Invasive brown marmorated stink bug found in Lake County; tree-of-heaven is critical host
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Farm Bureau said a new invasive exotic pest has been discovered in Lake County.
In the first days of early May, while most of Lake County was still sheltered in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, two brown marmorated stink bugs, or BMSB for short, were discovered in orchard traps set at two separate locations – one around Upper Lake and one in the Big Valley area.
It’s the first time the pest has been located in Lake County, the Farm Bureau said.
The stinkbug is an invasive pest endemic to China. It can cause severe crop and garden losses and become a nuisance in and around homes and other buildings.
BMSB primarily damages fruit and is a serious pest of many fruit and fruiting vegetable crops. In Lake County’s main agricultural crops are susceptible, as are many home gardens.
BMSB also poses a nuisance to homeowners. In many home landscape situations the greatest concern may be the movement of brown marmorated stink bugs into buildings as they congregate in late summer and early fall and seek safe overwintering sites. Once inside buildings they can become a nuisance and emit an offensive odor if disturbed or crushed.
The adult BMSB is a typically-shaped stink bug, about 5/8 inch long, and marbled brown. It can be distinguished from other stink bugs of comparable size and color by two white bands on the antennae, faint white band on the legs, smooth round shoulder margins and a blunt head.
If you think you have found BMSB in your orchard, vineyard or home garden, bring the insect into the Lake County Ag Department for further identification.
Ornamental tree and shrub species such as tree-of-heaven are the preferred host of both BMSB and another invasive exotic pest that threatens Lake County crops: spotted lanternfly.
Tree-of-heaven is ubiquitous around Lake County, and can encourage establishment of these pests. It is important for property owners to understand the risks of planting tree-of-heaven and not allow it to grow and spread uncontrollably.
Tree-of-heaven was introduced from China and is very invasive, fast-growing and hard to eradicate once established. Tree-of-heaven is especially successful at establishing around riparian areas, which crowds out native plants, and produces chemicals that prevent other plants from establishing nearby.
Tree-of heaven can also form extensive root systems that damage sewer systems and foundations. It can be identified by its smooth leaf margins with one to two glandular teeth at the base of the leaflet, and a strong nutty smell.
Tree-of-heaven is usually confused with black walnut, winged/shiny sumac, staghorn sumac, butternut and ash trees.
If you have established tree-of-heaven on your property, contact the Lake County Department of Agriculture at 707-263-0217 for information on how to eradicate this invasive exotic.
The public is also encouraged to not plant tree-of-heaven as landscaping. Contact the UC Master Gardeners program at 707-263-6838 for alternate shade trees and ornamental shrubs.