Bugs can cause major damage to agricultural crops. One harmful species in this genus is the invasive Brown marmorated stink bug (Halymorpha halys). This bug species causes damage to fruit and vegetable crops in Switzerland and southern Germany. In 2019, over 20% losses were recorded in pear orchards in the cantons of Zurich and Thurgau.
The project will see Agroscope, Arenenberg, Strickhof, the Sankt Gallen Agricultural Centre, the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences HWST, the Lake Constance Competence Centre for Fruit Production KOB and the Voralberg Chamber of Agriculture, the Augustenberg Agricultural Technology Centre and CABI develop an initial regulatory strategy to combat the Brown marmorated stink bug, which will thus be applicable to other bug species. Combinations of methods, including protective crop netting, beneficial organisms, accompanying use of chemical products, mass trapping and trapping strips, will be tested in the project as to their usefulness in protecting crops from the Brown marmorated stink bug.
