Lychee stink bug control: Taichung City Agriculture Bureau holds a lecture to share techniques

A lychee stink bug crisis occurred in Taichung City this year, causing damage to fruit trees. When startled, the insects also spray a foul-smelling liquid, and accidental contact can cause a burning sensation on the skin. To help the public gain a better understanding of the lychee stink bug, the Taichung City Agriculture Bureau held a lecture titled "Getting to Know the Lychee Stink Bug and Methods for Its Control" on the 7th at the Yangming Municipal Building, inviting Huang Yubin, assistant researcher at the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, as the speaker. Nearly two hundred people attended, and the discussion on site was lively.

Assistant researcher Huang Yubin said that the lychee stink bug is a hemipteran insect that harms plant new shoots and tender buds. Its main host plants are Sapindaceae crops such as longan, lychee, and Taiwan goldenrain tree. Its life cycle can be divided into the egg stage, nymph stage, and adult stage. The eggs are spherical, often laid in clusters of 14, and newly laid eggs are pale green, turning darker before hatching. Since the eggs are non-toxic, the public can pierce and remove them upon discovery to reduce hatching. When engaging in outdoor activities, the public should pay more attention, and if they find a lychee stink bug, they must not disturb it and should move away as quickly as possible.

The lychee stink bug was first found in Taichung last year. Because its adults overwinter and grow, and this year's winter climate was warmer, a lychee stink bug crisis was triggered in Taichung City. In addition to being seen on campuses, in parks, and on street trees, some people have also found insect eggs on clothes left out to dry. The Agriculture Bureau said that when lychee stink bugs are found in different locations, they will be handled by the respective competent authorities. If the public finds any, they can call 1999 to report it, and the relevant units will be asked to handle it as soon as possible.

The Agriculture Bureau pointed out that to control the damage to fruit trees caused by the lychee stink bug, this year it also subsidized farmers in purchasing safe pesticides and actively organized agricultural lectures. Farmers or interested members of the public are welcome to register and participate free of charge.