Since 2016, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) has been observed in South Tyrol, too. This invasive species comes from Asia, and is responsible for considerable damage in the South Tyrolean fruit production. The so-called Samurai Wasp (Trissolcus japonicus), which is also native to Asia, is a natural antagonist of H. halys: This very small species of wasp parasitizes the eggs of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Releasing it could therefore represent a suitable control strategy.

In May of 2020, Laimburg Research Centre was tasked with breeding and releasing the Samurai Wasp. Already in the summer of 2020, the Research Centre’s coworkers released this parasitoid in South Tyrol in order to promote its establishment in this region.

Initial findings indicate that this small wasp succeeded in surviving over the winter at different locations. In both release years – 2020 and 2021 – this natural antagonist successfully attacked the egg clutches of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.