Stinkbug Biological Control Goes Wild

In summary, the brown marmorated stinkbug, an invasive plant pest from Asia, has caused millions of dollars in crop damage in the US and can also invade homes during the winter. Scientists are considering introducing the samurai wasp as a potential predator, but the recent appearance of the wasp in the US has provided a natural field test. However, there are concerns about unintentional effects on the environment. Additionally, the spotted lanternfly has been suggested as a potential solution, but it is still being studied. It is important to present ideas with uncertainty and provide evidence to avoid presenting them as personal theories.
  • #1
BillTre
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The brown marmorated stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys) is an introduced plant pest from Asia that has invaded parts of the US (first seen in 1998), Europe, and perhaps other places.
Since it was introduced without its natural predators and can feed off a variety of crops plants it has done quite well in the US causing as much as 37 million dollars of crop damage to Mid-Atlantic apple growers.
In the winter it can also invade homes to overwinter and make itself annoying to people directly.

Scientists have been investigating how it might be controlled by the intentional introduction of of other insects that would predate upon it.
An important candidate species is the samurai wasp (Trissolcus japonicus), a parasitoid wasp which lays its eggs in the eggs of the marmorated stinkbug and eats them from the inside out.
Normally, in the US, such introductions would have to be carefully tested to ensure the introduced predator would not have unintended effects on other parts of the environment (many such screw-ups are well documented, for example).

However, this Science magazine news article describes how the samurai wasp has recently turned up in several places in the US, producing naturally occurring field tests of its effects on the stinkbug and the larger environment.
 
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  • #2
Hope this guess doesn't count as a personal theory, but it seems to me that the stink bug problem waxes and waned in my area. So maybe potential predators notice and adapt. It takes a little while for a new restaurant to gain traction.

Today's Special is the Spotted Lanternfly:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_lanternfly
 
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  • #3
russ_watters said:
Hope this guess doesn't count as a personal theory, but it seems to me that the stink bug problem waxes and waned in my area. So maybe potential predators notice and adapt. It takes a little while for a new restaurant to gain traction.

Today's Special is the Spotted Lanternfly:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_lanternfly

I've thought about this for a while, than got distracted.
I like @Russ-waters post and want to point out how he makes his point and avoids presenting it as a personal theory:
Its not a personal theory for a numbers of ways in which it is presented:
  • wording of the idea with words of uncertainty (hope, guess, maybe)
  • presents an alternative explanation without saying it has to be a certain way
  • has a link to something relevant

What is a personal theory around here seems to be a common topic of discussion.
Russ provides a good example of what's not, but is exploring things a bit.
This is a good crisp (short) thing.

It could be a how to for people on making a point without expressing it as a personal theory.
 
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FAQ: Stinkbug Biological Control Goes Wild

1. How do stinkbugs affect the ecosystem?

Stinkbugs are considered a pest species because they feed on plants, causing damage to crops and gardens. This can disrupt the natural balance of the ecosystem and negatively impact other organisms that depend on these plants for survival.

2. What is biological control and how does it relate to stinkbugs?

Biological control is a method of managing pest populations by using natural predators or parasites to control their numbers. In the case of stinkbugs, researchers have introduced a parasitic wasp from Asia as a means of controlling their populations.

3. What are the risks associated with stinkbug biological control?

One of the main risks is the potential for the introduced parasitic wasp to also harm non-target species. This can disrupt the natural balance of the ecosystem and potentially cause harm to beneficial insects and other organisms.

4. How effective is stinkbug biological control?

The effectiveness of stinkbug biological control varies, as it largely depends on the specific conditions of the environment and the interactions between the stinkbugs and the parasitic wasps. Some studies have shown promising results, while others have not been as successful.

5. Are there any other methods for controlling stinkbug populations?

Yes, there are other methods for controlling stinkbugs, such as using physical barriers or chemical pesticides. However, these methods can also have negative impacts on the environment and may not be as sustainable as biological control in the long term.

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