A few weeks back, I attended the 2011 MSU Tree Fruit IPM School in Tustin, Mich. While discussions about scab, leaf spot and even the Spotted Wing Drosophila were well received, it was a talk by Tracy Lesky from USDA that really got everyone's attention. She spoke of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB), a relatively new pest that traveled from Asia to the United States.
What had everyone talking, and mobbing Lesky during every break, was one basic question: Is it here? At the time of Lesky's presentation, BMSB hadn't been confirmed in Michigan, although it was suspected. Just days later, it was officially confirmed that Michigan had BMSB.
USDA is still refining protocols for dealing with BMSB. Until then, the best thing to do is verify that you have a problem. Check out the video below from Lesky, as she describes the bug and what growers can do if they suspect they have a problem.
Photo: Rutgers University
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