"The US government is giving out free wasps"

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rjlittlefield
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"The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by rjlittlefield »

This crossed my desk today.

Quick summary: Oregon Department of Agriculture is distributing Trissolcus japonicus, common name "Samurai wasp", because it is an egg parasite of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. The wasp was being studied for possible release as a bio-control, when it was found in the wild anyway. With the wasp already spreading slowly, it is now being actively distributed to speed the process.

"The US government is giving out free wasps"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIfC4Aj05Ps

--Rik

PS. Steve Valley at https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... 56#p254456 notes that DNA analysis showed that the wild and lab strains of the wasp were not the same.

AlP
Posts: 323
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:48 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: "The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by AlP »

Luckily, the Marmorated stink bug has not arrived here officially... yet. A very nasty invasive species. I know Alberta Agriculture and Ag Canada has been setting up traps particularly along main travel routes and campsites where travellers are most likely to spend time. I personally think the insect is here, just undiscovered.

Olympusman
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Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:31 pm

Re: "The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by Olympusman »

For some unknown reason the presence of Stink Bugs in our house has significantly declined. Where two years ago it was common as the temperatures fell to capture ten to twelve daily, it now hovers at about one a week, if that.

Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

Sym P. le
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Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2019 9:53 pm
Location: BC

Re: "The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by Sym P. le »

AIP wrote:the Marmorated stink bug has not arrived here officially
It is plentiful in Abbotsford, BC. I keep taking photos instead of squashing them. Call in the cavalry, tiny as they are and I'll photograph/video them too.

ldflan
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 5:05 pm
Location: Issaquah, WA

Re: "The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by ldflan »

Oh, good! I'm gonna get me some guv'ment wasps. I just hate the stink bugs.

Ramos Kenneth D
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Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2022 7:18 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: "The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by Ramos Kenneth D »

Sad to say but I guess in this day and age, being entomologically insensitive to Stink bugs is not all that unusual. We have loads of them around here too. Sitting here in the quiet of home, immersed in reading about things that I surely will fail to understand, e.g. quantum entanglement, they sound like WWII bombers flying missions through the living room. :?

Sym P. le
Posts: 246
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2019 9:53 pm
Location: BC

Re: "The US government is giving out free wasps"

Post by Sym P. le »

The native species are welcome, the invasive pests have to go. Samsung A5, one month ago.
Screenshot_20221119-040230_GalleryFOR POST.jpg

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