Stink Bug Crisis: Reaches 38 States And Counting
The Chinese-exported stink bug has made its way to 38 states in the U.S., destroying millions of dollars worth of crops in the process and prompting the Department of Agriculture to quickly find a repellent, reports The Washington Examiner.
Farmers across the nation have reported that the ”brown marmorated stink bug” has caused significant damage to their apple, peach and grape harvest.
In an attempt to find a method of eliminating the unwanted bug, the House has passed a Farm Bill that includes an extra $831,000 to aid the research and development of finding a way to rid the country of the stink bug crisis.
One report that was given to the House states that the insects are “causing significant damage to agricultural products, particularly the apple crop in mid-Atlantic states.”
That apple crop in the mid-Atlantic states has already suffered a reported $40 million loss because of the infestation of the stink bug. Farmers say that the stink bug causes bruises on the apple’s with a single undetectable bite, ruining their crop in the process. Virginia vineyards also say that it only takes one or two bugs to be smashed in the grapes for the entire lot to be ruined.
“Clearly these bugs are spreading, and they are more than just a nuisance because they smell,” said Representative Frank Wolf.
“They have the potential to devastate crops-apple crops, peach crops, grapes. We have to get a handle on it.”
Some agricultural officials have suggested importing a chinese bee as a way to control the population. Chinese bee’s seek out the stink bug eggs and lay their own on top, killing the stink bug eggs in the process.
Have you or anyone you know been affected by the stink bug crisis?
Tags : christmas stinks, Smelly Bugs, Stink Bug Crisis, Stink Bugs, Stink Bugs Spread Across The Nation, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Posted: July 3, 2012
![Katherine Webb Engaged? New Pictures Spark Rumors [Photo]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Katherine-Webb-Engaged-100x100.jpg)
![‘Criminal Minds’ Finale Reveals The Replicator [Spoiler]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Criminal-Minds-Season-Finale-100x100.png)
Jul 3, 2012
So what will they need to do to kill off the unwanted Chinese bees once they become a problem? It is a vicious cycle that we in our hubris are doomed to repeat.
Jul 3, 2012
Pee- Yew!
Jul 3, 2012
I live and work in Alexandria, VA. Two years ago we were besieged by these pests, then they disappeared during the winter (died out?). I haven't seen any since.
I'm not sure importing yet another foreign insect is the answer – remember the Africanized honeybees that were supposed to increase honey production and turned into killer bees? http://www1.american.edu/TED/bee.htm
I understand there is a native wasp that also will do the same job as the Chinese bees.
Jul 3, 2012
I live in Kansas and they are destroying my garden.
Jul 3, 2012
I live in Ma. and they're eating my pumpkin plants. I used Diamacious Earth and it seemed to help.
Jul 3, 2012
Can we keep the stink bugs and get rid of Congress instead?
Jul 3, 2012
I've seen this guy in California orchards. Namely, walnuts and Almonds. I thought it was a native to our state, since I've seen it here for decades.
Jul 3, 2012
These are not new. I have gardened for the past 35 years and these critters have been around all of them. Any insecticide that farmers have available today will work on them and for Congress to have to set aside around $1.000.000 for some big Agri Biz corporation to suck out of our pockets is ridiculous. Go in any store that sells garden chemicals and read the labels for what they kill and you will see "stink bugs" on most of them. This is a total JOKE and just one more pork barrel piece of legislation for some Senator to hand to his campaign contributing buddies in some chemical lab like Monsanto.etc.
Jul 4, 2012
Why not get rid of both?
Jul 4, 2012
The Chinese stink bug is NOT the same as the stinkbugs that have been aroung for years–they have to be treated at a certain time of year and there are not ant really effective incecticides against them at the moment–that's why they need to spend money for research…pay now or later! BTW–I knew someone who had them in Northern VA–they seek to winter over in peoples houses and are a huge nusiance–if you squash one to kill it –the oder attracts more! It is a BIG deal! I wish it were as simple as the old ones but they aren't–sort of like Kudzoo has become…intened to do one thing and then became out of control–best to nip these critters in the bud!!
Jul 4, 2012
I had these chinese stink bugs in the Gambia, West Africa, at my friends house I rented from him and they were horrible… After about a month of living there these nasty little bugs literally came out of the wood work between all of the cracks for about a month but only in the evenings and got into everything out with the lights and food… they smell like a bad parsley and I have actually bitten into a few on accident hiding in my spaghetti, etc… not nice…
Jul 4, 2012
I live in China and haven't come across a stink bug for a few years. I guess they've all gone east.
Jul 4, 2012
I know an old lady who swallowed a fly…
Jul 4, 2012
my buddy's step-sister earned $14436 past week. she makes money on the internet and moved in a $420200 condo. All she did was get blessed and put into action the guide given on this web site.
MakeCash10.comONLY
Jul 4, 2012
We have a variety of the stink bugs here. Not sure which ones they are. Southeast Georgia.
Jul 4, 2012
My son has them in northern VA too….when I was visiting, he and his wife told me not to kill them, cause they really do stink! YUCK!
Jul 4, 2012
my roomate's ex-wife makes $79/hr on the laptop. She has been out of a job for 9 months but last month her pay was $8641 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Go to this web site CashLazy.*com
remove the *
Jul 5, 2012
My Aunt mentioned to me they are alot of them on her window seal and they stink.
Jul 8, 2012
I had an infestation of them when I lived in Maryland. They would swarm the north side of the house in the fall by the thousands. Something needs to be done to get rid of them. When I moved, I would check each item for stink bugs, box it up, and take the box immediately to a storage facility. Fortunately, I don't think I brought any with me because I haven't seen a stink bug since I moved.
Jan 14, 2013
Fall of 2012 is the first time I have seen the stink bug in my area, Northwest Georgia. Here it is January 2013 and I find the odd one in my house. Just caught one and put it outside yesterday. The are a pain in my butt bug! I am now going to be making some stink bug traps as described on You Tube. Anything to help get rid of or at least contol this bug!