Stink bug pesticide approved, but for ag uses only

Sorry, householders. Your fight with the brown marmorated stink bug will have to remain chemical-free .... except for the peppermint oil that some folks say works if you spray it pretty much EVERYWHERE.

But for fruit farmers, who have lost billions of dollars because of the damage caused when a stink bug bites into a piece of fruit, there are two new weapons.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its approval of two insectides for "emergency" agricultural use.

Here's the word from the agency: "EPA approved, for emergency use, the insecticide dinotefuran (trade names Venom and Scorpion) on tree fruit to help manage populations of the brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive insect that has caused extensive yield losses in tree fruit production in the mid-Atlantic region. The approval, known as an emergency exemption, applies to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey. Under the exemption, producers of stone fruit (such as peaches, plums and cherries) and pome fruit (including apples and pears) are allowed to manage the brown marmorated stink bug with two applications of dinotefuran by ground equipment per season."

"EPA is very concerned about the impact of stink bugs on agricultural production and will continue to monitor the problem and provide growers safe and effective tools to help manage this pest," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "We are committed to continuing to work closely with the agricultural community to address this very serious problem."

The EPA also approved an additional use for an insecticide that may help manage stink bugs in organic production systems. The agency says the new product contains azadirachtin and pyrethrins, "which are derived from botanical ingredients. This product is now approved for use on many crops where stink bug management is needed, and it can be used by organic farmers."

Click here for more information.

Click here for an Inquirer story from earlier this year about stink bugs.