Researchers ask citizens to bring live Asian bedbugs in order to reproduce samurai wasps, natural antagonists of these insects
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himLa asian bug (Halyomorpha halys) is now known for the damage it can cause to crops, especially fruit trees.
Since this insect was detected on our territory, researchers and farmers have implemented all the strategy possible to try to control the spread of the bedbug.
Among these is the introduction of its natural enemy, Trissolcus japonicus, better known as samurai wasp, a species that attacks the eggs of the Asian bedbug limiting the proliferation of the harmful insect.
The Edmund Mach Foundation, which has always been at the forefront of fight against the Asian bedbug, asked for the collaboration of the citizens who can contribute to the control of the insect by bringing live specimens to one of the premises of the foundation itself. The collected bugs will be used to reproduce the samurai wasps, which will then be released into the wild in the coming months.
Finding an Asian bedbug during this period is not particularly difficult, as due to the cold, insects seek shelter inside homes or in external but sheltered areas, such as woodsheds, warehouses and attics.
Once a specimen has been found, it can be placed in a clean, dry container with a lid with small holes, which will be delivered to the researchers as soon as possible, at the latest within two days.
Foundation researchers have also developed a free app for smartphones thanks to which anyone can report the presence of the Asian bedbug.
The tool, simple to use, is useful in case you cannot collect the specimens and, in any case, allows you to monitor the bedbug on the territory.
Thanks to the Bugmap application, all citizens will be able to contribute to the control of this harmful insect, responsible for millions of euros in damage to crops.
"The collaboration of farmers and all citizens is very important at this stage to counter a problem that is not a little worrying the agricultural world and for which the commitment of the Autonomous Province of Trento, the FEM and all the actors involved in the bedbug table is really maximum ". explained the leaders of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing of the PAT.
Sources of reference: Edmund Mach Foundation / BugMap
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