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2025 / 04 / 07
The lychee giant stink bug (Tessaratoma papillosa) is an invasive pest that has raised in recent years. It belongs to the Tessaratomidae family of the order Hemiptera. It is an insect with incomplete metamorphosis, and both nymphs and adults can cause problem. They infest plants from the Sapindaceae family, such as lychee, longan, soapberry and the flamegold rain tree (or Taiwanese rain tree, Koelreuteria elegans ssp. Formosana). They suck the sap from the branches, flowers and fruits, causing the parts to wither and shrink, which reduces fruit production.
Why are lychee giant stink bugs harmful to the us?
Many people in Taiwan have already attacked by these bugs. Primarily the lychee giant stink bug is just a pest of agricultural or horticultural crops, so why is it related to public health? This is related to the self-defense mechanism of the lychee giant stink bug and the utilization of the Sapindaceae trees.
The lychee giant stink bugs usually stay on branches and leaves. Once it senses an object approaching or a slight vibration, it will spray corrosive body fluids from its body for defense. Therefore, when people walk nearby, they are easily attacked for no reason and their skin would be harmed by the body fluids. It is even more dangerous if it sprays on sensitive parts such as the eyes. In Taiwan, Taiwanese rain tree is commonly planted as a street tree and garden landscape plant, and lychee and longan trees are often planted close to houses, not just in agricultural areas. In addition, lychee giant stink bugs often spread to the surrounding areas of the host plant and lay eggs on various surfaces. For example, many people have found 14 neatly arranged, emerald green or pink small balls on clothes hung outdoors or on window screens. These are the eggs of the lychee giant stink bug. If they are not removed as soon as possible, the nymphs may hatch after a period of time and come into close contact with the residents. Taking all the above factors into consideration, the probability of lychee giant stink bugs coming into contact with the general public is quite high, and the risk of residents being attacked is therefore greatly increased.
Why are lychee giant stink bugs harmful to the us?
Many people in Taiwan have already attacked by these bugs. Primarily the lychee giant stink bug is just a pest of agricultural or horticultural crops, so why is it related to public health? This is related to the self-defense mechanism of the lychee giant stink bug and the utilization of the Sapindaceae trees.
The lychee giant stink bugs usually stay on branches and leaves. Once it senses an object approaching or a slight vibration, it will spray corrosive body fluids from its body for defense. Therefore, when people walk nearby, they are easily attacked for no reason and their skin would be harmed by the body fluids. It is even more dangerous if it sprays on sensitive parts such as the eyes. In Taiwan, Taiwanese rain tree is commonly planted as a street tree and garden landscape plant, and lychee and longan trees are often planted close to houses, not just in agricultural areas. In addition, lychee giant stink bugs often spread to the surrounding areas of the host plant and lay eggs on various surfaces. For example, many people have found 14 neatly arranged, emerald green or pink small balls on clothes hung outdoors or on window screens. These are the eggs of the lychee giant stink bug. If they are not removed as soon as possible, the nymphs may hatch after a period of time and come into close contact with the residents. Taking all the above factors into consideration, the probability of lychee giant stink bugs coming into contact with the general public is quite high, and the risk of residents being attacked is therefore greatly increased.
荔枝椿象的防治The Control of lychee giant stink bugs
There are several control strategies for these bugs. The experts and scholars in Taiwan recommend using integrated strategies to control them in a timely manner according to the flowering and fruiting periods of different host plants, including mechanical and physical, biological and chemical control methods.
Mechanical and physical controls
Cut off and collect the plant leaves with eggs, or knock the branches of the host plant to scare the lychee giant stink bugs and make them play possum, fall off, and collect them with tools, then terminate them. You can also apply a circle of glue at the base of the tree trunk. If the bugs fall down, especially wingless nymphs, they will be stuck and trapped when they try to climb back up the tree, eventually dying.
Biological Control
Several Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan have mass-produced the natural enemy of the lychee giant stink bug, the Anastatus wasp (Anastatus japonicus). This is a species of parasitic wasp, which is an egg parasitoid and will search for the eggs of lychee giant stink bug and parasitize the eggs. It will prevent the eggs of lychee giant stink bug from hatching, further reducing the number of their populations in the field. The main product is cardboard cards with parasitic eggs. The cards can be hung in February, at the beginning of the egg-laying period of lychee giant stink bug, and the wasps will emerge later, and find the eggs of host nearby for parasitism. The latest ready-to-use product is the box cups which contain the adult Anastatus wasps within a week of emergence. The operators can just open the cap to release them into the field to find the hosts. (Source: official site of Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan)
There are several control strategies for these bugs. The experts and scholars in Taiwan recommend using integrated strategies to control them in a timely manner according to the flowering and fruiting periods of different host plants, including mechanical and physical, biological and chemical control methods.
Mechanical and physical controls
Cut off and collect the plant leaves with eggs, or knock the branches of the host plant to scare the lychee giant stink bugs and make them play possum, fall off, and collect them with tools, then terminate them. You can also apply a circle of glue at the base of the tree trunk. If the bugs fall down, especially wingless nymphs, they will be stuck and trapped when they try to climb back up the tree, eventually dying.
Biological Control
Several Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan have mass-produced the natural enemy of the lychee giant stink bug, the Anastatus wasp (Anastatus japonicus). This is a species of parasitic wasp, which is an egg parasitoid and will search for the eggs of lychee giant stink bug and parasitize the eggs. It will prevent the eggs of lychee giant stink bug from hatching, further reducing the number of their populations in the field. The main product is cardboard cards with parasitic eggs. The cards can be hung in February, at the beginning of the egg-laying period of lychee giant stink bug, and the wasps will emerge later, and find the eggs of host nearby for parasitism. The latest ready-to-use product is the box cups which contain the adult Anastatus wasps within a week of emergence. The operators can just open the cap to release them into the field to find the hosts. (Source: official site of Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan)
Chemical control
Chung Hsi Chemical has several products target with lychee giant stink bugs. In response to the nuisance brought to the public by lychee giant stink bugs, the Ministry of Environment, Taiwan, approved some restricted professional insecticides, which only for permitted pest control purpose in non-agricultural areas for these pests. However, all of these insecticides cannot be purchased or used by the general public. The insecticides are only available for local governments or legal pest control companies.
Control technicians will use high-pressure, high-flow sprayers to spray on harborage plants of lychee giant stink bugs. The high pressure will disperse the dense branches and leaves, allowing the liquid insecticide to come into contact with the bugs. Taiwanese government recommends chemical control from January to before the plants bloom. In addition to avoiding interference with pollination, the lower temperatures during this period also cause lychee giant stink bugs to be less active, and they are less likely to escape when harassed. Taiwan government also provides a recommended timetable which can be searched online for controlling lychee giant stink bugs.
Chung Hsi Chemical has several products target with lychee giant stink bugs. In response to the nuisance brought to the public by lychee giant stink bugs, the Ministry of Environment, Taiwan, approved some restricted professional insecticides, which only for permitted pest control purpose in non-agricultural areas for these pests. However, all of these insecticides cannot be purchased or used by the general public. The insecticides are only available for local governments or legal pest control companies.
Control technicians will use high-pressure, high-flow sprayers to spray on harborage plants of lychee giant stink bugs. The high pressure will disperse the dense branches and leaves, allowing the liquid insecticide to come into contact with the bugs. Taiwanese government recommends chemical control from January to before the plants bloom. In addition to avoiding interference with pollination, the lower temperatures during this period also cause lychee giant stink bugs to be less active, and they are less likely to escape when harassed. Taiwan government also provides a recommended timetable which can be searched online for controlling lychee giant stink bugs.
What should I do if I am attacked by a lychee giant stink bug?
If you are sprayed with the body fluid of the lychee giant stink bug, you can rinse with plenty of water to relieve the symptoms. If redness, swelling, blisters, or ulcers continue to occur, please go to a dermatological clinic or hospital as soon as possible.
If you are sprayed with the body fluid of the lychee giant stink bug, you can rinse with plenty of water to relieve the symptoms. If redness, swelling, blisters, or ulcers continue to occur, please go to a dermatological clinic or hospital as soon as possible.