15.10.2025 15:27
The Deputy Chairman of the İYİ Party, Kadir Ulusoy, stated that due to the lack of necessary measures taken in previous years, the brown marmorated stink bug has become a greater menace this year, saying, "It is no longer just a problem for the Black Sea Region. It is now a problem for all of Turkey. It is also an urban pest. It will invade our home comfort, our home life, our workplaces, and our markets. Precautions must be taken immediately."
In recent days, an alarm has been raised against the increasing brown marmorated stink bugs, especially in the Black Sea region. İYİ Party Deputy Chairman Kadir Ulusoy warned the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, calling for urgent measures.
"IT WILL INVADE MARKETS" In statements regarding the issue, Ulusoy noted that due to insufficient measures taken in previous years, the stink bug has become a greater menace this year, stating, "Now this creature will enter a closed space in winter. Into barns, our cars, our trucks, our homes. Currently, the brown marmorated stink bug is recognized not only as an agricultural pest in countries where it is a nuisance but also as an urban pest. This means it invades homes, businesses, markets, and human living spaces," he said.
"IT HAS NOW INVADED THE ENTIRE BLACK SEA REGION" Ulusoy from the İYİ Party said:
"Last year, around this time, we had an interview with you regarding the brown marmorated stink bug. At the end of the interview, we said: 'We are entering winter; the fight against this should be done in winter.' We had some suggestions for combating it, which I will share again shortly. If no precautions are taken, we will start seeing this again in June. It primarily starts causing damage in May, but it intensifies in June. From June to September, it will damage all products. We had said that if no measures were taken, unfortunately, no measures were taken. The stink bug problem from last year has now multiplied by five and has become a much greater threat to Turkey. Last year, we were showing this region, right? Generally, the hazelnut region. Now we can show the entire Western Black Sea, Marmara, and every area in this region. Later, this stink bug will move towards warmer regions. Although it cannot be very active in places like Adana where temperatures exceed 35 degrees. It does not like extreme cold or extreme heat. But it becomes active in the evenings there. So, during the day, temperatures may be above 35 degrees, but it is an insect that is active in the evenings in the citrus region.
"IT REPRODUCES AND SPREADS VERY QUICKLY" This pest is an insect. It is not just our problem; it is a problem for the world. However, the world has managed to get rid of it through various methods. The first place it came from was the Pacific countries: China, Korea. It is a pest that comes from those areas. Compared to our green stink bug, the brown marmorated stink bug has a greater potential for damage; it reproduces very quickly. An adult lays nearly 300 eggs, 100 at a time, in three separate periods. It matures very quickly, reaching adulthood in 45 days. It spreads rapidly, traveling nearly 5 kilometers a day with its flying capabilities. It is transported by vehicles. In this regard, this insect spreads very quickly.
"IT DIRECTLY DAMAGES FRUITS" Another significant potential for damage is as a fruit pest. It damages hazelnuts, corn, apples, apricots, and peaches. Even in field crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. It is not a leaf pest or a wood pest. It directly damages the fruit. It targets the fruit. It has a sucking structure. When it is smaller, it enters the fruit it will damage. It distorts its shape. Because it stores enzymes, it alters the taste. It decreases the market value. According to estimates, it has started to damage our products by 15 to 20 percent. We are talking about every product. Last year, hazelnuts were more affected.
"THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE LEFT TO THE FARMERS AND PRODUCERS IN THE REGION" I remind you. Last year, I said it would not only damage hazelnuts. I said it would affect other products as well. We will see. Unfortunately, all of Turkey has seen it. Many videos are circulating on social media, right? We see clusters and piles of stink bugs in cars, homes, and barns. When the weather gets cold, they feel the need to enter a closed space. This is the period for combating them. The Ministry of Agriculture must prepare an urgent action plan. This issue cannot be left solely to the farmers and producers in the region. There are mechanical measures to be taken in closed spaces, chemical measures, biological control methods, and pheromone traps. One method of biological control that the whole world has used most effectively is with the small bee species known as the samurai wasp. It infects their eggs. Because it infects the eggs of the brown marmorated stink bug, it hinders and reduces its development. There is no single method of combating it. We must try all of them at once. Now this creature will enter a closed space in winter. Into barns, our cars, our trucks, our homes. Currently, in countries where it is a nuisance, the brown marmorated stink bug is recognized not only as an agricultural pest but also as an urban pest. This means it invades homes, businesses, markets, and human living spaces. It seeks out places to escape the cold. This could also provide us with an opportunity.
"WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 5-6 TIMES MORE STINK BUGS THAN LAST YEAR" Our recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture are as follows. Farmers must be educated about combating in closed spaces, and the necessary chemical pesticides, biological control training, and pheromone trap training must be provided immediately. And it should not be a matter of just saying, 'We provided such training to farmers' and then resting on our laurels. This must be monitored district by district, region by region. With God's permission, we can achieve success then. Otherwise, I say again. I warned a year ago. If no precautions are taken, it will become a nuisance after June, and now I am warning again until September. We are talking about five times more stink bugs than last year. And we are talking about damage that has spread to a much larger area. If no precautions are taken, we will unfortunately see that it has spread throughout all of Turkey.
"THEY CAN INVADE ALL SPACES" I can list nearly 60 agricultural products that it damages. From field crops to garden crops. It will damage everything from fruit to field crops like tomatoes, peppers, apricots, and peaches. Because it is a direct fruit pest. It is not a leaf pest or a wood pest. It directly targets the fruit. It develops very quickly. It lays eggs very quickly. It lays nearly three hundred eggs. And their maturation occurs at a high rate. Therefore, it is no longer just a nuisance for hazelnuts in the Black Sea Region. It is now a nuisance for all of Turkey. It is also an urban pest. It will invade our home comfort, our home life, our workplaces, and our markets. Precautions must be taken immediately.