the city is a national park?
- No brown marmorated stink bugs have been detected in the Sochi National Park. There are practically no plants in the forests that would be interesting to them, there is simply nothing they can eat there. Brown marmorated stink bugs do not damage chestnut trees, therefore, these bugs mainly just fly in the National Park. Another thing is that in Sochi, the National Park is close to the residential area where people live, and, of course, there are berries or fruit plants in their yards. In this case, it is necessary to use chemicals approved for use in private farms.
- What methods of bringing brown marmorated stink bugs under control are the most effective ones?
- A chemical method is used for the treatment of collective gardens and private farms. There is no biological method yet, parasites have not been found yet that could destroy these insects in nature.
- The brown marmorated stink bugs have been inhabiting our region for almost 10 years and they have adapted well over this period. Is there a possibility or necessity of their complete destruction, since they are not an aboriginal species?
- Brown marmorated stink bugs belong to the Pentatomidae family, which includes 30 or 40 species. For example, in our region there are shield-backed bugs (Scutelleridae) native to our area; practically, they are ‘close relatives’ of brown marmorated stink bugs. But shield-backed bugs are not included in the list of quarantine objects, since this species is aboriginal. At the same time, shield-backed bugs damage wheat and, for example, in Turkey or Egypt, such products are prohibited for import. It seems to me that the situation with the brown marmorated stink bugs will be similar to that with Colorado potato beetles that damage nightshade crops (Solanaceae). Some time ago, these Colorado potato beetles were also brought to our country, but they could not be brought under control. I think that soon, they will be excluded from the list of quarantine objects. This does not mean that it’s not necessary to bring the brown marmorated stink bugs under control and take measures against them. While they are still quarantine objects, it is necessary to contain them within the borders so that they do not spread further. Unfortunately, the regions closest to Kuban having similar climatic conditions already have some brown marmorated stink bugs.
- Are there other insects whose spreading in Kuban is of concern?
- Now, the humpbacked flies and the Asian fruit flies Drosophila suzukii are ‘entering’ the region. Unlike the fruit flies existing in the region and looking for spoilt fruit, humpbacked flies damage fresh fruit. These insects come to our regions with goods from Turkey, Egypt. Thanks to active work at checkpoints in Novorossiysk, Temryuk, Tuapse, we have so far managed to prevent their spreading in our region. Also, we plan to establish a quarantine zone this year for palm weevils in Sochi.
The point of view of a scientist:
Natalya Shiryaeva, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Sochi National Park:
Brown marmorated stink bugs feed on more than 300 species of plants, but it does not harm all of them equally. It mainly affects fruit and berry crops, from which they suck juice so that the fruit does not keep on growing. The growth in the insect population occurs according to the sinusoid, these bugs can produce two generations when the weather conditions are favorable, like they were this year. The most effective method to fight against brown marmorated stink bugs is the treatment using chemicals, which is most harmful. Scientists have begun their work on creating a phytopathogenic agent based on mushrooms. Since 2014, when brown marmorated stink bugs were discovered in Sochi, the insects have already become indigenous ones. Today, brown marmorated stink bugs have spread across the Krasnodar Territory, and have also appeared in Stavropol and Adygea. Each insect has its own natural pest in its natural habitat, but it has not yet been found in our country. If a species has appeared in a region and has adapted to the local conditions, it is not possible to completely get rid of the insects.
