Trkiye Adopts Bat Strategy Against Insect Threat to Hazelnut Harvest

Ankara: Trkiye will employ bats to combat the brown marmorated stink bug, a pest threatening the nation's agricultural products, particularly hazelnuts. Semsettin Kulac, director of the Hazelnut Application and Research Center at Duzce University, shared this development with Anadolu. According to Anadolu Agency, Kulac described the insect as a significant threat, referring to it as a 'pandemic of agricultural plants.' The pest lacks sufficient natural predators in Trkiye, necessitating a comprehensive approach to control its spread and impact. This bug affects 300 agricultural products, with hazelnuts being the most commercially valuable among them. The stink bug inflicts direct damage on crops such as corn, pears, apples, and other produce. Kulac emphasized the importance of collective efforts to address this issue. Experts from universities nationwide are working to identify bat species that can naturally prey on the insect. Kulac highlighted that this initiative would be pioneering not only in Trkiye b ut globally, with some bat species already identified as potential predators. Currently, Trkiye relies on agricultural spraying and samurai wasps to manage the brown marmorated stink bug. The project aims to support Turkish farmers in safeguarding their hazelnuts and other crops, potentially reducing reliance on chemical methods of pest control.