Stink bug populations increase in Oregon

News that Oregon cherry and pear growers, and all growers in the western states, have dreaded hearing is now a reality. Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) have been found in Hood River, Oregon.

Previously, there have been BMSB found in Portland, Ore., but now evidence shows the bugs are moving further than previously thought. This latest find puts the bugs close to the cherry and pear regions of the state, causing severe concerns for growers after the damage BMSB caused growers in the Mid-Atlantic states.

“This thing is a major agricultural pest, and it goes after crops,” said Peter Shearer, an Oregon State University entomologist and the one who found the initial bugs. “We suspect there is an infestation that has started in Hood River.”

Researchers across the country are working on fixing the BMSB problem. One possible solution is a wasp that is a native predator to BMSB in Asia. Another trial is ongoing with an experimental pheromone, used to attract and trap the bug, said Tracy Leskey, a research entomologist with USDA.