16.10.2025 21:36
Ninety-five Turkish trucks arriving from Russia were not allowed to leave the port due to the detection of brown marmorated stink bugs in their vehicles. The truck drivers claimed that they were being held hostage as a fee for pest control was demanded from them.
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95 Turkish trucks arriving at Istanbul Haydarpaşa Port in Russia have been held hostage due to the detection of brown marmorated stink bugs at the port. It has been claimed that the trucks have not been allowed to leave the port for 4 days, and that the drivers were asked to pay $100 per person for pest control.
95 TURKISH TRUCKS HELD HOSTAGE AT THE PORT
95 Turkish truck drivers arriving by ferry from Russia's Tuapse Port to Istanbul Haydarpaşa Port have been waiting at the port for four days due to the detection of "brown marmorated stink bugs" in their vehicles. The truck drivers claimed that they were asked to pay $100 for pest control per vehicle and that they were being held "hostage" at the port.
"THEY DID NOT ALLOW US TO LEAVE DUE TO THE STINK BUG"
Truck driver Mehmet Selçuk described their situation as follows: "We just came from Russia Tozi. Of course, there were quite a few of these bugs there, so we came by ship. There were too many bugs. When we got off the vehicle at the port, the bugs started to appear. When they appeared, they told us, 'our vehicles are sealed one by one.' Everything was approved, but they did not let us leave. There was talk of pest control for the vehicles. We agreed.
"WE HAD TO SLEEP IN THE TREATED AREA"
They quarantined us, or rather, they brought us here. We waited for a day or two. They treated the vehicles, and they even treated the inside of the cabin. We slept in that treated area. I mean, excuse me, but they put us in place of those bugs. No one told us anything positive. They suffocated us, especially those with asthma. The main issue is this; they treated the ship that was supposed to take us. They hurriedly loaded the ship last night and sent it off.
"EVERY TIME I STAY HERE, PARKING FEES ARE CHARGED"
They sent that off, and we are still here. We have 95 trucks here. They are asking us for $100 per vehicle for pest control. Why are you charging me for pest control? My government has health organizations here. Besides, there is no problem with my documents. I have stayed here for 5 days, and every time I stay here, parking fees are charged. One, $100 per vehicle. We have nothing to do with parking. If you had sent me from here, I would have already left. There is no problem with my documents. We will see what they will say to us today...
WHAT IS THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG?
The brown marmorated stink bug ($\textit{Halyomorpha halys}$) is an invasive species native to East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea) that has become a serious agricultural pest by spreading to many countries through global trade. Its body structure resembles a shield, measuring approximately 12-17 mm in size, and has a brownish-gray, speckled, and mottled appearance. The light-colored stripes on its antennae are an important feature that distinguishes it from similar species.
This bug is commonly referred to as "stink bug" or "fart bug" among the public due to the sharp, strong, and unpleasant odor it emits, especially when disturbed or crushed. This odor serves as a defense mechanism against predators.
The brown marmorated stink bug is a polyphagous (generalist) species that has the potential to damage approximately 300 different plant species, including hazelnuts, apples, pears, peaches, corn, tomatoes, and peppers. It feeds by sucking the sap from plants with its piercing-sucking mouthparts; this initially creates small necrotic areas on fruits and causes the main damage during the ripening stage of the fruits, leading to deformities, discoloration, and a decrease in market value. This characteristic can lead to significant economic losses, especially in hazelnuts, which are a strategic product for Turkey.
SPREADING RAPIDLY IN TURKEY
It does not have a direct toxic effect on human health. However, as temperatures begin to drop at the end of summer, it tends to enter homes, warehouses, and sheltered indoor areas in large numbers to hibernate. This situation poses a serious physical discomfort for people due to the unpleasant odor it emits and its presence in homes. This pest, first detected in Turkey in 2017, has been continuing its spread, especially in recent months, starting from the Black Sea Region.
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