FYI... There’s a new pest in town…**** ** ** The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest from Asia that was first found in the U.S. in 1998 in Pennsylvania. Since then, BMSB populations have increased substantially and it has become a significant and destructive pest of vegetable and fruit crops in the mid-Atlantic region (Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania). The BMSB was first confirmed in North Carolina in 2010. Most of you are likely familiar with our native brown and green stink bugs but the brown marmorated stink bug has the potential to be MUCH more destructive than our native stink bugs. Not only do these pests cause significant agricultural damage but they also invade homes in the winter and are a nuisance to homeowners. **** ** ** NC State University has a website with information on the BMSB: http://bit.ly/qoYQf7**** ** ** The website includes photos that will help growers identify this pest. Be on the lookout for the BMSB and please use the website to report a sighting if you find one at your home or farm or garden (you are asked to also send along a digital photo or specimen for confirmation). **** ** ** *** Chatham growers: Please let me know if you find this pest at your farm. I have only seen one, and that was found in my hotel room in Asheville back in March during the Organic Grower School! I would like to know if we have them in Chatham and I would like to see them in the field. They have a wide host range but seem to prefer sweet corn and peppers.**** ** ** Our NCSU Vegetable Entomology Specialist Dr. Mark Abney reports that BMSBs have been found on an organic farm in Orange County (on cut flowers), and some found in Wake County. They have not yet been found in high enough numbers to cause major damage, but we do want to monitor populations. Please take a look at the website to educate yourself and report any sightings.** ** ** ** Debbie**** ** ** *Debbie Roos* *Agricultural Extension Agent * Chatham County Center**** North Carolina Cooperative Extension 919.542.8202 debbie_roos(a)ncsu.edu**** www.growingsmallfarms.org**** www.facebook.com/debbie.roos.nc**** www.twitter.com/GrowSmallFarms **** ** ** *All electronic mail messages in connection with State business which are sent to or received by this account are subject to the NC Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.*** ** ** ** ** __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 6401 (20110822) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com -- Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught, will we realize that we cannot eat money. ~ 19th century Cree saying Hasta que el último árbol sea cortado, hasta que el último río sea contaminado, hasta que el último pescado sea atrapado; solo entonces nos daremos cuenta que el dinero no se puede comer. ~ profecia Indios Cree _______________________________________________ Gardening mailing list Gardening(a)eastraleigh.org http://www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/gardening